great post. Now, how do you tell people how much corporations influence their daily lives without them thinking you are a consipracy theorist?

 

Michael, on the subject of the US as a proto-fascist state I think some very good work has been written by Paul Street. He has a blog through ZNet if you're interested. Also---I seem to recommend this a lot these days---there's a great essay called "Ur-Fascism" by Umberto Eco.

I think you're right that large corporations should be the focus of more activist energy. Street suggests that certain media institutions should also be a major target. Anyway I don't think Pilger's and Monbiot's views are mutually exclusive; imagine you're some scumbag like Bush or Cheney and you get up in the morning and think "why not have both?"

 

The Corpocracy is definitely upon us.

 

graeme - i think adbusters do a good job. the link is in my link section.

keir - will look at the paul street and Umberto thing stuff, and i see what you mean.

edjog - keep me posted

meil - aye (its time to get all scottish about it. i am just about to add this to the post. i forgot earlier. and yes he does know what he is doing

 

Michael...
There were 150 community gatherings in the States last weekend - and I understand more this weekend - primarily concerning Iraq, but I want to quickly relate what happened at one I moderated today in northern Minnesota. We had 150 attendees, and while I was instructed to keep people on topic, they quickly determined they wanted to talk almost exclusively about the Fascist dictatorship of George W. Bush. Now, as flammatory as this might have gotten, I was pleased that the attendees stayed focused, citing reference materials we might all read and explore, and what citizens in the States need to do to take back their government - beginning at the grass roots in their local communities. I came away feeling far more optimistic, but do wonder how long I'll feel that way as our President joins with others in ramping up the rhetoric and saber rattling about "grave threats".
Thanks for letting me go on - like the changes you've made on the site.

 

My son sent me the Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky book "Manufacturing Consent" and it should be high school required reading. Interesting and sometimes frightening insight on corporate control.

 

people like me?

you don't know me.

Not all fascism looks like adolf hitler.

Big corporations were intrinsically involved in the nazi project. hitler had a lot of support from major industrialists, despite the rhetoric.

i have seen this "it's the left who are the nazi's" talk in several places. this comes with people who try to label anyone who disagrees with some of what the state of israel does as 'anti-semitic'.

well, i for one have never advocated aggressive war, draconian security legislation (patriot act. terrorism bill). i do not advocate detention without trial or torture. I believe in total freedom of speech, obviously including people who disagree with me - just like you.

i am wondering which part of this brings me close to National socialism?

 

Hey there Micheal- enigma here- you really did a wonderful job on this post, you carefully explained and delineated the differences concerning Fascism, the important thing is that no the players are not the same and their tactics are not the same, but the damage and the level of destruction upon a society can be measured and defined- and hence the Diagnosis of fascism revealed- the previous commenter ( mr Kramer) is wrong, and his historical and philosophical focus are even askew- you had the picture right friend...When Corporations and Government form an incestual relationship and decide to rule for themsleves not the people- Trouble is a'brewing....keep writing and blogging and thinking...people here in the States are fed up with the Dictator...to be honest I have lived in three states under his regime- and I don't know a soul who voted for this regime- not ONE....they are dangerous and hated....it is scary times here in the States...but we are doing our best to get them out...and soon...

 

yeah, scary it is.

and our PM is his poodle.

for the record, the last time the UK said not to the USA was vietnam