Hightower: From Democracy to Plutocracy: Nothing conservative about Walker's autocratic power grab

[highplainsdem]

I found this at Truthout this morning, but it was originally on the Institute for Policy Studies website Other Words:

http://www.otherwords.org/articles/from_democracy_to_plutocracy

http://www.truth-out.org/democracy-plutocracy-theres-nothing-conservative-about-gov-walkers-autocratic-power-grab/1303737263

April 25, 2011
From Democracy to Plutocracy
There's nothing conservative about Gov. Walker's autocratic power grab.
By Jim Hightower


In American politics, the past not only sticks with us, but it often provides the best definition of what's going on in the politics of the present, so it can be useful to revisit some powerful words from our history.

Today's media and political powers, for example, keep using the word "conservative" to describe current political trends in our democratic republic. Poor choice of words. From the Koch brothers to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, from GOP House Speaker John Boehner to such anti-worker governors as Scott Walker of Wisconsin, an autocratic power grab is underway to enthrone corporate power and moneyed elites to rule unilaterally over our government, economy, and environment. There's nothing conservative about that.

Rather, a word from America's past best encapsulates their goal: plutocracy. It's the direct opposite of democracy, which is government by the many, by all of the people--by us. Plutocracy, on the other hand, is government by the wealthy--by them and for them.

-snip-

Busting unions, unleashing corporate money in politics, restricting access to courts, and gutting financial and environmental regulation--all of these and more are about supplanting our democracy with their plutocracy.

-snip-

He's right about that -- their policies are not conservative, and they are designed to supplant democracy with plutocracy.

And I agree completely that we need to start using the correct term for these people -- plutocrats. I've posted about that before

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x570787

[Tippy]

1. I admit calling them conservative is so wrong

but plutocrats work for me....

[buddysmellgood]

2. What do they conserve? Only their own wealth.

[highplainsdem]

3. +1

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, highplainsdem.:thumbsup:

[highplainsdem]

5. You're welcome, Uncle Joe! Thanks for the rec!