We’re wrapping up the 2020 presidential elections and I’m worried like I was in 2016. Here’s a brief comparison about the parallels between the White House inner circle and Adolph Hitler’s officials who wreaked havoc in and over Germany and beyond as their momentum to the top of society accelerated by the early 1930s. Hopefully, we won’t see such a crisis tonight or in the coming days as GOP supporters hit the streets against a Biden/Harris victory if the statistics show Democratic success at the ballot box. I think making the transition to new leadership could be dicey.
It’s clear that growing authoritarianism is the Trump strategy. Core values are obedience to the boss, willingness to distort, lie or deny all but the White House’s despotic agenda: Power at any cost, call the opposition “Traitors,” “Socialists,” “Treasonous,” and more. Seek to nullify having a free press. Pardon co-conspirators so they get out of prison to work behind the scenes against the rule of law and order. All this, regardless of facts, money, human suffering, and other challenges. Keep Herr Trump on his throne, no matter what.
Almost exactly a century ago in 1919 Hitler joined an obscure political party, rose within as a leader, and changed the name to what it soon became recognized globally as the Nazis in 1920. Readers know the basics of the organization's growth and evolution, eventually becoming a regime of hate, conflict, racism, mass murder through genocidal schemes, and much more. Among other similarities with Donald Trump was the fact that the Fuhrer sought to gain and retain power, regardless of reality. Both power-seekers specialized in screaming at huge rallies, lying numerous times per day, and laboring to manipulate laws and power structures to benefit themselves. And when Hitler and his group lost elections, they refused to concede, much like we may see Donald Trump attempt to do this evening, and/or in the coming days.
Do you remember Hitler’s inner circle who helped him “Make Germany Great Again?” (MGGA) so he could take over much of Europe? You know, "We're Number 1." Or "America First (& only)!" His top leaders included Architect Albert Speer; Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels; Hermann Goring who was the founder of the ruthless Gestapo; Hitler’s Chief of Staff, Wilhelm Keitel; Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop, and the head of the entire Nazi army, Heinrich Himmler. This group of officials was composed of uncaring executors who carried out the Fuhrer’s evil schemes with competence and a hateful agenda.
As Americans cast their ballots this week, perhaps we should envision the faces of Trump’s inner circle who seem akin to officials of the Third Reich: The Schemer, Jared Kushner; Denial Strategist & White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadow, Vice President Mike Pence of the failed Pandemic Task Force, Favorite daughter compensated for no real work, Fraulein Ivanka; the Manipulator of all Illegalities, Attorney General William Barr; Mis-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos; the Deceitful Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Treasury Manipulator Steve Mnuchin; & the Brainwasher/Propaganda Chief Kayleigh McEnany; and of course, the architect of oppression against migrant families who sort of looks like a Nazi, Stephen Miller, the famous family separator who caged thousands of kids.
My conclusion to all Americans today is this: VOTE! Vote for solutions. Vote for a better, more kind America. Vote for Joe Biden, a problem-solver who will lead all Americans, all states, all races, all religions, toward a better society. Vote for Kamala Harris, a brilliant lawyer who believes in our legal frameworks, and who will be the first Black woman Vice President in U.S. history. Vote against authoritarianism in all its ugly forms of the last four years. Vote for a president who practices his faith and values. Vote for the rebuilding of our economy that has failed millions under Trump’s incompetence, except for the millionaires. Vote for the rule of law, for better policing, for a coherent immigration policy, for clean air and water. Vote to reconnect Latino families ruthlessly split apart and children put in cages on our borders. Vote against the “Trump Virus,” the pandemic so acceptable to “Dr. Trump” that’s caused the suffering of 9.6 million of our citizens. The record-breaking numbers of daily infection rates are as high as 96,000 daily, and they’ve caused 237,000 deaths. This means we ought to vote for a healthcare system that enhances our lives, not diminishes them. So today, I hope you vote for your kids, for a president you can be proud of, a dignified leader who you can have your children watch on TV rather than having to shield them from the daily flood of Trump obscenities and bullying. It’s up to us all to make America decent and good again. As Biden says, to “Build Back Better!”
