Readers of this blog are familiar with the term “corporatocracy.” Some time ago I suggested that the United States government is moving from a democratic republic, or a democracy to a corporatocracy, or rather a government controlled by a corporate elite. This would be distinguished from an aristocracy as aristocratic control is one that serves the interests of a privileged class, whereas a corporatocracy would serve the interests of corporations and those in charge of those corporations.
Last year, when the Citizens United case was decided, I declared that the age of democracy in America was over. The United States was now, officially, a corporatocracy. I even added the word, corporatocracy, to my spell checker.
Today I was reading the Paul Krugman blog, Conscience of a Liberal, and he suggested another way of looking at the United States Government. He suggested finding a word with Greek root that means “rule by ridiculous people.” Stuff like this is right up my alley. I went to Google Translator and typed in “ridiculous.” I got the translation γελοίος, which is pronounced “geloios” with a hard “g”. So from there we can coin the word “geloiocracy”.
I like it! And I think I will be using it from now on.
We could even modify it by suggesting the United States is becoming a corporatocratic geloiocracy.
Either way, despite my love for this new word, I have to say that I don’t want my children growing up in either a corporatocracy or a geloiocracy. It’s up to the citizenry to re-establish the democratic ideals we have all grown to love.
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