Have corporations silently replaced our government?

[Dyler Turden]

A simple question.

On edit: http://www.archive.org/details/The_Corporation_

[tanyev]

1. That reminds me, I've been meaning to read Jennifer Government again.

[Exilednight]

8. Excellent book. n/t

[tanyev]

24. It was such a hoot the first time I read it, when it all seemed so crazy and over the top.

Now...? :(

[Scruffy1]

16. How long have you been in a coma?

[struggle4progress]

18. +

[Yavin4]

2. Silently?

That's my answer.

[marmar]

20. +100

Ain't been nothin' quiet about it.

[Greyhound]

3. They weren't quiet about it at all. n/t

[BlueCaliDem]

4. I don't know if they've replaced them completely, but they're close.

During those twelve long years when Republicons had control of the Senate, and those overlapping eight when Bush had the WH, there can't be any doubt that Corporations have replaced our Government. At least, for those years.

Only now, as the Dems' eyes are opening, and we are beginning to realize how powerful corporations have become, thanks, in part, to the egregious, unconstitutional Citizens United ruling and how corporations were able to influence our elections, does it seem much more flagrant, and much more threatening to us.

The only power we have is our vote. That's one thing American corporations can't change, and if we're smart, we'll be careful who we vote into office in the next elections.

Just follow the money, and where the most travels, vote against it. At the moment, it's the Republicon Party.

[Uben]

5. No!

Simple answer.

Glad you weren't looking for the long version!

[Dyler Turden]

7. I disagree.

Simple answer.

To me it seems that all of our political motivations and actions od recent history have been motivated by corporate interests.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

25. go ahead ... give us the long version ...

I will go pour a tall drink in preparation for the reading thereof.

[movonne]

6. not so silently...they are doing it loudly and with all the money

and perks from the bush and cheney tax laws...we always wondered what was going on when cheney had all those closed meeting with the big corps...

[Angry Dragon]

9. Most knew cheney had no soul

now we know he has no heart either

[Subdivisions]

10. Yes!

Simple answer.

[Initech]

11. Citizen's United made the corporate coup official.

And we've only *JUST* begun to see the dangers of it with this election. It's only gonna get worse from here.

[applegrove]

33. I concur.

[StreetKnowledge]

36. Sadly true.

And in the long run, Americans will all pay for it.

[jeffrey_X]

12. To a certain degree, absolutely yes.

Biggest problem we are facing in politics IMO.

[mmonk]

13. Seems they have rather loudly IMO.

[JackRiddler]

14. Yes, about 65 years ago, and lately it hasn't been silent at all.

[TheKentuckian]

15. Silently???? Unrec!!!!!!!!!

I kid

[OlympicBrian]

17. Yes, and here is a lengthy description of how

Representation of the Often-Untaxed Elite - The US Corporatocracy
(original 10/29/2010, Dan S., Seattle; updated 11/12/2010 to include "Debt Commission Report" and other issues.)

"US corporatocracy" - the system of government that serves the interests of, and is essentially run by, corporations. The term describes neoliberalism in its US operational context, with all its components. It primarily seeks to further ties between government and business--where corporations, multi-national corporations, conglomerates, and private parties including political organizations and highly-paid corporate executives are the primary controls, and are the elite. Areas of control rely on direction and governance often tied to contrived (sometimes fearsome) mass-media visages of issues, ideas, and persons within the nation. Within the corporatocracy, objective news reporting is hard to find. The system depends on highly-paid "pundits" for dissemination of major themes--these themes are often repetitive and divisive. Moreover, pundits distract the public from the critical issues, facts, and figures they should be focusing on. Often times, these pundits--such as Glenn Beck--flat out misrepresent or lie...and millions of Americans are taken in. Thus, the activities of the corporatocracy go largely unnoticed.
...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9547340

[rhett o rick]

19. The question is what are we going to do about it? nm

[lunatica]

21. They've been raising the volume on their commercials for years. Quietly is hardly the word

But the answer is yes. We're already a captive audience whether we like it or not. But our overlords will be sure to keep us entertained with Dancing With The Stars, so it's OK.

[Rectangle]

22. They are now -----ONE!

[tblue37]

23. What's so silent about it? nt

[Prophet 451]

26. Yes. Next question? n/t

[Canuckistanian]

27. Ah, yes, "The Corporation". Excellent movie

It's shown here on Canadian TV every once in a while.

I even heard that it was required viewing for MBA graduates of the University of Waterloo , as part of their ethics classes.

[deacon]

28. They took a giant leap forward thanks to John Roberts. n/t

[Historic NY]

29. According to Roberts, Scalia & Alito they have.

[Catherina]

30. Yes. n/t

[SoCalDem]

31. There's been nothing silent about it.. They have done it boldly..n/t

[jotsy]

32. I'm afraid I'm compelled to disagree.

That's a loaded question if ever there was one!

The issue I see addressed for the most part up and down the thread here is the question of whether the shift occurred silently. I contend that answer depends on when said shift occurred. I believe the PTB's agenda is likely in the realm of 60 to 75% complete before we as a society start to connect the dots. From there, just a defiant and distraught curious few find themselves labeled as 'fringe' and their warnings go unheeded.

So yes, the corporate coup was silent, after being exposed during the FDR years, stealth became an imperative. The reason it ain't silent now is the battle is over. We lost before we ever knew we were fighting, which I believe is characterized as a sucker punch.

If it's too bold of me to suggest that what you really want more feedback on is the how or why of it, I apologize.

This Don Henley song from 1995 speaks to a lot about how ugly the bulk of us have come to accept being.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80XsfEbUdNM&feature=related>

It was a pretty big year for fashion
A lousy year for rock and roll
The people gave their blessing to crimes of passion
It was a dark, dark night of the collective soul
I was somewhere out on Riverside
By the El Royale Hotel
When a stranger appeared in a cloud of smoke
I thought I knew him all too well

He said, "Now that I have your attention
I got somethin' I wanna say
You may not wanna hear it
I'm gonna tell it to you anyway
You know, I've always liked you, boy
'Cause you were not afraid of me
But things are gonna get mighty rough
Here in Gomorrah-By-The-Sea"

He said, "It's just like home
It's so damned hot, I can't stand it
My fine seersucker suit is all soakin' wet"

And the hills are burning
The wind is raging
And the clock strikes midnight
In the Garden of Allah

"Nice car.........
I love those Bavarians.....so meticulous
Y'know, I remember a time when things were a lot more fun around here
When good was good and evil was evil
Before things got so.......fuzzy
Yeah, I was once a golden boy like you
And I was summoned to the halls of power in the heavenly court
And I dined with the deities who looked upon me with favor
For my talents; my creativity
We sat beneath the palms in the warm afternoon
And drank the wine with Fitzgerald and Huxley

They pawned a biting phrase
From tongues hot with blood
And drained their pens of bitter ink
Vainly reaching for the bottle full of empty Edens
Branded specially for the ones
Who had come with great expectations
To the perfumed halls of Allah
For their time in the sun

We were stokin' the fires
And oilin' up the machinery
Until the gods found out we had ideas of our own"

And the war was coming
The earth was shaking
And there was no more room
In the Garden of Allah

"Today I made and appearance downtown
I am an expert witness, because I say I am
And I said, 'Gentleman....and I use that word loosely...I will testify for you
I'm a gun for hire, I'm a saint, I'm a liar
Because there are no facts,there is no truth,just data to be manipulated
I can get you any result you like....what's it worth to ya?
Because there is no wrong, there is no right
And I sleep very well at night
No shame, no solution
No remorse, no retribution
Just people selling t-shirts
just opportunity to participate in this pathetic little circus
And winning, winning, winning' "

It was a pretty big year for predators
The marketplace was on a roll
And the land of opportunity
Spawned a whole new breed of men without souls
This year, notoriety got all confused with fame
And the devil is downhearted
Because there's nothing left for him to claim

He said, "It's just like home
It's so low-down, I can't stand it
I guess my work around here has all been done

And the fruit is rotten
The serpent's eyes shine
As he wraps around the vine
In the Garden of Allah
in the Garden of Allah
in the Garden of Allah

[Dyler Turden]

34. Nicely answered.

BUT Don Henley? :)

[jotsy]

40. As a human, I am flawed.

A bubblegum princess from the 70's who never vacated the shelter of mainstream music.

I would hope the merit of the work outweighs the...holding your nose part!LOL.

[Imagevision]

35. "Have corporations silently replaced our government?" The weakest post I've ever read here in 3 year

Big business founded this country and will continue to run it, anyone doubting this should stop reading the news and try comic books...

[Dyler Turden]

39. Sorry to be such a disappointment to you.

But thank you for taking the time to let me know what a weak post this was.

[OlympicBrian]

37. Complete description of said system

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9554944

[OlympicBrian]

38. Complete description of said system

Recently updated, from the global perspective, no less...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9554944

[readmoreoften]

41. Silently?

[MrScorpio]

42. According to Arthur Jensen, "There are no governments".

Please don't try meddle with The Primal Forces of Nature...

You might have to atone.