Laurey, you're probably right in saying that fascism isn't a
sufficiently strong word, but I don't know of another word to use that
encompasses my meaning - Mussolini once called it "Corporatism" and
saw it as a synonym for fascism - control of government by
corporations. Alas, the US has a very long history - going all the
way back to it's founding - of Corporatism/Fascism.
No disrespect intended, but I think it's an English/Germanic cultural
thing.
On Mar 31, 2013, at 1:49 PM, de Bivort Lawrence wrote:
Much as it pains me to do so, I must agree with you. Your list of
President Obama's profound mistakes and betrayals of those who
campaigned for him could easily be three times as long, as your
examples suggest.
I hope that in the future I can see it it as mere politics, but it
now seems more morally bankrupt than that.
I don't know if the term "fascist" is broad enough to encompass all
those who now seem to have achieved greedy power over the
instruments of governance.
On Mar 31, 2013, at 11:22 AM, [email protected] wrote:
Protection for big business - in this case, agribusiness, but this
is just one instance in a series. Willingness to cut future social
security payments. Drone warfare. CIA appointees.
The list goes on.
Bottom line is that Obama is a politician. Currently, there are no
populist politicians of merit in the Federal government, as best I
can tell. Currently, there are no truly progressive members of the
Obama administration.
I don't foresee a change in the near future. It seems that in the
US at least, the Fascists have won via other means.
On Mar 31, 2013, at 11:35 AM, D & N wrote:
Further evidence of reversal of progress.
Natalia
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57576835/critics-slam-obama-for-protecting-monsanto/
By
Lindsey Boerma /
CBS News/ March 28, 2013, 2:13 PM
Critics slam Obama for "protecting" Monsanto
There's no love lost between Washington and the American public,
it seems, five days after Congress for the first time in years
managed to handle a budget-related issue without reaching the
brink of crisis.
Protesters have descended on Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White
House this week, enraged at a potentially health-hazardous
provision they allege lawmakers inserted surreptitiously into a
continuing resolution (CR) that will fund the government through
the remainder of the fiscal year. The bill sailed through the
Capitol on Friday; President Obama signed it into law on Tuesday.
Opponents have termed the language in question the "Monsanto
Protection Act," a nod to the major agricultural biotech
corporation and other like firms geared at producing genetically
modified organisms (GMO) and genetically engineered (GE) seeds and
crops. The provision protects genetically modified seeds from
litigation suits over health risks posed by the crops' consumption.
Food safety advocacy groups like Food Democracy Now, which
collected more than 250,000 signatures on a petition calling for
the president to veto the CR, argue not enough studies have been
conducted into the possible health risks of GMO and GE seeds.
Eliminating judicial power to halt the selling or planting of them
essentially cuts off their course to ensuring consumer safety
should health risks emerge.
Stopgap spending bill passes in the Senate
House passes stopgap funding bill, fate in Senate uncertain
Seeking a "balance" to the newly minted law, Food Democracy Now
has shifted its tactics to encouraging supporters to sign and send
letters to Mr. Obama, chiding him for signing the legislation
despite that refusal to do so would have expired the federal
budget and triggered a government-wide shutdown this week.
Part of the template for the letter reads: "In an effort to
balance this violation of our basic rights, I am urging you as
President to issue an Executive Order to require the mandatory
labeling of genetically engineered foods, something that you
promised farmers while on the campaign trail in 2007. It is urgent
that the U.S. government rectify the 20 year old politically
engineered loophole and allow for open and transparent labeling of
genetically engineered foods," the letter continues, "a basic
right that citizens in 62 others countries already enjoy."
Other groups have aimed their ire toward the more worthy target,
criticizing Congress for slipping the language into a must-pass
bill without review by the Agricultural or Judiciary Committees.
The International Business Times reports that the Center for Food
Safety is putting in the hot seat Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.,
chairwoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee, for not giving
the amendment a proper hearing. According to Salon, many members
of Congress who voted to approve the bill were unaware the
language existed.
"In this hidden backroom deal, Sen. Mikulski turned her back on
consumer, environmental and farmer protection in favor of
corporate welfare for biotech companies such as Monsanto," Andrew
Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, said
in a statement, according to IBT. "This abuse of power is not the
kind of leadership the public has come to expect from Sen.
Mikulski or the Democrat Majority in the Senate."
© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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