By Glenn R. Jackson

Ahhhhh…the relentless pursuit of the truth. Isn’t it refreshing to hear the real story, to understand the underlying causes of our national issues and to be clear about all the right answers. It would be, but instead the relentless and unstoppable drumbeat of a brewing political civil war is in the air and on the airwaves. Republicans are poisoning the air and Democrats hate America, conservatives want to turn people out into the streets and liberals want to giveaway every cent of your hard earned money (but not theirs), and every uttered comment depicts a huge gulf between both sides. Such a gulf, such a difference in viewpoint is presented as being irreconcilable, constituting a deepening threat, and effectively preventing any beneficial steps being taken for America’s national interest. Clearly we have reached the point of a civil war of words, but will things go beyond that?

Nope.

If you believe that the real battle in this nation is between the forces of liberalism and conservatism, between big government and limited government, or between strict constitutional interpretations and “living document” constitutional interpretations let this be the beginning of your wake-up call.

Since the end of the Cold War the real battle has been the one to save the nation from Corporatism, i.e. the subjugation of national interest to those of corporate interest. Some call it globalism, but don’t be misled; globalism is one of the few things still MADE IN THE USA. U.S. Corporations are no longer thinking American, but instead think of themselves in a world without borders. You, my fellow Americans, are only a commodity, and a darn expensive one at that. With financial resources providing a capability to grease the political machines, U.S. Corporations can “afford” to pay little attention to our national interest and focus instead on “special” interest.

How we came to this point of corporate ascendancy is probably as simple as the elimination of the Soviet threat. Extricating ourselves from this mess will be harder to do then it is to identify. To start, it is necessary to clearly interpret events around you and to see how corporate America is undermining the nation.

“Major U.S. companies are promoting tax schemes that deprive the Treasury of tens of Billions of dollars while sending millions to European governments” “U.S. taxpayers get stuck with the tab” (Oct. 22 Atlanta Journal/Constitution)
Russell (athletic sportswear) will cut U.S. staff by 10% but plans to build a $50 million textile factory in Honduras and employ up to 700.
“U.S. workers may have to get used to lower wages, said Harris Miller, president of the Information Technology Association of America.” As U.S. payrolls approach Third World levels “The silver lining of this wage pressure, Miller said, is that a ‘more competitive payroll picture may undercut U.S. companies” plans to move jobs offshore. (Oct. 21 AJC)
“Jared Bernstein (Sr. Economist EPI) has taken a look at the hours being worked by families, rather than individuals.” The declines found were of a magnitude that had historically been commensurate with double-digit unemployment rates.’”

So with the fog of a trumped up civil war filling the air and the airwaves, U.S. corporations relentlessly pursue corporate interests at the expense of our national interests. While the willing “lapdogs” of the left AND the right provide mind numbing rhetorical cover to the sellout of the American people, their traditions, and their heritage.

“It’s the economy stupid” has morphed into keep them stupid about the economy.

“Lawyers for Enron Corp shareholders and workers allege that Enron created complex, largely hidden financing structures to inflate its revenue and profit, hide debt from view, delay reporting losses and enrich some executives who ran them, the Washington Post reported.”

“New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is in talks with mutual fund companies, including Janus Capital Group and Bank One Corp. to settle allegations of improper trading of fund shares. Spitzer's office is also in talks with Bank of America Corp., which was accused of having allowed New Jersey hedge fund Canary Capital Partners to make illegal after-market trades of mutual funds.”

Yes, pure and simple greed is the fuel to the betrayal of the American people and American foundations. It is a greed that will leave your children and grandchildren the first generation in America WORSE OFF then their parents.

Globalization has an American face with its greatest victims being America’s citizens. Its defeat will take each and every U.S. citizen engaged in a revolt against the forces of corporate citizenship.

Glenn Jackson is Chairman of the American Reformation Project. His columns also appear on EtherZone. Glenn was a founding Board member and first President of the National Association for the Employment of Americans (NAEA), and organized and facilitates the efforts of the 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. Glenn holds an MA in Philosophy from Georgia State University in Atlanta.