Friday, October 20, 2006
More on waning democracy
As has been argued by people far smarter than me, the term capitalist democracy is a bit of a misnomer, in that at their core they are fundamentally opposed notions. Capitalism is far more compatible with fascism or totalitarianism. Why? Because the bottom line doesn't like to be challenged. What we're starting to see is a convergence between the US, Russia, and China on how governance looks and acts in regard to the people and corporations that populate each of those nations.
The US has just passed the Military Commissions Act. A rather bland title for an act that gives the president and his cronies (which cronies? That's a state secret, sorry. . .) the right to suspend habeas corpus, interrogate by torture (though we don't call it that) and screw your right to a jury trial. Citizen or non-citizen. Olbermann's powerful take on it is here (trust me, spend the 8-plus minutes watching). We are, as noted in the previous post, slipping toward a soft totalitarianism in this nation.
China, as we know, is experiencing huge economic growth by embracing a state capitalism, as long as its citizens do not stir up the pot by demanding political reform. Its not socialism at all anymore, it is in fact fascism, the merging of corporate and state power.
Russia is moving in similar ways. Frustrated with the openness and corruption of the early democratic era in the former USSR, its citizens seem pretty content with economic growth and strongman politics. Putin, the new czar, has consolidated his power over media and all aspects of civil society to stiffle opposition to his policies. Major NGOs are being tossed out of the nation--these human rights groups monitor abuses of power; once they're gone they'll be little left to stop him. Those reporters who do challenge the Russian government often end up like Anna Politkovskaya. 23 of them have been killed in Russia since 1996-- at least a dozen in 'contract-style assasinations' since Putin first took office. All were outspoken critics of his government. Coincidence?
If you believe that I've got a tattered original copy of the US Constitution I'd like to sell you. It's going out of vogue and can be bought real cheap these days.
As has been argued by people far smarter than me, the term capitalist democracy is a bit of a misnomer, in that at their core they are fundamentally opposed notions. Capitalism is far more compatible with fascism or totalitarianism. Why? Because the bottom line doesn't like to be challenged. What we're starting to see is a convergence between the US, Russia, and China on how governance looks and acts in regard to the people and corporations that populate each of those nations.
The US has just passed the Military Commissions Act. A rather bland title for an act that gives the president and his cronies (which cronies? That's a state secret, sorry. . .) the right to suspend habeas corpus, interrogate by torture (though we don't call it that) and screw your right to a jury trial. Citizen or non-citizen. Olbermann's powerful take on it is here (trust me, spend the 8-plus minutes watching). We are, as noted in the previous post, slipping toward a soft totalitarianism in this nation.
China, as we know, is experiencing huge economic growth by embracing a state capitalism, as long as its citizens do not stir up the pot by demanding political reform. Its not socialism at all anymore, it is in fact fascism, the merging of corporate and state power.
Russia is moving in similar ways. Frustrated with the openness and corruption of the early democratic era in the former USSR, its citizens seem pretty content with economic growth and strongman politics. Putin, the new czar, has consolidated his power over media and all aspects of civil society to stiffle opposition to his policies. Major NGOs are being tossed out of the nation--these human rights groups monitor abuses of power; once they're gone they'll be little left to stop him. Those reporters who do challenge the Russian government often end up like Anna Politkovskaya. 23 of them have been killed in Russia since 1996-- at least a dozen in 'contract-style assasinations' since Putin first took office. All were outspoken critics of his government. Coincidence?
If you believe that I've got a tattered original copy of the US Constitution I'd like to sell you. It's going out of vogue and can be bought real cheap these days.
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