Chris Hedges: Corporatist America

[Shallah Kali]

Run time: 14:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI9VzSJjXfg   Posted on YouTube: April 15, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheAlyonaShow Views on YouTube: 1202   Posted on DU: April 18, 2011 By DU Member: Shallah Kali Views on DU: 578

 

A battle over the budget is closing our schools, our libraries, firing our teachers and taking away collective bargaining rights. While the banks and largest corporations are also not paying any taxes, including Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, and GE. Protesters today gathered in NYC's Union Square for the Sound of Resistance protest. The Nation Institute's Chris Hedges weighs in.

Corporatism, Magical Thinking and Military Superpower a Dangerous Mix
http://www.goddiscussion.com/46170/corporatism-magical-thinking-and-military-superpower-a-dangerous-mix/

What is making the situation worse is the ignorance of politicians and others leaping around he fringes. He notes that we are the only industrialized nation of the world that argues over the existence of evolution. Magical thinking, combined with a military superpower, is frightening.

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What used to be unconstitutional is now legal, he says, pointing to illegal searches under the Patriot Act and corporate bailouts under the health care legislation. The rights and needs of citizens are being ignored in favor of corporations.

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"Civil disobedience is the only tool we have left," Hedges says. It is a process of years and years and it is unclear what triggers a massive reaction, such as the demonstrations in Egypt. "The tinder is here but what triggers it will probably be fairly innocuous," he predicted.

"My fear is that if those of us who care about an open society and care about protecting democracy don't begin to carry out acts of civil disobedience, this rage could be hijacked — or it already is being hijacked — by these proto-fascist movements gathered around the Tea Party that speak in the language of violence and bigotry; that celebrate the gun culture; that demonize Muslims, undocumented workers, homosexuals — Look, I've watched these kinds of movements grow in the breakdown of Yugoslavia and I don't take this rhetoric lightly."

[sagesnow]

1. Chris Hedges for President! n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. K & R