(Hedges mentions the classic Holocaust documentary Shoah (1985), in which Hilberg appears repeatedly, but Hedges curiously doesn't mention Hilberg in the article, though must have helped inspire Hedges's thinking on this subject.)
In any case, Hedges underlines a crucial reality that merits revisitation and repetition. Not just applicable to extreme historical experiences like the systematic destruction implemented by the Nazis, power always and everywhere relies on the middle and upper-middle class to carry out its agenda. What Hedges reminds us is that our democratic energies are siphoned by the prevailing systemic structures, the dominant among these being the supra-national corporation. These organizations are not just non-democratic, but anti-democratic, and for reasons that make perfect sense to the top echelons of these firms.
This also applies to colleges and universities, which continue to adopt the corporate model at the expense of students across the country. Serious damage has been done to this system, and has been carried out by administrators who will simply not stop unless they are broadly pressured by students (faculties might possibly join in if a trail is blazed for them, doubtful otherwise). Bureaucracies - corporate or collegiate - do not like light and fear the outside world, namely, the people subject to their policies.
Chris Hedges does good work. For some reason my only other blog post linking to one of his articles was on January 25, 2010. As I said then, Hedges "has a gravitas and a directness that some might find alarmist. However, his observations and analyses merit serious consideration, in my view."
My thoughts here haven't changed. He has a flair for the dramatic, but his writings serve as a stern warning we would do well to actively consider.
