Chris Floyd argues that America is no longer a democracy.
I find it hard to argue with him. Where is he wrong?
This in particular:
As in Rome, all the old forms will still be there: legislatures, elections, campaigns – plenty of bread and circuses for the folks. But the "consent of the governed" will no longer apply; actual control of the state will have passed to a small group of nobles who rule largely for the benefit of their wealthy peers and corporate patrons.I'm now very depressed.
It won't come with jackboots and book burnings, with mass rallies and fevered harangues. It won't come with "black helicopters" or tanks on the street. It won't come like a storm – but like a break in the weather, that sudden change of season you might feel when the wind shifts on an October evening: everything is the same, but everything has changed.There is only one thing that will make me believe America has not been subverted beyond ANY of the ideals she once represented: If Bush and Cheney are impeached and serve prison time for the crimes they have openly committed.
I agree with you, Billy.
ReplyDeleteWhere is he wrong?
I haven't disagreed with Chris more than a few times in the past several years, and more than half of those times it has turned out that he was right!
Oh, we're definitely already there, for sure. I think that breeze has been blowing strong for the past 6 years. And we've *really* learned there's not a damned thing to do about it.
ReplyDeleteWait. I take that back. There *is* something we could do about it -- but a HUGE number of people would actually, not only have to CARE, but get off their butts and SAY they care. Not by flying flags on Sept. 11 or putting a ribbon magnet on their car -- but by organizing protests day and and day out, getting out into the streets -- basically bringing the economy to a standstill.
But, then we'd see the black helicopters and the tanks in the streets -- so maybe there really isn't *anything* we can do.
The only person running right now that I get the feeling *cares* about any of this anymore -- about our country, about how the world views our country -- about putting priorities in order is John Edwards.
I think everyone else is just tryin' to "get" while the gettin's good. I think that's one reason the Democrats don't stand up against Bush -- cuz they know how much power they're gonna get, and by God, they're not going to give that up.
Sorry for rambling...