We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

One American Who Isn’t for Sale

Click here to access article by Robert Scheer from TruthDig.

What isn't made explicit in this article, but is implicit in its content, is the marvelous way our ruling class has slipped fascism into our government and lives. I'm referring to the integration of corporations with the government, and the absolute control of the latter by the former. 

The beauty of their accomplishment is that few people recognize it for what it is simply because our clever ruling capitalist class directors have dressed it in different clothing. We don't see goose-stepping soldiers parading down the street. We don't see references to a "fatherland". We don't see a half-crazed fuhrer spouting hatred against some minority groups. This current neoliberal brand of fascism comes packaged with an articulate, charming, nice African-American fellow who lulls us to sleep with pleasant reassurances. 
Our data is their commerce, and ever since 9/11, observing us has become mega lucrative. “Booz Allen Hamilton,” The New York Times reported Sunday, “has become one of the largest and most profitable corporations in the United States almost exclusively by serving a single client: the government of the United States.” The word “serving” might be pushing it here, since 98 percent of the firm’s revenue of $5.8 billion last year came from the taxpayers, who are the same folks being spied upon.