Free Enterprise or Fascism?

[unlawflcombatnt]

The Republicans used to whine about "big government" and "government interference." Now they're the biggest supporters of big government. Once in awhile they disgustingly blurt out such nonsense as "onerous regulatory burdens." But basically the Republicans are now the party of big government, big spending, deficit creation,
and welfare -- "corporate" welfare, that is.

"Free enterprise" now means freedom to stifle competition, freedom to monopolize the market, freedom to create giant mega-corporations through anti-competitive mergers, freedom to take private property from individuals, freedom to renege on pension obligations, and freedom to seek as much taxpayer funding for their mis-managed businesses as possible. Is this the new definition of "free enterprise"? Does free enterprise now really mean "freedom" to obtain as much corporate welfare as they can lobby and bribe the government to give them? Is this "freedom," or even "free enterprise"? I think some would label this kind of "freedom" as fascism.

I'm one of them.

[LSparkle]

1. We're all free to worry ourselves to death ...

about all the stuff you pointed out. "Free market" capitalism is looking more and more dim to me; it's more like "the law of the jungle" and not very civilized at all.

[DIKB]

2. I agree

as Benito Mussolinni, the father of modern facism, stated "Facism should more appropriately be called corporatism, because it is the merging of corporate and political power."

[unlawflcombatnt]

6. Fascism and Mussolini

DIKB,

Thanks for that Mussolini quote. I wasn't aware of that statement. Our economy certainly fits this description today.

[wli]

3. "History is a reminder of what's possible."

Bush said that at Auschwitz. He's planning more than repression, folks.

[unlawflcombatnt]

9. Bush-ism's

Bush appears to have a terminal case of "foot-in-mouth" disease. We'd be better off if he just spent all of his time riding his bicycle.

[PsycheCC]

10. 2008 seems so far off. I hate thinking of all the damage he'll do

with his republican congress between now and then. I'm sure he'll get to appoint at least one more Supreme Court Justice; that alone will change our direction for decades. There really is no justice.

I wish he'd ride that bike in traffic.:evilgrin:

[schrodingers_cat]

4. I agree!

I've lived overseas, and was educated by friends there on the definition of fascism. It's not a meaning that I was taught here in school.
Because my stateside friends' eyes glazed over every time I brought politics up, I started to do some online research. So much of what was going on smelled so strongly of this ideology. My online searches are what brought me to DU - a number of DU posts came up alongside other sites! What a bonus!!! So glad to have found myself here - y'all re preaching to the little choir in my heart.

[PsycheCC]

5. I like what Harry Reid said about deficits.

I don't recall the quote exactly, but it was something like: The other day they had a party over at the White House to celebrate that they had only the third largest deficit in history. This penchant for big government is one reason I left the Republican party. I had never liked their social agenda, but I believe in small government. The Republicans used to talk a good game, but really all recent Republican presidents have been big spenders. They just like to spend it on tax cuts for the rich.

Yes, they're all for freedom, as long as it's all about their freedom to exploit the working class. The "ownership society"; that's where the rich own the poor, right?

[unlawflcombatnt]

7. Rich Owning the Poor

PsycheCC,

That's exactly what will happen. When Americans get poor enough, they'll work for less and tolerate more slave-like working conditions. When the bankruptcy bill starts taking effect, many workers will be forced to pay off old debts with their current income. They'll be subject to even more legal action for not paying bills. They may even be jailed when "inability" to pay debts is interpreted as "refusal" to pay debts. This seems extreme, but I wouldn't put anything past the Bush Corporatocracy.

[PsycheCC]

8. I hope it doesn't come back ot debtors' prisons, but I also wouldn't

be surprised by much anymore. I guess what they really want is freedom to be fascist. We can't give away this country. We've worked too hard for it. I hope people will listen to writers like you, and take action.

Contacting House members about CAFTA would be one good deed an economic patriot, as you call us, could do. http://www.house.gov/