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03/30/2004: "More New Feudalism"

The New Feudalism is alive and growing, with transnational companies such as Wal-Mart among its most vigorous tentacles.

The City of Inglewood recently voted to prevent the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in its city boundaries, citing environmental, economic, and social concerns. Wal-Mart responded by putting a 71-page initiative on the ballot and stuffing mailboxes with an endless stream of brochures extolling the wonders of the Wal-Mart economy .

However, the "Home Stretch Specific Plan" amounts to a dismantling of local government and its replacement by the Wal-Mart board, all under the guise of local democracy (hah!)...read the following:

"The Home Stretch Specific Plan shall … preempt and replace all of the standards, criteria, procedures for review (including, without limitation, permit procedures) and other requirements of Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code." As for construction plans, the city's "reviewing official shall be required to issue the requested permit or permits, without the exercise of any discretion … " — a rubber stamp.

The comments are from Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison; I strongly recommend you read her entire article here.

Mussolini said that fascism should be more properly described as "the merger of state and corporate power"--so welcome to the New Feudalism.

Richard Risemberg, on 03.30.04 @ 09:10PST