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#cronyism

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🇺🇸 Why MAGA? A good, short version of how the USA ended up here.
There is a similar story that’s unfolded in Canada. It’s different (it includes the story of how Harper “reformed” the Progressive Conservatives into a fascist party), but similar enough to help us see how Poilievre has NOTHING to offer Canadians (unless you’re wealthy).

#uspoli #cdnpoli #fascism #cronyism #oligarchs #elxn45 #elxn2025 #canada 🇨🇦

youtube.com/shorts/IX1vw0V2MY0

#FAA confirms it's testing #Starlink, maybe for tasks Elon says Verizon is doing badly
FAA confirmed it's trying out #SpaceX broadband in #US.
Raises concerns about conflicts of interest given SpaceX is run by #Musk, who is closely intertwined with US gov, not just as Pres Trump's éminence grease but also as overseer of DOGE, controversial unit that's cutting federal staff and programs, and scrutinizing government contracts. Contracts like those held by the FAA.
theregister.com/2025/02/27/faa #cronyism

The Register · FAA confirms it's testing Starlink, maybe for tasks Elon says Verizon is doing badlyBy Iain Thomson

America’s #Food Safety Is Now in the Hands of Don Jr.’s Hunting Buddy
As federal #health agencies are gutted with abandon, a Florida attorney with a history of hunting with the president’s son has been put in charge of #foodsafety at the #FDA, overseeing the nation’s food supply, infant formula, and more. vanityfair.com/news/story/food #oligarchy #cronyism

Vanity Fair · America’s Food Safety Is Now in the Hands of Donald Trump Jr.’s Hunting BuddyBy Katherine Eban
Replied in thread

@briankrebs

#USPS Post Master General Louis DeJoy now seens exceptionally well positioned to be the recipient of that particular windfall.

Appointed to the #USPS Governing Board by Trump 1.0 (like other Trump apptmts, w/out any qualifications) & both a major Republican Party donor & fundraiser for Trump, he's always been in favor of privatization of USPS + he has a background in delivery as founder and CEO of the logistics & freight company New Breed Logistics.

#ToddBlanche, Trump’s nom for the No. 2 job at the #DOJ & another one if his #criminal defense attys, decried at his #confirmation hearing what he called “partisan lawfare” waged against #Trump.

Blanche’s opening statement was an attack on the cases against Trump. “Politics should never play a role in the Department of Justice, but recently, in too many circumstances, it has,” he said [ –he’s right, just not in the way that he thinks.]

Replied in thread

Reason #13 why #FordMustGo

Many political watchers were surprised about how Singa Surma could appear out of nowhere to become Minister of Infrastructure. In less than a decade, she went from an assistant to a Toronto city councilor to overseeing the province's infrastructure and being in charge of the renovation of Ontario Place. It's the traditional story of who you know and not letting "unqualified" affect your career path.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #Cronyism

nationalpost.com/news/young-ca

nationalpostYoung candidate embroiled in controversy with Doug Ford has long history with PC leader and Tory politics'She was young, ambitious … Sometimes she had to be brought to heel a bit,' says the Liberal. 'She made it clear that her goal was to seek elected office'

#Cronyism

"#Health insurance in the #US is a racket that is more focused on increasing profits than providing care

Denying claims is apparently very profitable. #UnitedHealth has a market value of $566bn...

The glee we’re seeing doesn’t just stem from animosity towards insurance companies, but anger towards an unfair system in which the elite (cronies) rarely seem to face any consequences for their actions..."

theguardian.com/commentisfree/

The Guardian · Brian Thompson’s death has elicited little sympathy. I don’t need to spell out whyBy Arwa Mahdawi

"Boulos is connected to the #Trump family through marriage. Tiffany Trump married Boulos' son Michael in 2022."

#CharacteristicsOfFascism number 13. "Rampant #Cronyism and #Corruption
"Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders."

msn.com/en-us/news/politics/tr

www.msn.comMSN

Pressure on Orban grows amid child sex abuse scandal

Hungarian opposition leaders gathered in front of the prime minister’s office denounced Orban’s silence on the issue and saying it indicated deeper structural problems

The backlash has grown expanding into direct criticism of #Orban’s government, associated #cronyism & corruption

Asking if Hungarians think it normal a few families own half the country

kyivindependent.com/pressure-o

The Kyiv Independent · Pressure on Orban grows amid child sex abuse scandalThe BBC and other outlets have characterized the ongoing scandal as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's "biggest challenge in 14 years of uninterrupted Fidesz rule."

Tim Martin - peddler of cheap booze, pro-Brexit campaigner, leading employer of young people on minimum wage and split shifts, and twat - knighthood.

Guy who has prevented 29 suicides on the London Underground - MBE (the lowest honour that can be bestowed)

Useless and short-lived Prime Minister appoints three new life peers, including a Tory donor and her chief of staff.

That's all you need to know about the honours system.

#NewYearsHonourList
#HonoursSystem
#Cronyism
#ElectoralReform

#Fascist much, #DonTheCon? Must be reading his copy of #MeinKampf again. Britt commentary refers to "14 Characteristics of Fascism" by #LawrenceBritt.

10 alarming things #Trump has promised to do in a second term

by Judd Legum
and Rebecca Crosby
Dec 12, 2023

1. Trump says he will "abuse power" and be a "dictator" on "day one."

2. Trump says #ElectionFraud in 2020 gives him the power to "terminate" the Constitution
[Britt: "Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by #SmearCampaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control #voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections."]

3. Trump says he will issue "full pardons" to #January6 #insurrectionists
[Britt: "Rampant #Cronyism and #Corruption"]

4. Trump says he will cut funding to schools that cover subjects he believes are "inappropriate"
[Britt: "Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts"]

5. Trump says he will legally erase trans people and ban them from military service
[Britt: "The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional #gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to #abortion is high, as is #homophobia and anti-#gay legislation."]

6. Trump says he will end birthright citizenship by executive order
[Britt: Identification of #Enemies / #Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause"]

7. Trump says he will impose a new 10% tax on all imported goods
[Britt: "Powerful and Continuing #Nationalism"]

8. Trump says he will investigate NBC and MSNBC for treason and potentially remove the company from public airwaves
[Britt: "Controlled #MassMedia"]

9. Trump says he will demand anyone convicted of selling drugs get the death penalty
[Britt: "Obsession with #Crime and #Punishment"]

10. Trump says he will order the arrest of all urban homeless and relocate them to federally-run tent cities
[Britt: "Disdain for the Recognition of #HumanRights"]

Full article:
popular.info/p/10-alarming-thi

Popular Information · 10 alarming things Trump has promised to do in a second termBy Judd Legum
Continued thread

"in a functional democracy, Housing Minister Steve Clark would have no choice but to resign over a breach of his own duties this severe.
👉​ But this is Doug Ford’s #Ontario and he’s going to give Clark a pass because he’s a “good guy” and he “works hard.”

Gentle reminder that the Press Secretary for the Premier is MPP Steve Clark's daughter, Caitlin Clark.

#DougFord #corruption #nepotism #cronyism #cdnpoli #topoli via @journo_dale

Lawrence W. Britt: 14 Characteristics of #Fascism

"#Historian #LawrenceBritt studied the fascist regimes of #Hitler (Germany), #Mussolini (Italy), #Franco (Spain), #Suharto (Indonesia), and #Pinochet (Chile) and found they had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism.

1. Powerful and Continuing #Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of #patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. #Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of #HumanRights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, and long incarcerations of prisoners.

3. Identification of #Enemies / #Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: #racial, #ethnic or #religious #minorities; #liberals; #communists; #socialists, #terrorists

4. Supremacy of the #Military
Even when there are widespread #domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant #Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional #gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to #abortion is high, as is #homophobia and anti-#gay legislation.

6. Controlled #MassMedia
Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or by sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Government #censorship and #secrecy especially in war time, are very common.

7. Obsession with #NationalSecurity
Fear of hostile foreign powers is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. #Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.

9. Protection of #Corporate Power
The #industrial and business #aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Suppression of #Labor Power
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor #unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to #HigherEducation and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other #academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12. Obsession with #Crime and #Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the #police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego #CivilLiberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant #Cronyism and #Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. #FraudulentElections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by #SmearCampaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control #voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

This post is a summary of Fascism, Anyone? by Lawrence W. Britt published in 2003 by Free Inquiry magazine."

voxpopulisphere.com/2017/08/23