I, for one, welcome our new fascist overlords.
There is simply no other way to accurately describe what the state of North Carolina is doing with regard to the Alcoa power plants and dams. It is straight-up economic fascism, Peronism, Hugo Chavism — pick your shorthand for the state seizing private property from a disfavored entity to use for its own purposes, albeit in the name of “the people.” Purposes which quite likely involve handing it off to a different favored corporate entity, along with developers who promise to play ball — cash accepted, checks preferred — in exchange for access to buildable land. Details here, here, here, and here.
What is particularly fascinating to me is that this has been a wholly bipartisan attack on private property rights. The bill now zipping through the General Assembly is doing so with Republican votes, not to mention the tireless work of Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, (R-Cabarrus), a truly dangerous man. Without Republican support this abomination would simply be a misplaced class-envy revenge screed, with it we are halfway to greatly expanding the scope and reach of state power.
On cue, the Uptown paper of record has jumped up to applaud this unity of purpose, this will to power. State power that is, not kilowatts. Not mentioned is the 38,000 acres of land at stake in the deal, with the future showdown between greenies and developers to come at a later date once pesky title-holder Alcoa is out of the way. Likewise no mention of the cost to taxpayers to operate the dams — or fight probable legal challenges to the action.
No, no dissent at all. We are just one people, one voice, one destiny, one reich.
I would prefer giant ants.
Update: Hartsell takes to the floor today and cites the Uptown paper’s edit as proof of the correctness of his cause. And the circle is complete, citizens.
