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Our Country Is Being Fracked by the Merger of Government and Big Business
The Government Is Using Its Police Powers to Protect Fracking
Fracking is polluting water all over the country. A new study published in the journal Ground Water predicts that the highly-toxic fluids used in fracking can migrate to aquifers within a few short years.
The government has officially stated that fracking can cause earthquakes. And see this. Some fracking companies now admit this fact.
And yet a new law passed in Pennsylvania will allow doctors to access information about chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, but will restrict them from sharing that information with their patients. See the writeups by Mother Jones and Truthout.
The director of the Emmy-award winning documentary on fracking – Gasland – was arrested for attempting to film a Congressional hearing on fracking.
Actor Mark Ruffalo was put on terror watch list after he organized showings of Gasland.
The Washington Post reported in March that the FBI is investigating anti-fracking activists as potential terrorists.
The state of Pennsylvania hired an Israeli-American company with extensive military and intelligence ties to put out “terror” alerts. The company – ITRR – describes itself as:
The preeminent Israeli/American security firm providing training, intelligence and education to clients across the globe.
ITRR explains:
The Institute of Terrorism Research and Response’s research and analysis center, known as the Targeted Actionable Monitoring Center (TAM-C), is located in Israel. The Targeted Actionable Monitoring Center is staffed with former law enforcement, military, and intelligence professionals experienced in the production and utilization of intelligence products.
ITRR considered opponents of fracking to be potential terrorists.
Fracking companies are also using military psychological operations techniques to discredit opponents (and see this).
Not Just Fracking … Government Using “National Security” Powers to Protect All Big Business
The above is not unique, but part of a trend of using national security laws to protect big companies (more). As just a few of many examples:
- Investigating factory farming may get one labeled as a terrorist
- The government used national security excuses to prevent reporters and scientists from being able to investigate the BP oil spill. Indeed, the White House pressured scientists to underestimate the size of the spill (and see this and this), and tried to smear scientists who found underwater oil plumes. The government covered up the danger of dispersants
- The government’s response to the outbreak of mad cow disease was simple: it stopped testing for mad cow, and prevented cattle ranchers and meat processors from voluntarily testing their own cows (and see this)
- The government is protecting the nuclear industry by promoting voodoo science about the safety of radiation on human health, and by covering up what’s really going on. Government is simply acting as a cheerleader for the nuclear power companies. Indeed, nuclear power plants would not be built in a free market: without billions in government insurance, subsidies and guarantees, no one would want to build the bloody things
- The government underplayed the huge Tennessee coal ash spill. The former head of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy says that the government whitewashed the whole coal ash investigation
- Fraud was one of the main causes of the Depression and of the current financial crisis, but nothing has been done to rein in fraud today. Indeed, the only real action the government is taking in regard to the financial crisis is to help cover up the fraud of the giant banks
- As the ACLU notes, Fusion Centers – a hybrid of military, intelligence agency, police and private corporations set up in centers throughout the country, and run by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security – allow big businesses like Boeing to get access to classified information which gives them an unfair advantage over smaller competitors
- Law enforcement agencies spy on protesters and then share the info – at taxpayer expense – with the giant Wall Street banks
- In an effort to protect Bank of America from the threatened Wikileaks expose of wrongdoing – the Department of Justice told Bank of America to a hire a specific hardball-playing law firm to assemble a team to take down WikiLeaks (and see this)
One of the best definitions of fascism – the one used by Mussolini himself – is the “merger of state and corporate power“.
We’re pretty much there …
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as i have said before, the largest and uncontested terrorist organization in the world is the united states government.
we will have to endure 15 more years of this wickedness. money is indeed the root of all evil.
Great article, George. I always enjoy reading your stuff. I'm a recently awakened "sheeple" grandmother of 3 - I'm no longer in the flock - lol. Daily I read about these nefarious, twisted, sociopathic types that are "running" our country. There are so few of them and so many of "us" (the 'little people'). The big question is: How the hell do we get THEM out? What do we do? I'm sure I'm going to end up on the TSA or "Patriot (ralph!) Act" or NDAA list soon.
P.S. Why do THEY keep calling these heinous totalitarian acts things like "Patriot" or "Homeland" when there is nothing patriotic or ringing of "home" about them? That alone is very offensive; even Goebells would be rolling over in his grave at the clumsy propaganda attempts, but the sheeple keep lapping up the Brawndo. Aye carumba!
check yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tUapxt5LV8
after the radiation shower coverup of Fukushima, nothing surprises me anymore.
pretty much there yes.
Russian propaganda freaking out about "missile shield", no where in any news:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq9cMukLMT8
internet shutdown in 3, 2, 1, ....
0__o
We're fast approaching the day when it will be easier and faster to publish the ten thousand or so names who are not terrorists, except that that list will be an official state secret.
TSA PrevTM
The goverment is NOT your friend.
If I ever make it to OWS I'd have a poster;
USA
A Nation
Not A Corporation
Mine will be: Sick of Taxpayer-Funded Bailouts to Banksters: 24 Trillion and counting!
I don't know why many of these drillers are using old style water and propant fracing when they can now use gas fracing that leaves zero residue, zero contanminants.
They pump down a Gas Gel, use sand as propant, the gas gel exapands into gas, facks and all the gas is retrieved at the surface for either reuse or selling as LPG.
The process is meant to be more productive, and cheaper to operate. No need to look for a water supply at all.
They dont have to use water or use stuff that pollutes.
Gasfrac is one company that does this stuff ( i think its their technology)
http://www.gasfrac.com/
fascinating
http://rt.com/usa/news/coroner-arsenic-death-breitbart-456/
O for gawds sake - its been going on for a generation - GW change ur handle to Rip Van Winkle - the dood who just woke up. fukking helll....
The Constitution was all about "individual rights." Our current form of government is all about "group rights." You are nothing without a group such as a union, corporation, or government badge. The Fathers of this nation would be dismayed.
"Our current form of government is all about "group rights."
Preach it brutha.
Firefighter against taxpayer...black against white...woman against man...rich against poor...identity & class warfare. Not enough is said about this.
If someone/something were trying to set the people of the country against each other, what would they do different from what is being done now?
Fracking is way overblown as a problem, and fractivism is funded by coal companies who are the biggest financial victims of natural gas electric generation.
For the first time ever coal is below 50 percent if our electrical source energy.
Thank you hydraulic fracking for keeping our air clean and our mountaintops and forested surfaces free from minestripping.
Fractivists are unwittinggly doing the bidding of big coal
You got that right and big coal is all about union while oil and gas have no union involvement. Given that, you tell me which industry this govt will protect. The farce that is "clean coal" is one of the biggest fruads ever perpetrated onto the public. Yet somehow no one even discusses the lie of "clean coal" and in fact Obama himself has even touted "clean coal".
George! "Is being" should be changed to "has been"
GW: I've twigged you on this to the point that you dismissed me. and fu
But this is your realm and I'm glad you are finally in this zone. and un-fu
You should be doing a whole lotta' more, like the continuing GE <--> .gov intercourse (only an example: since GE Capital is still BK, but there are so many examples)
Pray continue!
- Ned
Yeah, it really means something when hard-core statists critique the state. I rank it right up there with battered-spouse syndrome.
"But, he loves me! He'd didn't mean to hurt me! He said he was sorry, and would never do it again!"
so what? People are not a going concern, but companies are!
Thank you, Dolly. I like it. I really wish we would go Iceland on the banksters. Would love to see that happen.
The best solution is for all of you busybodies to start minding your own damn business for a change, instead of empowering evil under the guise of minding everyone else's (in this case, in the form of "participatory democracy").
Your solution is nothing but mob rule, and can never mature beyond that non-thinking limitation.
Why? Because only individuals are capable of reasoning, empathy and all other human traits necessary to successfully govern anything.
Tell me, just how many laws do you need in order to make you a good person?
'Tell me, just how many laws do you need in order to make you a good person?'
That's nothing new, many examples of failing societies attempting to legislate morality in the final phase of decay.
What does minding your own business entail exactly? Self interest? The strange perversion of logic is too ingrained in the mythology of capitalism and the industrial mindset to reverse now, I have no illusions about that.
Mob rule? That is what you have now. Corporations are the foremost example of mob rule. Self interest without personal responsibility. The premise is collectivism is a problem, the stressing of individual choice, but only applied to government somehow never corporations.
The best solution is for all of you busybodies to start minding your own damn business for a change, instead of empowering evil under the guise of minding everyone else's (in this case, in the form of "participatory democracy").
Three of the 4 examples of participatory democracy I gave were examples of it stopping the busybodies or reducing the power of government. It could be used to effectively veto NDAA. It is another check and balance, and a very needed one.
The original system of government in the US morphed into what it is now naturally. It was destined to come to this. It was missing the veto of the many. If we only got a new leader like Ron Paul, and he did manage to get our government back to what it once was, it would only morph to this again over time. Without the veto of the people it will always end up back here with the government and the elite joining together giving each other favors over the people.
Your solution is nothing but mob rule, and can never mature beyond that non-thinking limitation.
Why? Because only individuals are capable of reasoning, empathy and all other human traits necessary to successfully govern anything.
Yes, individuals are capable of reasoning, empathy etc. which is why we are capable of voting on issues, not just on representatives, and I think we'd be best at vetoing evil laws like NDAA.
Tell me, just how many laws do you need in order to make you a good person?
There are no number of laws that make a good person.
You totally aren't getting that participatory democracy is more a way to make less laws than it is a way to make more laws. Making marijuana legal is effectively getting rid of laws, not making new laws. Controlling the state from taking as much property tax takes power from the government, does not give it more. Give it some more thought to see what the people might be able to accomplish if they could just veto laws that congress writes. I'd be happy if we only got the power of referendum (that's where we can effectively veto laws) and the power of recall. Initiative (the power to write new laws) is the least important power to get, but it has it's place as that is the power we used to control the growth of property taxes in California.
It's amazing how many so-called lovers of liberty are the first to propose authoritarian solutions. GW is one of the worst defenders coming as he does from the Left. Hardly a single article is without a "the government could force" or "the government should..."
You are right. All that "participatory democracy" does is increase the politicalization of life (as if our lives could be more saturated with politics). Until recently, professional activists were not needed because people were too busy making money, raising families and trying to improve the next generation. It seems we've traded in common sense for group politics and pressure groups.
You are right. All that "participatory democracy" does is increase the politicalization of life (as if our lives could be more saturated with politics). Until recently, professional activists were not needed because people were too busy making money, raising families and trying to improve the next generation.
The thing is that freedom isn't free. If we don't pay attention, the government grows and causes us more problems. The founding fathers only solution to this was revolution. Participatory democracy added to our system is a way to beat back the growth of government a little bit all the time.
Well duh. America is a fascist state... who would have known?? At least guns are flying off the shelves.
Vote at your nearest polling station by making deposits at Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, Bank of America.
Make your voice heard by having your savings and pension digitally secured by Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, CALPERS, Goldman Sachs, and the rest of the Wall Street Congress and remember; your assets are as safe and secure as MF Global client money.
Every tax dollar you contribute to the Treasury Department is guarded by Timothy Geithner, and promptly lent to big banks via the FED back door at 0.05% - to be lent to you at 5%-29% - so be assured you are being "counted".
Your allegiance to this fine nation ensures the slavery of Chinese citizens and low wages to Asian workers in general, and a guarantee that you will have part time, low wage, non-benefit eligible employment in perpetuity selling insurance, greasy over salted food, or trinkets made in China. If you don't like it volunteer to serve in a war somewhere for some reason. If you are too old greeters needed at WalMart.
Your State Attorney Generals are vigilantly defending your property rights by accepting a cash settlement for robot signed documents; assisted by the Supreme Court ruling in KELO decision that the State really owns your property anyway so be thankful.
Excellent. Just one suggestion: "genetically-modified" greasy oversalted food, ala Monsanto.
One of the best definitions of fascism – the one used by Mussolini himself – is the “merger of state and corporate power“.
Under Hitler and Mussolini, the corporations became extensions of the state.
What we have in the US now is slightly different: the state has become an extension of the corporations.
Your premise is supported by looking
at the waivers "granted" to Obamacare.
"One of the best definitions of fascism – the one used by Mussolini himself – is the “merger of state and corporate power“."
Funny I was just digging around in Federal Reserve historical documents and ran across this Congressional Testimony from then acting Fed Chairman William Mcchesney Martin:
On a different note, from the same document, I found this part from Wright Patman, the Ron Paul of the times, illuminating:
DIRECT PURCHASES OF UNITED STATES OBLIGATIONS - http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/docs/historical/house/1956hr_directpurchase.pdf
The only difference I see is that it's less honest upon the surface. It's still the EXACT same people in charge, with the exact same results.
Well played. It is Fabian Socialism of which you speak, often mistaken for straight up Fascism.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/03/obama-fabian-socialist-oped-cx_jb_1103bowyer.html
ugh Forbes? really?
Socialist? Obama member of CFR.
Search "Rhodes Society".
nothing socialist about that.
These days, an elite socialist is just a another way to enrich oneself at everyone elses expense.
Oh wait, its always been that way ;-)
+1 Rainman, on the comment & the link.
The social elites have traded in the "world wide violent revolution" blather...for the soft bigotry of lowered expectations for all...still with the mindset of them controlling it all from the top down...instead of from down up.
Did you see's Bowyer's bio blurb at the end?
"...guest on CNBC..."
See him there lately?
So true. We've had a true sea change in perceptions and aspirations. No longer do folks want to "get rich", to "have the life of Mr. Big with the Cadillac and large home." In fact, wealth derived from work is demonized (Hollywood idiots, athletes and lottery winners are OK for some reason). Worst are the expectations. Who talk about getting ahead anymore? It's all keeping up with nextdoor neighbor and if you have a job well by god you should feel lucky and vote for BO. I fear we are raising a whole generation with a European viewpoint, ie. the goal is not to get ahead but to get by.
Regarding that word 'fascism' -
Classic 1930s 'fascism' as under Franco, often involved some degree of a labour policy supporting workers and their families who kept their mouths shut. No political freedom, but workers often had some job and income security.
In Spain now, some people are even talking about wanting to restore some Franco-era labour policies.
But the modern kind of American fascism is of a different, even worse type, with just raw cruelty and abandonment of working people. There is security for the oligarchs, anguish and fear for the commoners - Not far from 'eat dirt and be slaves, or die, or both'.
Maybe a different word is needed for the modern US-style crony corporate tyranny.
I agree, the thing is that Mussolini coined the term, but he included worker representation to the term "corporations". The idea was that all partners in production have a say, usually (badly) organized in chambers where both owners and workers were represented and were allowed to have their (moderate and garded) say on matters, under the watchful eye of the state.
Add then the typical fascist spending for families, including low-rent housing projects and special jobs for widows and orphans and you'll see that Mussolini and Franco had nothing to compare what is described above.
The modern kind of American fascism is unique in the sense that private corporation's management is all-powerful and can spend huge amounts on lobbyists and Super-PACs, followed by a smaller say on the part of the shareholders (who have some opportunities if rich enough) and then, at last, the worker drones are allowed to get some medical benefits if they don't get thrown out...
Have you ever wondered why American Corporations are so keen on giving medical benefits? Have you ever wondered why the "Police State" has such a big private involvement, for example in prisons?
It's all the Cult of the American Corporation...
I'd say that the main difference was back then there was far more productive capacity so it wasn't that hard to keep the workers supported, to a degree. Today? It's long gone, having been traded to the Chinese for a paper tiger that can only support the paper-pushing industry.
9/11 enabled our current open version of 2 party fascism. our central government's survival imperative will never allow us to turn back. sad really.
Thanks once again ZH, George and posters for fearless truth.
Lucky for them 9/11 happened huh?
that is just sick. the point of reference for accelerated fascism is undeniable. 9/11 did not alter my trust in Americans in general and I do not support our Constitutional drift or its premise. jmho.
Daniel Ray Carter and Robert McCoy were deputies in the Hampton, Virginia sheriff’s office. Were, that is, until they made the mistake of “liking” their boss’ opponent’s Facebook page during a contested sheriff election. They were both fired shortly after their boss won reelection.
As government employees, Carter and McCoy are protected by the First Amendment. Nevertheless, a federal judge in Virginia denied their claim that they were unconstitutionally fired for expressing their political view on the unusual theory that “liking” a Facebook page does not constitute a form of expression protected by the First Amendment:
Does the judge have a name?
Need to know who they are,
their history, friends and family---for starters.
In politics, its called "opposition research".
If one is not on the terrorist watch list at this point, then one is not trying very hard.
It's about time these mutha frackers got the frack outa Dodge
I was thinking of another verb that sounds similar
Dude, we are all being Fracked by Vladimir Stalin Trotsky, aka Bo-Rack Hus-sein O'Bama.