At 07:03 PM 8/6/97 -0700, Daniel Myers wrote, inter alia: >An obvious example of consolidation between government and private >interests in recent years has been government sanctioned oppression of the >homeless by the middle class. This is an indirect result of pandering to >a spoiled middle class people who have been substantial beneficiaries of >common, government subsidized programs. (See, for eg., last Jan 11th >Economist). Another example of government consolidation with special >interest groups: god help me if I put out my lawyer's shingle without a >degree or a license. Few people would call this fascism, although I >probably would, sloppy language or not. My comment (ws): I would also add to that list the growing "privatisation" of the traditionally government functions (aka "public-private partnerships") to avoid public responsibility. The Fed (private nabking consortium in supposedly "public" service -- but without even token signs of mechanisms of public responsibility) is one example. Another example, discussed at length in one of the latest issues of The Nation is the transfer of military function to private corporations, usually run by former military officers.. Again the idea is that pioneered by Oliver North -- what the government is prohibited from doing by policies, laws and regulations, "private" entities are free to pursue without any public responsibility whatsover. regards, wojtek sokolowski institute for policy studies johns hopkins university baltimore, md 21218 [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (410) 516-4056 fax: (410) 516-8233 POLITICS IS THE SHADOW CAST ON SOCIETY BY BIG BUSINESS. AND AS LONG AS THIS IS SO, THE ATTENUATI0N OF THE SHADOW WILL NOT CHANGE THE SUBSTANCE. - John Dewey
