Reflections, Observations, and Analyses Pertaining to the Canadian Political Scene
Monday, February 21, 2011
Paul Krugman and the Wisconsin Attack on Unions
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman has some interesting insights on Wisconsin's attempts to strip the collective bargaining rights of public service unions. He sees it as an effort by the American oligarchs to destroy what little opposition is left to their assuming complete control, not only of the economy through tax policies that favour the rich, but also of the entire political agenda. Much of what Krugman says, I believe, has direct application to the Canadian scene now under the control and sway of a right-wing administration that has shown little respect for opposing views during its five years in power.
Andrew Bacevich, retired career US Army officer turned professor, has written a chilling account of the the marriage of America's military, neoconservative intellectualism, religious fundamentalism and the military/industrial/corporate warfighting complex.
ReplyDeleteThe American military, once a "citizen army", is being weaned away from its civilian ties and being transformed into something much more praetorian in nature. Civilian control of America's military is also weakening.
Militarism has been adopted as a replacement for diplomacy in America's foreign policy. It truly has. This is not hyperbole.
Bacevich makes a powerful case for an emerging militarist threat to the republic itself. It could be readily turned into an agency of the oligarchs.
When a nation plagued with debt at the national, state, municipal and individual levels still spends more than every other nation combined on its military that has massive if largely unreported political repercussions that go to the very heart of democracy itself.
The Republicans are demanding 60-billion in budget cuts this year. That's about 8% of the Pentagon's budget.
Krugman left out a high profile `Billionaire``
ReplyDeleteGeorge Soros.
You think it was because he underwrites left wing causes, thus upsetting his thesis.