The Propaganda Ministers have succeeded: the takeover may be irreversible; the cancer, irremovable. by Dan Alba
(libertarian)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
In previous episodes of corporatism this year, Congress passed unconstitutional legislation allegedly meant to "rescue" the major financiers of their election campaigns. Which was tyrannical enough. But this time around, President Bush has issued a word-of-mouth mandate, as if it was set in stone. He has taken it upon himself to extract the loot from the rest of us in order that the most pathetic failures of the automotive industry won't have to pay their just dues for their egregious business failures.
Never mind that a hands-off approach by the federal government — allowing companies to file bankruptcy and liquidate their assets — is the only moral, legal, and practical avenue to take for the sake of "the American people" for whom Bush is constantly feigning concern. Never mind that executive absolutism, and government control and ownership of industry, are the modus operandi of the most tyrannical and anti-American regimes in contemporary history.
As of yet, the official means, much less the legal authority, by which His Eminence shall enact His Edict, is unclear; nevertheless, as of December 19, 2008, fascism has manifest itself in a way unmatched in domestic American affairs since the FDR years. Perhaps worse. Back then, only a few proponents of industry nationalization cheer-led their nefarious political and economic schemes publicly and in no uncertain terms, and, for the most part, got what they desired. Still, some of their schemes were later ruled unconstitutional and subsequently repealed. Now, there are innumerable public figures pushing loudly and proudly for central ownership of life, liberty, and property — and getting it. Now, there isn't even an inkling of a gold standard to restrain the federal government from endlessly looting taxpayers to finance the monstrous Ponzi schemes via inflation of the money supply. Now, the U.S. empire is global, and its military dominance is typically enough to persuade any other government out there from treating the dying U.S. dollar as anything less than the world's reserve currency (or rather, "good as gold," to put it in the most darkly-ironic of ways).
And there is virtually no chance that these unconstitutional programs will be struck down, because today's federal government is even less-inclined to brand itself unconstitutional than it was in FDR's era. The Supreme Court is 9-of-9 in ideological support of Leviathan statism. There are no checks on the abuse of power because there is no incentive. Self-enrichment of all branches of the federal government is common as the sunrise.
Media Role
Furthermore, the public proponents of national-socialism greatly outnumber those against. And those in favor most notably include the most prolific cheer-leaders for centralized tyranny in general and executive absolutism, in particular: the unbiased, objective, and balanced "mainstream" (corporate-statist) news media.
Too bad that that self-styled objectivity comes in the form of two "opposing" sides of a purported "debate," merely disagreeing on the means to their mutually-desired end. Too bad that when you Google "constitution"+"automakers"+"Associated Press" the only few items you get are the ones marginalizing someone's, or some group's, opposition to the fascism on constitutional grounds. Too bad the word Constitution is used in the most dismissive, fleeting, and fraudulent of ways — if at all. [1]
(Typical example: Congressman Ron Paul . . . believes the Constitution doesn't give the government the authority. It is therefore "unconstitutional" and "immoral," in the view of the 11-term, conservative Republican, who is often criticized for putting earmarks into legislation he ends up voting against anyway.)
Too bad the focus is then shifted right back to that "objectivity" — that contrived "balance" — from two or more statist vultures of a feather.
Too bad the same officials-of-prey — Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, and their "bi-partisan" policies to which major media give 90–100% of inches, airtime, and throughput — were elected by most of the very people being plundered to prop up failed businesses and pay for partial government ownership thereof; were elected by most of the same productive individuals who are being robbed at the point of a gun to reward economic destruction, failure, and criminality; were elected by most of the same 60–95% of constituents in any given district, in any given state, who flooded the emails, voice mails, and offices of their representatives [sic] and senators [sic], supplicating them to strike down the immoral and unconstitutional $700, $300, or whatever billion dollar, financial- and bank-industry bailouts [sic] and nationalizations (one of which being passed, doubly-unconstitutionally, by its originating in the Senate); were elected by most of the same people being told that it's all for their own good — that the economic destruction is necessary and proper, like some kind of "tough love" — when it turns out to be nothing short of a sadistic enrichment for politicians, lobbyists, ideologues, and other statists and state sycophants.
All of this would be called intellectual, economic, and political rape by its real name. And to be sure, it happens with the tacit approval of those voting the criminals into office. More ominously and effectively, though, it comes about via the assistance of the shameless corporatist news media. For them, it boils down to the simple choice between defending the people ("speaking truth to power") or concealing the crimes of the State. They have the luxury of choosing between right and wrong. The people, on the other hand, have to choose from among the ethically-anemic and generally unfit array of candidates that were practically media-selected. When individuals vote, they are voting for or against the same lesser- or more-evil candidates that were propped up and virtually nominated by the indomitable corporatist media and their cronies in think tanks [sic] and lobbying [sic] organizations.
The latest wholesale, across-the-board sell-out by major media is long past being just some "trend": it is a clear example of corporatist enterprises acting in their own interests. When Tyrant-elect Barack Obama's term becomes official, there's a good chance that the Fairness [sic] Doctrine will be re-shanked into society. If so, one of the greatest beneficiaries of that Orwellianly named absolutism will be The Associated Press and its largest member outlets like the New York Times. Meanwhile, the American people in general will suffer, as real journalists and outlets (esp. the anti-state variety) will struggle to get a word in edgewise in so-called public forums. (Surely, you might say, it couldn't possibly get any worse than it has been!) It will doubtless be all Dem v. Rep and lib v con, and no central tyranny v. individual liberty, or minimal government v. Leviathan.
And more than ever, the national-socialism will thrive and expand like wildfire, sucking the life, liberty, and property, like oxygen, out of non-conforming individuals and groups. And the viral growth of central tyranny will be irreversible (save, perhaps, for the valiant yet likely doomed efforts of those who "keep their powder dry"). And the ugliest and most brutal form of the "democracy" so shunned by the Founders will have permanently permeated the same land where, some 235 years ago, individuals voluntarily assembled in defense of life, liberty, and property, thus commencing the shaking-off the same central tyranny.
God help us.
[1] See AP's "Keep your cash: SC governor rails against bailouts" (google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jnxMBzHKZu5u74KV7d_k2aSk5IHwD954MVRG0) for a recent example, wherein South Carolina governor, Mark Sanford, is subtly marginalized for his constitutional resistance to industry bailouts. Of course you wouldn't know that the United States Constitution has anything to do with it. The word constitution is found once in the report, thus: "Sanford . . . requires his sons to memorize a family constitution . . ." And after several more paragraphs of uncontested pro-fascism testimonials blaming the state government and exonerating the more-ominous federal government, Sanford's ethical stance on the role of the federal government is repeatedly passed of as being merely ideological, thus:
If there is an ideological thread that runs through his actions, it seems libertarian. . . .
"It may seem out of character for a governor of a state with a struggling economy to turn down an offer of help," said Scott Huffmon, political science professor at Winthrop University who has watched Sanford's career. "However, there is an absolute ideological consistency to Mark Sanford. And to understand anything he does, you need to understand that."
End of report. That last testimonial may seem neutral, detached, or even sympathetic; but, note: 1) the omission of the more relevant constitutional stance Sanford is taking, 2) the refusal to discuss legality of the policy he is opposing, and 3) the use of the double-adjective modifier, absolute ideological. Neocon policies are "absolute ideological," as were those of the Nazis'. Ideology does not necessarily seek what is ethical or morally right; whereas adherence to the U.S. Constitution is rooted in the more root-level, philosophical defense of individual liberty, states' rights, and generally, the smallest and weakest central government possible. Corporatist media can't stand to give these moral and legal stances their just moment in the sun because they go against the truly ideological underpinnings of the systems by which corporatist media thrive, thus exposing the corporate state as immoral and illicit. So, they swiftly pass them off as fringe "ideology." That's right: according to the "largest and most trusted source of independent news and information," the supreme law of the land — meant to defend individual liberty and restrain the central government — is merely "ideology" at best.
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Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-12-21 07:11:24
nice work Dan! Love "Tyrant-elect", but I skipped over this in my next article and just started calling him King Obama.
I understand your point of view, but even if this government takes every last goldgram, cent, all my books and clothes, and my life and all lives I hold dear to me, they will never suck me dry. There hasn't been a chain invented that can tie down a man's mind.
And as far as "God help us", perhaps that's an expression, but that's not going to help one damn bit. Check the money - "In God We Trust" - the only possible solution lies elsewhere. DetainThis might be more apt, or as one of my acquaintances and heroines would say "Liberate this"
"Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they may seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail. Think of it: always."
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-12-21 07:20:58
Dan, this is a bit long, but I thought I would post it here anyways. From Lee Iacocca\'s new book, but you might find it inspiring as I have
Am I the only guy in this country who’s fed up with what’s happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We’ve got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we’ve got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can’t even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, \"Stay the course.\"
Stay the course? You’ve got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I’ll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!
You might think I’m getting senile, that I’ve gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we’re fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving ‘pom-poms’ instead of asking hard questions. That’s not the promise of the ‘ America ‘ my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I’ve had enough. How about you?
I’ll go a step further. You can’t call yourself a patriot if you’re not outraged. This is a fight I’m ready and willing to have.
The Biggest ‘C’ is Crisis !
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It’s easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else’s kids off to war when you’ve never seen a battlefield yourself. It’s another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down. George Bush, Dick Chaney and who is this Bozo coming up next? One of the most Liberal Idiots in the U.S. Senate, and he is talking about disarming America . I can’t believe the
American people aren’t seeing what he is about to do to this country. May God have mercy on us all.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess. So here’s where we stand. We’re immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We’re running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We’re losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great Companies are all moving offshore. We’re getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are the worst in the world. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership and we are getting ready to put the most Liberal Senator in the U.S. Senate in as our next President because we want to be fair and elect someone just because of his race. We don’t have time to be fair, we need a strong leader.
But when you look around, you’ve got to ask: ‘Where have all the leaders gone?’ Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I hope you get the point.
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We’ve spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm. Everyone’s hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn’t happen again. Well guess what people? We are having more floods right now. What are we doing to help these people out? Now, that’s just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you’re going to do the next time. Why are we allowing people to build in flood plains anyway? If you build in a flood area, expect to be flooded and deal with it. Don’t expect the Government to bail you out.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. All they seem to be thinking now-days is getting themselves bigger salaries and bonuses. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when ‘The Big Three’ referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it? Likely nothing!
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry. I have news for the gang in Congress and the Senate. We didn’t elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don’t you guys show some spine for a change? I honestly don’t think any of you have one!
Had Enough?
Hey, I’m not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I’m trying to light a fire. I’m speaking out because I have hope; I believe in America … In my lifetime I’ve had the privilege of living through some of America’s greatest moments I’ve also experienced some of our worst crises: the ‘Great Depression’, ‘World War II’, the ‘Korean War’, the ‘Kennedy Assassination’, the ‘Vietnam War’, the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s this:
‘You don’t get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it’s building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That’s the challenge I’m raising in this book. It’s a call to ‘Action’ for people who, like me, believe in America . It’s not too late, but it’s getting pretty close. So let’s shake off the crap and go to work. Let’s tell ‘em all we’ve had ‘enough.’
Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: 2008-12-21 08:09:35
"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one." -Charles Mackay
The bulk of the herd is eating propaganda, for every meal the propagandists would be crazy to stop delivering it now.
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