Michael Bloomberg and Silvio Brelusconi share in common the fact that they have bought control of their respective city/country with their extreme wealth. Each in effect controls the media and the pols surrounding them. One cannot watch TV today without encountering yet another Bloomberg ad. Berlusconi owns and operates the Italian media as well as his country:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvio_Berlusconi

Is this the wave of the future? Already our U.S. corporations look to be on the verge of a Supreme Court decision which will allow them to pour monies directly into the political campaigns of those of whom they approve and presumably expect to do their bidding — thus overturning a century old prohibition against such by labor or corporations. During the past half century labor Unions have diminished in both numbers and powers. Union free employment is the name of the game these days and those who lobby for unionization are likely to lose their jobs amidst our current employment crisis. As a number have pointed out, not a few of our corporations are controlled by foreign interests. Can one imagine China getting an active say through one of its corporate interests as to whom to elect here?

The U.S. is in financial trouble and is being sold off bit by bit to alien interests. Ironic that some want to expel undocumented aliens while giving alien interests the power to choose our pols? The Court has not announced its decision about corporate free speech rights yet, but 5 of the nine justices look to be ready to endorse this horror.

So it goes in what was once an American democracy.

What do you think?
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“A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope.” (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
Ed Kent 212-665-8535 (voice mail only) [blind copies]