"Fascism in the 21st century"

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation,

the first thing to be bought and sold are legislators.

P. J. O'Rourke

"Historically when we talk about fascism we think about Mussolini and his replacement of the elected parliament with corporate representatives.

How many voters give more than $1,000 to political candidates,

and what proportion of the population and contributions do they represent?

After all, he invented the word "fascism" to describe the merger of corporate and state interests.

What is a capitalist democracy that subsidizes to eliminate failure?

And today when we talk about fascism, we talk about how corporations are buying off politicians in Washington, and taking control of our democracy.

When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living in society,

they create for themselves, in the course of time,

a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.

Frederic Bastiat

But what about fascism that doesn't even involve governments, except to enforce contracts?

We're witnessing a new era of fascism, where corporations are creating intrusive and over-bearing terms and conditions that customers click to agree to without even reading.

The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history,

whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.

Thomas Jefferson

As a result, corporations in America have acquired king-like power, while we're the poor serfs that must abide by their every rule or else.

...It's time for us all to start saying "wait a minute."

Could many who believe the government

should pledge their children’s future income

to prevent the failure of insolvent businesses and/or countries

be indirectly advocating a political system other than capitalistic democracy?

We need to have a national conversation, and establish clear guidelines on what corporations can and can't do in those never-ending lists of terms and conditions.

Fascism is capitalism in decay.

Vladimir Lenin

And we need to put those guidelines into law, so [others] can't spy on you in the bedroom..."

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/21949-the-new-fascism-terms-and-conditions
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"The Merger of State and Commerce"

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-merger-of-state-and-commerce.html

The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe

if the people tolerate the growth of private power

to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself

That, in essence, is fascism

ownership of government by an individual

by a group or by any other controlling power

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Counterfeit Money, Counterfeit Policy

http://hartzman.blogspot.com/2012/02/counterfeit-money-counterfeit-policy.html

"For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent"

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

How many advanced degrees are awarded annually worldwide
compared to American graduates
are there job openings for new workers to fill
and how much pay will who accept where for what, when and why?

Was it justifiable for the baby boom
to promise themselves trillions worth of unfunded benefits
like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
for future generations to pay for?

What could happen if high school graduates
can’t afford or finance higher education
while indebted graduates can’t find jobs paying enough to cover bills?

Who writes most of the legislation regulating corporate America?

What could happen
if a new generation of middle class college graduates can’t find jobs?

If the natural cycle of laissez faire capitalism
revolves between risk and aversion
what should happen if government intervention perverts the process
to forestall short term economic pain?

What could happen if a generation
of underemployed, underpaid, educated and indebted young adults
became disillusioned by their elders’ financial mismanagement
and sought to identify and punish those responsible?

Is dissent the highest form of patriotism?

"Capitalism without financial failure is not capitalism at all

but a kind of socialism for the rich"

James Grant

Have the educated underemployed
instigated most rebellions?

Do some politicians pacify the electorate with platitudes
while promising the status quo to those enjoying legislated benefits?

Is stability a legitimate reason to repress justified dissent?

Should economic plans designed to fix large, complex predicaments
rely on those who created and profited from the initial problems
who may not have wanted to identify and confront them
when they were small, relatively unknown and lucrative?