These are the main Diaries, with commentary, from the last few days that relate, in my opinion, to the possibility that this country is becoming a Corporate Nationalistic Anti-Communistic State. Historically the Fascist state, which was Italy under Mussolini, bears remarkable resemblances to what this country is becoming. I reserve the right to rant and rant some more.
Timoteo found that we are not alone as "Tin Kossack" wearers, since this message from Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Tutu: USA = Apartheid South Africa. Yes we have some big guns in our corner. Not only that but a big gun who knows what he's talking about. He said "it's unbelievable that a country that many of us have looked to as the bastion of true freedom could now have eroded so many of the liberties we believed were upheld almost religiously. WOW! A Nobel laureate paraphrasing some of the things that we have been saying. Doesn't justification feel so good?
Much Much More below the fold. Give them all a read or at least some mojo
I make many references to Mussolini later in my commentaries so I would ask you to understand a few things. The Fascist party under Mussolini is what Fascism must be measured by. This was the defining moment for this form of Government. They based the Fascist party on the assumption on whatever was good for the whole was what was best. They used a symbol from Ancient Rome of a bundle of reeds. An individual reed was insignificant but when bundled together it made a strong bundle that was used for fortifications. So many bundles could fortify a city etc. When a political system decides that the "needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one" as the basis for the governmental system it accepts the true original ideals behind the only self described Fascist State. This is what we must be on the outlook for, so I will endeavor to point out the comparisons to this type of a system. My apologies to any Vulcans and psudo-Vulcans out there.
This Diary only covers Wednesday thru Saturday due to the number of listing if you missed the previous versions click here for the previous editions
1. Powerful and continuing expression of nationalism.
Left Handed Man asks "is this Treasons Greetings"? I put this under nationalism because in this case a Media Correspondent is actually expressing his own opinion and the Nationalists threatens him with a death sentence. When it gets to the point where good reporters and editorialists have to fear for their lives because what they say is viewed as unpatriotic then we are surly on the wrong road. When it gets to the point where good reporters and editorialists are arrested for doing their jobs we have arrives at the destination of a Fascist State. Wait! don't I remember Novak's fall guys.
Rene informed us that the US sidelines UN and EU with new coalition of the willing. Even during relief operations for the most widespread disaster in modern times the U.S's. "my way or the highway" approach to foreign policy is still evident. When the most effective way to deal with this would be to use the U.N. infrastructure and well established plans. But the Administration has to have control of as much of the effort as possible. You know we can't just send what people really need, we have to have control so them durned bad countries can't actually benefit from the aid were sending.
Psi Fighter 37 has more info on Bush's New Coalition. According to C.N.N. "He [Bush] announced that the United States has "established a regional core group with India, Japan and Australia to help coordinate relief efforts. While many are disparaging the amount of aid and the fact that only $15 million dollars are in the form of grants. There are $20 million in loan guarantees which are designed to protect financial institutions and really do nothing but make it easier for those in need to take on more debt and insure those who lend the actual money. Then the U. S. added $300 million in reconstruction costs. If Iraq is any guide then these reconstruction funds will go to U. S. companies who will repeat in over billing the government while undercutting the locals in the rebuilding effort. I also want to address the fact that we are bypassing the United Nations who should be in the lead in deciding where the funds would be more effectively spent. We are minimalizing the U. N. while increasing the bureaucracy involved in getting aid to those who need it. This is first and foremost a publicity stunt to make it look like we are heavily involved and the U. N. is worthless. Second it is designed to force change upon the affected countries in the strict father vein of nationalism. I put this under nationalism first because of the stunt nature of bypassing the U. N. and second on the "if you perform the way we want you get the help" nature of almost all our foreign aid policies.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
There were three diaries that included info on the new torture definition memo released by the Attorney Generals Office. Disturbing NYT article on Guantanamo by Bob Johnson had the most recommends and comments. It seems that now that we have a new and more restrictive definition but will anyone be held accountable for actions taken under the old definition which was totally against international norms. Will the Gonzales memo allowing torture be the rule no matter what the definition is? Will cases of torture, that will surely enter the courts, be dismissed because the Commander in Chief was justified in issuing orders? Will the troops continue to pay the price because the administration refuses to back them up by affirming that the torture was warranted and authorized? Not only are we showing distain for human rights by saying some people don't deserve any rights but also when we fail to support our troops and make them the fall guy's for policies that the administration says are justified, It is another sign of Fascism when those in power refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions.
Louis M. G. found this story in Yahoo News about a Bush Prosposal: Life Sentences for Suspected Terrorists Without Trial This is from a Washington Post Article which leads with this quote.
Administration officials are preparing long-range plans for indefinitely imprisoning suspected terrorists whom they do not want to set free or turn over to courts in the United States or other countries, according to intelligence, defense and diplomatic officials.
But this is only half of the story. Less than an hour earlier
Idiot Savant let us know
What else is going on in Guantanamo. This is about two British Citizens in Guantanamo Bay detention, who claim to have been tortured, and their Lawyer. The Lawyers Notes are being held until they can be declassified. It seems that what are classified are our interrogation techniques
So putting the stories together you get a clear picture of prisoners who confess to something during interrogations whose techniques are classified so the evidence cannot be used in court. Since we cannot let the world know about these techniques we have to hold them for life. It seems that the Constitutional Provision that
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" doesn't apply to Federal Government. This is definitely what distinguishes Fascist States from Democratic States, where the requirement for secrecy concerning wrongs whivh those in power have committed cause them to ignore their own laws especially where individuals are concerned. When the individual does not matter but what matters is the State and those in Power then you have a Fascist Government.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
Downeast Dem found an opinion by the close Bush Aministration friend Daniel Pipes: Let's Round Up the Muslims! Two Kossacks filed in essentially the same response within 40 Seconds of each other.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller 1945
This is my week to rant on about Mussolini's ideas that whatever is good for the whole is the way to go. So if the whole are threatened by Jews, then eliminate the Jews. If the whole are threatened by Muslims, then eliminate the Muslims. If the whole are threatened by homosexuals, then eliminate the homosexuals. If the whole are threatened by liberals, then eliminate the liberals. This is what things lead to when you forget the rights of the individuals and place emphasis on the good of the country as a whole. What's best for the country is not what's best for individuals but when that becomes the rule then we have achieves Mussolini's goal.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
C. Delia has the tale of Photos of Navy SEALs abusing prisoners. SEALs sue AP for revealing their identities. You would think when the wife of one of the Seals put the photos on a web site the deal was done, but they are suing the Associated Press. When we sue news organizations, in whom are entrusted some of our greatest freedoms, for jeopardizing future mission of Naval Officers, who appear to be committing war crimes, we are on the way to Avid Militarism. If the Seals win the suit, then we will be sure we are there.
Descrates started a discussion of How Military Leaders have Escaped Blame for Iraq. There are many items in the conduct of this war that stem from bad planning, too few troops, rushing to Baghdad while leaving supply lines vulnerable, treatment of prisoners, disbanding the Iraqi Military, failure to budget for war costs, failure to properly equip, and failure to properly re-equip our military that can be considered the fault of upper military and civilian leadership. But there are no instances of anyone being held accountable for these failures. This is a sign of an out of control military where no-one is held responsible. Come to think about it. Has anyone been held accountable for anything during the Bush administration? They are even still holding the final 9-11 commission report that has been ready since October that reportable assesses some blame for what happened on that memorable day.
5. Rampant Sexism.
Hono Lulu warned us about Women under assault (with poll). Take the Poll on how you feel women will fare in the next 4 years. She links 10 separate references where Women are under assault from State and Federal Governments. It is a symptom of oppressive governments to force women to bend under the yoke of regulations from those who wish to force their will upon them. I must admit that, as a man, I do not see this issue as clearly as some of the rest of you. I would certainly love for someone to spearhead this issue and allow me to link to their work.
Pam in Durham found that in new guidelines from the Justice Dept [there's] no info on emergency contraception if you're raped. The U.S. Department of Justice has issued its first-ever medical guidelines for treating sexual assault victims - without any mention of emergency contraception, the standard precaution against pregnancy after rape. There is a lot more there on how these guidelines were developed and that the provision to inform women about the approved method of pregnancy prevention was originally in the draft of the guidelines. It seems they disappeared when no-one was looking even though no-one came forward to object to the language during the vetting of the guidelines. It seems someone removed the provision to inform women who were reporting and being examined during rape investigations. The guess is this was done to keep from upsetting the religious right and therefore protect the politicians who were involved in the preparation of these guidelines. Doing anything necessary to protect those in power is how Fascist regimes operate.
6. A controlled mass media.
Andrew C. White contends that Clear Channel Tramples on First Amendment Rights. It is his belief that Clear Channel's refusals to air his ads are violations of the first amendment. I sadly disagree, but you may agree, with his contention. I do believe it is a sign of our Media showing favoritism to the ruling party. The Corporate Media works to promote the ruling party and the ruling party works for the benefit of the Corporations who control the Media. If you think about why special freedoms were granted to the press you would understand that the press and other corporation do not get the freedoms granted to individuals. But it seems that when we gave "personhood" to Corporations they came under the freedoms granted persons. This should not be allowed to stand. But sadly this is how our current Corporate Nationalistic or Fascist Government works.
Street Kid posted his very first Diary about Censorship, American Style This is an excellent opinion piece comparing today's news coverage with yesterdays and also with foreign sources. This is a must read so I will refrain from my own commentary to encouage you to read it. On a side note I am glad to know that 44 year olds like me can still think of ourselves as kids. Way to go Kid.
Sing it!
Censorship, American style,
That's me and yooouu.
7. Obsession with national security.
K. Player found that the unabashedly right wing Washington Times' Editorial writer bemoans the loss of the man whose plan was When all else fails, blame the Russians. Defense Undersecretary John A. Shaw was the one who presented Satellite evidence of two trucks at the wrong Bunkers the day after he told the Times that the Russians took the 360 Ton's of Explosives. Then after the bloggers and A. B. C. 5 in Minneapolis/St. Paul blew this tall tale he brought a Major who destroyed 400 Tons of "munitions". Well it turns out the "munitions" were not explosives and the A.B.C. video of soldiers breaking U.N. Seals was actually filmed after the Major had destroyed his "munitions". I guess the "mooney times" just hates loosing a "good" source. It seems when the truth becomes a danger to National Security then we have crossed that magic line I see through my E.M. proofed tinfoil glasses.
8. Religion and ruling elite are tied together.
Rose Eriter let us know that Preacher Dobson wishes the Democrats a Happy New Year. Happy for him that is! This is about threats to challenge democratic Senators if they do not bow to Bush's judicial nominations. He also mentions how much money his "tax exempt" organization has and how he will use it for political purposes. In this Country it is not so much that the party in power is tied to the Church but that the Church is tied to the Party. The Religious Right joined itself to the Republicans over the issues of abortion and school prayer and since that worked so well (see where those issues actually stand) they have been expanding their influence to the point where they have those in Power doing whatever it takes to keep their support. Fascist regimes whose main goals are power and money will pay lip service to whatever the majority or at least the most visible want as long as it ensures they keep them in power and support their Corporate Nationalistic Goals. That's how a fascist system operated and why it leads to suppression of minorities and minority rights. They will stay in bed together to each get their goals accomplished.
There is an excellent daily Religious News Roundup by Pastor Dan. Everyone needs to see what the minister has to say about the news from the Religious perspective.
9. Power of corporations protected.
K9disc has more on the Inc. Monster- $1.1b lobbying in 1st 6 mo of 2004. If we are to reverse our descent toward a Corporate Nationalistic form of Government we must find a way of reigning in the Corporations who now have unfettered access and influence in our lawmaking. The idea of corporate personhood actually gives companies the same Rights granted each of us. This must stop. While people have been happy to have limits places on their rights corporations have been gaining access to rights they were never granted in our constitution.
Cali Blogger warned us about The Bursting American Bubble. This is about the increasing problem with Americans private debt and how the Bush Administration has been trying to push through Congress laws to further limit Bankruptcies. With wages failing to keep up with inflation, reduced consumer dept, and increased credit liability many Americans are getting dangerously close to financial ruin if any unexpected hardship enters their lives. Bankruptcy laws were designed as a way for people to recover their lives after major unforeseen problems. Throughout history these people would have to enter some form of servitude due to financial ruin. When the United States were formed Bankruptcy was the cure to prevent our citizens from ever becoming involuntary servants. The Administration is trying to weaken the laws to ensure profits for lenders while guaranteeing more Americans enter economic servitude. The Fascism party in Italy was developed in the belief that the group must band together to provide strength for the whole. This was the actual origin of Fascism. The needs of individuals were unimportant as long as the group was strengthened. You see this in the rationalization of so many of the laws and regulations that are being enacted in this country. Anytime you see protections for Individuals lessened to provide for the group understand that was what Mussolini's dream was when he created the original Fascist state.
up2date is a correspondent on the front lines of the The Tort Wars, Part I and Part II You really must read these along with the posts. There are actually replies from (ahem) Trial Lawyers who discuss what the tort reform is really trying to accomplish (it isn't better or cheaper service). I can rant some more on Mussolini's ideal society where each person gives up their needs for the needs of the group. He called this idea, now what was that? Oh! I remember, Fascism.
Dood Abides fount that we have enabled Eisenhower's feared Military Industrial Complex to come to fruition. Actually Dood believes we have just formed the Industrial Complex that feeds off our military's blood. When Corporate Corruption and profiteering are facilitated by our Governments policies we have achieved the Corporatism which is a linchpin of Fascist regimes as noted in the following excerpt from the sourced article.
The Coalition Provisional Authority's quasi-governmental status has not only been criticized by those who say the C. P. A's. orders violate the Geneva Convention - it has also created a kind of legal shell game that shields contractors from any attempt to hold them accountable for defrauding U.S. taxpayers.
I implore you to go to this Diary and follow the link to its source, since contains much more than I feel I can present here.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
Sula found that, at Harrah's casino at least, Women Must Wear Make-up...It's the Law. It seems that the Casino paid for a full make-over for all its female employees and made the results the "Standard" by which they must meet in their personal Dress Code. The Court decided that since Men had to play by the same rules with haircuts and being clean shaven there was no discrimination. So now women can be forced to maintain their appearance even though it involves a lot more time and financial strain for them. This is blatant sexism allowed of Industry and may become a precedent for others. It is also suppressing the rights of employing to be compensated for job related requirements due to the amount of time and money most women must spend to maintain a makeover look.
11. Distain for the arts and Intellectuals.
K. Weber Lit uncovered for us an instance of Unleashing the FBI on America's Novelists. It seems that "Links" to terrorists and "linking" to a website the government created for the sole purpose of entrapment are one in the same. So it appears that students, writers, researchers, and anyone else who stumbles upon the wrong website and/or sends E-Mails requesting more information can be considered as suspected terrorists. Does anyone remember something called "freedom of association?
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
Jane Knowles had a Friend Arrested over B.S. Any Lawyers Around? It seems a plain clothes man demanded that she open up without providing I. D. She called the police who showed up and then they arrested her instead of just giving her a summons. "According to the police officers, this happened because of the way laws have changed since 9/11. We have become a Police State! Just look at how police and other "servants" abuse their power and then are justified by the Courts. See the posts in the Diary if you have any doubts. See my rant up thread on Bankruptcy and you will understand that when "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one" (Sorry Mr. Spock) we have achieved Mussolini's dream instead of Dr. Kings.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
Lawyer to Capitalists gave us an Alert: Hastert to Stack Deck for DeLay (even more). The Republicans are actually trying to remove fellow Republican Joel Hefley from the House Ethics Committee it's Chairman for having the audacity to investigate and admonish another Republican namely House Speaker Tom DeLay. This is how Fascist's work by doing everything they can to remain in power no matter how corrupt it is.
Diamond Pen has picked up a N. Y. Times article on the Repubs Plan to make Ethics Inquiries Harder to Begin. It seems they want to change rules so that a majority of The Ethics Committee members will be required to keep an ethics complaint alive. This means that a Republican will have to actually vote in committee against another Republican or any investigations would end. This sign is clear as a bell especially if they get their way and have unequal committee representation due to the majority party's dominance.
Jolly Buddah asked the question "is this Congressional Ethics? It seems that the House ethics committee plans to unveil an array of proposed changes next year. But the proposed changes appear likely to loosen ethics restrictions, not tighten them. It seems congress wants lobbyists to actually pay for their congressional operating expenses. They also want to be able to take their family on those all important junkets. The second thing Fascist's Governments do after ensuring they stay in power is to increase the size of their wallets. So reducing ethical restrictions achieves both these objectives. They can increase what they, and their families, get and at the same time make sure there are no scandals that can hurt them while the take whatever they can for being "Public Servants.
14. Fraudulent elections.
Hannah wants to know, for all of us, What is the Associated Press hiding? This Diary addresses the means and opportunity questions about how the Election Results and Exit Polls could have been adjusted to match each other and ensure validity for a Bush win on election night. This can explain how the Exit Polls mysteriously changed to where they matched the poll results after they were trending heavily in Kerry's Favor. There are also some very informative and well presented replies that have to be read. The first rule of a Fascist Party is to maintain control by any means necessary.
There is hope! Here are some articles on a way to fight back.
This section is devoted to those who have done something and are sharing their stories, those who have suggestions for ways to be active, and those who cry out for immediate action. I do what little I can. I am becoming active in my local blue county in the biggest red state. They need a party chairman and I volunteered, but there is a school board member who is also interested in the job so I am not campaigning for the job just willing to serve if needed. I plan to do as much as I can when called upon.
Isaac Tristan found those who want us to Preserve the core to grow the core: Parallels in domestic and global affairs give us some examples of how we can get our message to our base and save the term liberal from continuing to be a dirty word. We have to refocus our attention on our base.We have to export rulesets from the Blue to the Red. are the basic ideas, so go see the specifics.
Saint has a LTE to be published Monday. High Five's, Push Up's, mojo party, and drinks on the house. We, like he did, should be doing this at every opportunity. Every time we find something objectionable or laudatory in our local papers we need to sent individual letters. You better believe that if there are multiple recipients on an E-Mail to an Editor they go straight to the SPAM file. Go see his great letter. Also Jasn99 reported that his Letter To The Editor Was Printed in Friday's Atlanta Journal Constitution.
J. S. Magid suggests a Strategic Imperative 1: Media - Collecting the resources to take back the media. This is his professional opinion that we need big financial and grass roots support for more media that can be a true "Liberal media" to counter the R.W.C.M we are up against. My suggestion is to get Moyers as the Lead Anchor. There are plenty of people out there who agree with our causes and may even be willing to invest in the future of this country, this planet, and, maybe even, this universe.
Ultrageek suggests There are things you can do - aside from learning Chinese, of course! This is one of the best Diaries I have seen concerning the "Buy Blue" campaign. Actually ensure any chains you shop at are not subsidiaries of the big bad red machine. Spend money at local shops with blue owners. Mark a blue mark on your bills in a legal fashion. Come up with an indiscrete symbol to identify blue retailers. Go see all the excellent Ideas listed by the geek and other posters.
Anders 75 has a real Radical Idea: No Hatred! Even though hate and fear are tools of the enemy, if we use them we will not only have sunk to their level but we will be minimized by the same Media who think the right wing fear mongers and hate raisers are justified and speak for the American People.
Northwoods 1 started a very good discussion by asking Why won't the Dems fight the culture war? It seems the Republicans have asserted control of the Culture Wars and vilified democrats as the enemy. We need to fight back and between the author and the respondents there are some very good ideas on how to fight this was to win. And win we must. Go see what others have presented in this area so you can be armed for this war.
Some Excellent Series'
[new] Coturnix`s reframing series based on George Lakoff's work is in it's 16th edition and is a must read for anyone who has to communicate with our opposition. Be sure to catch up on the whole series.
[new] Seattle Liberal has started the Nerd Network News (This Week's Science Diaries) to try and keep everyone on top of the Nerd's. Go see what's there.
Don`t miss any of RubDMC`s Iraq War Grief Daily Witness (photo) series if you "can handle the truth" and give mojo too.
Be sure and see Jeffrey Feldman`s Frameshop series. This deserves your attention and mojo.
You must read "The Goebbels Diaries" by Youngblood Kaufman gives us some insight into how Fascism was achieved in the past. See the whole set.
Newsie8200 Does an excellent Week's Best Diaries You Didn't Read. I bet she does more research then I do.
Be sure to read Scott Bateman`s Daily Cartoons, it deserves mojo and a whole lot more.
PsiFighter37 tells us "What I believe in as a Democrat". This an excellent well thought out series that deserves more than 2 comments per edition. We have to gain more cohesion as a party. Take a cue from the repubs and not degrade those democrats who have different views on a particular issue so that we can get the issues that are important to most of us accomplished.
I want to encourage others to pick topics they are enthusiastic about and write similar overviews. With around 1500 Diaries per week that would hopefully grow, if we can find ways to generate interest, most readers are unable to read more than a small percentage of Diaries. This type of Diary encourages writers who find that their work actually is recognized and appreciated. Please pick a topic and do something similar.