LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Bush Authoritarianism: Blackwater+Amway=GOP

This is a series that's been running in Daily Kos, of which four parts have appeared so far, apparently with more to come.

There are numerous hyperlinks in the original. The author rejects the term "fascism," preferring the clumsy "bush authoritarianism." Vaquero says it's got to be "bushismo", which says the same thing, but comes more trippingly from the tongue and with fewer keystrokes.

What is most interesting in some ways that comes out of this series is how it links blackwater with amway. yes.

The series really doesn't hit its stride until part 3, getting to the "prosperity gospel" -- god wants you to be rich . . . that is muchly part of blackwater prince's doctrine.

From part 1:

[ ...the essence of fascist states, the binding characteristic that existed in all fascist system, was that the state was supreme, or at least had primacy over all other institutions. A company like Blackwater, which takes money from federal tax revenues and provides military services for profit would most likely not exist in a fascist system. Instead, Blackwater represents the extension of a highly authoritarian force that’s an extension of the government, but it exists to turn a profit, and is ultimately not accountable to the federal government. Thus, there’s a form of plunder in which the state exists not to embody a national essence or nationalist strivings, not as a product of laws, but as a means of transferring wealth from the citizens to corporations and individuals largely free of the oversight to which citizens and elected officials are supposed to be able to exercise over government employees and the agencies of the federal government.

I will name this new system Bush Authoritarianism, although George W. Bush is not it’s originator and probably could not describe it with much coherence. In fact, it’s not a coherent ideology as much as a hodge-podge of ideas and movements that have been grafted together, mostly out of political expedience (primarily the need to secure financial and electoral support), greed, and zealotry. Most of these trends pre-date the ascension to the Presidency of George W. Bush. Some of these characteristics explain how the Bush administration came about, and others are an extension of the Bush coalition and the administration’s practice of governance. ]


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/7/202253/460

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/14/214424/81

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/21/202247/19

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/10/29/101446/82

2 comments:

Frank Partisan said...

Fascism would be an incorrect term. I posted at my blog, precisely what fascism is.

It turns out that the contractors, contract others, who contract others, who by the time the $$ reaches the bottom, shoddy work is done. Who would think of hiring Iraqis to rebuild Iraq?

As for Blackwood, private contractors is too good a name for them. They are mercenaries.

Foxessa said...

You are right.

You will find no argument from me.

blackblahblahblah are nothing but mercenaries.

That they hold high the christian x does not change that.

More to the point though, is they are another way of pillaging our nation's treasury, at the price of the average citizen.

Who, probably, if they are allowed to continue, those average citizens will be sold into slavery for whatever ... non-payment of debt, non-payment of taxes, non-citizenship, also having been charge with a crime at any time for anything, even if proved innocent, etc.

Love, C.