Saturday, January 23, 2010

Post-Democracy

This week the Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that democracy was unconstitutional. The question is, what will replace it?
  • Corporatism - Certainly this was the intention of the Roman Catholic conservatives (Kennedy, Alito, Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas) on the Supreme Court. Historically, the most successful Corporatist state was Italy in the 1920's and 30's. It is no accident that one of the leading Corporatists of the time was Pope Pius XI and that his disciple is up for sainthood. Corporatism, put simply, is when a country exists solely for the benefit of corporations. The key element is government and large corporations are valued while individual rights and freedoms are sacrificed. Corporate welfare will be widespread while individual welfare is ignored. Labor will be specifically targeted for oppression.
  • Kleptocracy - Government by and for thieves. The most successful in recent history was Indonesia in the latter part of the 20th century. Laws are passed through bribery. The government exists to tax the lower and middle classes so money can flow directly into the pockets of a ruling elite. Think Goldman Sachs.
  • Plutocracy - Rule by the wealthy. This would be a country where Rupert Murdoch and Richard Scaife tell the government what to do and the government meekly complies. The most successful example is New York City under Michael Bloomberg.
Democracy had a nice run and I'm sure we'll miss it. It won't be long now before there is a federal law requiring advertising slogans be tattooed on our foreheads as a condition of employment.

2 comments:

joel hanes said...

I am anticipating the time, not many years hence, when Exxon Corporation, or perhaps Olin, is the Republican candidate for President, opposed by the Democratic nominee, SEIU.

Ben & Jerry's will make a fine Vermont governor, I think; and I'm looking forward to the diligent committee work of Odwalla Fruit Juices in its freshman year as a California state legislator.

PoliShifter said...

Unfortunately I doubt many will notice...they are too busy voting on American Idol or watching Jersy Shore or whatever "reality" TV show is today's popular fad.