Estato Corporativo…
a new danger on our shores
By Glenn R. Jackson
Explaining the follies of the Bush administration with “neo-conservatives” as the prime movers and shakers should be galling to real conservative. There is nothing of American conservatism in the “neo-con” make-up. What is occurring in this country under the dreadful stewardship of George W. Bush has nothing to do with conserving the principles and institutions of the U.S., but with the seeking, controlling and directing of raw power. The U.S. quite clearly is economically and militarily a very powerful nation. That level of power does not lie fallow for very long without someone noticing.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Bloc, a “war to end all wars” mentality took hold in this country. Without a significant threat as balance, all of that raw power cried out to be used in some manner. Seeking that power came two groups, one composed of corporate/Wall Street players and the other of political/governmental players. The corporate players saw the economic colossus of the United States and saw a chance for unlimited wealth for themselves and the creation of a new “Globalist” class of citizens. On the other hand the players in the political philosophy camp saw the chance for a superpower U.S. to remake the world into their vision of a “New World Order,”
Neither group of players’ worldview could trace its roots to conservatism; indeed both visions were anathema to the founding principles of the nation. It also became quickly clear that neither group of players could adequately control or direct the great power of the United States. And while these two groups focused on bending the power of the U.S. to their wills, the power they sought began to transform them. To implement a new world order centered on the power of the United States each group found that they had to encompass all aspects of that U.S. power.
The old cliché “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” holds sway today, as always, as each group had their visions of power morph into one familiar vision, estato corporativo: the corporatist state.
It matters not one whit whether there was an intention to head down this path, in seeking the POWER this is the result. The checks and balances that should be provided by “we the people” have been silenced by massive corporate money, by a polarized electorate, and by a diluted American voice. And statesmen, politically connected and recognized voices of reason, have been sidelined deliberately in favor of “men of action.”
Whether by personal choice, or by the design and direction of others, either or which when coupled with the complete lack of care, thought, and interest shown by President Bush, positioned the Bush administration to become the vehicle by which Estato Corporativo is growing into its American form. The administration’s use of national security concerns to deflect examination and criticism (read – Wrapping themselves in the flag and standing behind the sacrifices of real Americans) is being played for all its worth. When the real agenda of the Bush administration is to care and feed the corporate state.
Consider – if national security is so important why are the borders still wide open? Why are “guest-worker” programs being floated that in their effect have actually INCREASED illegal entries into the country (as documented by groups like The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and Federation of Americans for Immigration Reform (FAIR))? Why is employment in the hard skill careers (engineer, programmer, information technology, etc.) falling, versus the soft skill careers of retail, hospitality, and “construction?” Why are national assets like IBM’s PC division and an American oil company like Unocal being sold without comment or concern from the Bush administration, to China a national security “competitor?” Are not these issues of concern to “national security?”
The answer of course is that the new agenda is not about protecting the nation, but in using the national power of the United States to implement a new vision, a global vision it would appear. No, there is nothing conservative about America’s current rulers. The grab for power has melded two visions and the result is not neo-conservative…its not conservative at all.
What we are seeing take form is a new danger on our shores…the rise of neo-fascism.
Glenn R. Jackson is the founder of the American Reformation Project, Board Member of Hire American Citizens, and Member National Board of Advisors for FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform). Glenn was a founding Board member and first President of the National Association for the Employment of Americans (NAEA), and organizer of American Jobs Coalition (organizations fighting against the American Worker Replacement Program). Glenn is also a former State Chairman for Buchanan 2000 Presidential campaign, and former state Chairman of the Georgia Freedom Party (a Reform Party affiliate). Glenn holds an MA in Philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
© Glenn R. Jackson