The Fascist Rahm Emmanuel

There is a lot of chatter about the Mayor of Chicago (and a couple of other wannabe proto Nazis) has argued that he will try to prevent the Fast Food Chain Chick-fil-A from locating in Chicago because the founder of the chain has commented that he is opposed to changing the definition of marriage.   I have never asked a fast food vendor about their views on marriage or for that matter catsup.   What I want when I visit a fast food place is food.


Emmanuel comes from a long line of proto-fascists.  Those that would deny Walmart a chance to build a big box store in their locale because they disagree with the ability of the chain to offer consumers large discounts are in the same tradition.


In the 2008 election I wrote a post on this blog opposing the Proposition on the ballot which would have limited the ability of the state of California to change the definition of marriage.   With that history one might expect that I would be supportive of this storm-trooper.  But that is not the case.


The role of the state in regulating commercial enterprises should be quite limited.  A city should be able to regulate two types of behavior for commercial activity.  They should be able to have some direction, according to community standards, about where particular types of businesses should be able to locate.   For example, California prohibits liquor stores from being located near public schools.   At the same time they should have some authority to assure consumers that what is being served meets some reasonable standards of cleanliness.


But Emmanuel's pronouncements argue that if a company does not meet what he defines as "community standards" then they should be dumped from consideration.   From my view that is classic Fascism - for those of you that do not remember the definition - here is the one from Wikipedia.  (With the exception of nationalism, it seems to fit the mayor to his brown shirt.


"radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology.^[1][2] Fascists seek elevation of their nation based on commitment to an organic national community where its individuals are united together as one people in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry and culture through a totalitarian state that seeks the mass mobilization of a nation through discipline,indoctrination, physical training, and eugenics."


The simple answer for Mr. Emmanuel is if some, or even many Chicagoans, don't like the fast food being offered they can chose not to frequent the restaurant.