Belloc Saw It in 1913

We are reminded that some (ignored) thinkers actually got it right.

...Hilaire Belloc looked forward and anticipated our moment. He argued that what we today call corporate capitalism was fundamentally unstable and would eventually cease to exist.

The instability would be caused by the slow but inexorable concentration of property into fewer and fewer hands. As property became concentrated, power also would become concentrated, and concentrated power is a threat to the state unless, of course, it is co-opted by the state. [Therein lies the genesis of the phrase "too big to fail;" and the application was TARP, the Big3 bailouts, TARP 2, and the proposed 'other entities siezure' laws.] Furthermore, as property became concentrated, the security of individuals would be threatened. People would find themselves in the precarious situation of living paycheck-to-paycheck. Because they possess no capital, they would not be able to provide for themselves in the way that a small farmer or craftsman could. They would be completely dependent upon their wages, and when economic crisis struck and wages were threatened, the insecurity of their situation would become acute. In such a time, it is not hard to image the people clamoring for a solution, rejoicing over a new kind of leader who promises change, if only he is empowered....

And don't think for one second that the Obama/Obey/Pelosi/Reid solution is a good thing:

According to Belloc, the most obvious solution to this economic instability, the path of least resistance, is the acquisition by the state of the major economic interests, e.g. collectivization. This is sometimes called socialism, and, according to Belloc, it is the most natural course. But socialism is not benign or even honest, for the collectivization of property under the authority of the state results not in a more just society but one characterized by glaring inequalities and the loss of freedom for most. As Belloc puts it, “in the very act of collectivism, what results is not collectivism at all, but the servitude of the many, and the confirmation in their present privilege of the few; that is, the servile state.”

Serious times, indeed.

And just in case you think that you can become a small farmer to avoid the inevitable--fuggeddaboutit.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=12671

The text of the bill actually allows for the following interpretations:

--Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.

--Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn't actually use the word organic.

--Affects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.

--Affects anyone producing meat of any kind including the processing wild game for personal consumption.

--Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal. There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.

That would be the Cargill/Monsanto/ADM oligopoly-protection act...