Shock Doctrine, U.S.A. - (Paul Krugman).

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/opinion/25krugman.html?_r=1

. . .

In recent weeks, Madison has been the scene of large demonstrations against the governor’s budget bill, which would deny collective-bargaining rights to public-sector workers. Gov. Scott Walker claims that he needs to pass his bill to deal with the state’s fiscal problems. But his attack on unions has nothing to do with the budget. In fact, those unions have already indicated their willingness to make substantial financial concessions — an offer the governor has rejected.

What’s happening in Wisconsin is, instead, a power grab — an attempt to exploit the fiscal crisis to destroy the last major counterweight to the political power of corporations and the wealthy. And the power grab goes beyond union-busting. The bill in question is 144 pages long, and there are some extraordinary things hidden deep inside.

For example, the bill includes language that would allow officials appointed by the governor to make sweeping cuts in health coverage for low-income families without having to go through the normal legislative process.

And then there’s this: “Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.705 (1), the department may sell any state-owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b).”

What’s that about? The state of Wisconsin owns a number of plants supplying heating, cooling, and electricity to state-run facilities (like the University of Wisconsin). The language in the budget bill would, in effect, let the governor privatize any or all of these facilities at whim. Not only that, he could sell them, without taking bids, to anyone he chooses. And note that any such sale would, by definition, be “considered to be in the public interest.”

. . . more

I didn't know he believed in the shock doctrine as theory as well. I always knew he was a smart economist though.

:sarcasm:

:banghead:
Grab the socialist gooddies and give them to the corporatist masters.

From power grabs by republicans in the US to the 'austerity' measures the IMF and EU are imposing in Europe.

A blind man could see what was coming next.

Which is why I am always suspicious of folks who repeatedly attack Democrats from the "left," but give Republicans a free pass. In Wisconsin, the Democratic members of the legislature have been holding out against a gross effort to roll back collective bargaining.

I know some folks like to advocate apathy and inaction as the path to power, but the efforts by Republicans to use their majorities to wipe out unions illustrates the folly of such a strategy.

Personally, I think the proponents of such a strategy of Democrats sitting out elections are the same folks who benefit from it, the right.

came out and said it.

While neo-liberalism and the "Shock Doctrine" are far from the only forces at work, they are certainly among the most powerful.