Larryrant started an excellent discussion while informing us of
Hitler's Respect for "My Lord & Savior" Jesus. I agree with those who believe it is counterproductive to compare Bush with Hitler. I am in favor of watching for comparisons from history with the rise of Fascism and Nazism and the current state of this country. I hope to apply some historical perspective in this area as justification for the point I try to emphasize in this series.
Larry went on to say
Sorry. Some Hitler References are Legitimate & Needed It started an even more heated discussion. I believe it is counterproductive to use Hitler references. I believe this country will not become another Nazi state and anytime we are discussing Fascism we must understand the differences between Nazism and Fascism. Nazism was a racist idealism that believed that ultimate State power could be achieved through racial purity and that they had the right to control the world. Fascists believe that State power is ultimate and their State should control the world. If we limit our argument to Fascism and be prepared to distinguish it from Nazism we will have a much better chance in succeeding in informing others of our concerns. That is the trap! Fascism can succeed as long as the people think Fascism and Nazism are the same thing and are assured we are not Fascism because we do not resemble Nazism. I will admit that comparisons of how the Nazi's converted a Christian German people into a people capable of allowing the atrocities that occurred under Hitler are definitely valid arguments wherever meaningful comparisons can be made. I allowed Larry to post a
resonce to what I said and it turns out we agree in pinciple.
We have another writer on our side. From: The Reality of Red-State Fascism dated 12-30-04 by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
In short, what we have alive in the US is an updated and Americanized fascism. Why fascist? Because it is not leftist in the sense of egalitarian or redistributionist. It has no real beef with business. It doesn't sympathize with the downtrodden, labor, or the poor. It is for all the core institutions of bourgeois life in America: family, faith, and flag. But it sees the state as the central organizing principle of society, views public institutions as the most essential means by which all these institutions are protected and advanced, and adores the head of state as a godlike figure who knows better than anyone else what the country and world's needs, and has a special connection to the Creator that permits him to discern the best means to bring it about
It is good to find others in our corner even if they are Libertarians. I may take off my Tin Kossack. He also said
No, today, the clear and present danger to freedom comes from the right side of the ideological spectrum, those people who are pleased to preserve most of free enterprise but favor top-down management of society, culture, family, and school, and seek to use a messianic and belligerent nationalism to impose their vision of politics on the world.
My thanks to
Margot for the post in last Sundays
This Week in Fascism.
1. Powerful and continuing expression of nationalism.
Myrrander started a vigorous discusion (160 comments) when she admitted that I Never Thought I Did, But I Guess I Hate America. She is willing to admit this because the Talking Heads told her it was so. It seems that we progressives and or liberals now hate America when we have views that differ from those expressed by the Right. This is where those with opposing views are demonized as non-patriotic. This is the kind of rhetoric that can lead to the worst that Fascism can succumb too. If you are suffering from "Talking Head" induced delusions my prescription is to read her Diary.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
Descrates let us know about how The Extent of Iraqi Abuse Continues to Emerge. This Diary got little attention possibly due to another Dairy posted 15 minutes later that some must have thought was on the same subject. But it was not! He states that "Apparently, the counterinsurgency [that`s our guy`s], known for its elegance and innovation, has been rounding up the usual suspects, i.e. clerics and doctors." That's right were arresting Clerics and Doctors. They have found reports of abuse of detainees at 25 separate prisons in Iraq by forces of the U.S. or under their control. This is where an almost silent media ignores an overzealous military, whose tactics are authorized by "Executive Order", who use tactics deemed illegal by international treaties to compile evidence and intelligence from suspects. When there is organized disregard for Human Rights then you may have Totalitarianism, Communism, or maybe Fascism.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
Plutonium Page brought us a story of Republican hypocrisy: ethics complaint against Pelosi It seems that Nancy Pelosi paid a 21,000 fine for fund raising errors that she admitted too. Now the Republicans in the House are trying to push an Ethics complaint against her. This is classic Scapegoat tactics! To deflect attention from The House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is expected to soon be facing felony charges in Texas, they push an issue against Mrs. Pelosi which has already been settled with just a proverbial slap on the wrist.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
MFL got a very good response after informing us that the U.S. is Sinking Boats in the Pacific [and it's] not in the news It seems that since 1997 U.S. Military forces have been boarding and sinking foreign flagged boats in the South Pacific because they were not seaworthy after the passengers and crews were detained for suspected intention to violate immigration law. Not only are they possibly violating recognized maritime law but where is the "Due Process" when the owners of these boats, and their cargo, are deprived of their property. If seems the definition of person has changed or that the U.S. Militaries Captains forgot to read the Constitution. When the Military ignores not only our laws but worldwide recognized maritime law then you have achieved avid militarism.
5. Rampant Sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
Rome 890 informed us that CBS Vows To Be Faux-Like. They actually told the white House Press Secretary they wanted to ensure him they would be "Fair and balanced". I wonder if they have to pay royalties if they use that phrase on-air. This is what is wrong with the media when they apologize for airing a true story that happened to include some memo's who's authenticity is still up in the air. This is the scoop from Mike Hersh with a lot of data on the current state of the memo's analysis. Corporate Nationalism is supported when the press is controlled by the Corporations who fail to challenge the Government because the Government supports them more than the people. Also see Thinking Republican`s Diary on White House Media Manipulation: A Lesson in Tactics. Gives us some insight into how the media manipulation is performed.
Troutfishing discovered for us that Political hate speech comes from the left. This is actually a response to a Boston Globe opinion piece which states that overwhelmingly political hate speech of today comes from the left. He cites many instances of "hate speech" from the right in his response. We need some readers of the Boston Globe to write them and try to set the record straight. When the Media start denying the truth and painting the opposition with outright falsehoods then they can be assumed to be in league with those in power. My contention has always been that even though the Media is not controlled by the State many in the Media are definitely presenting rhetoric as fact to mislead the public.
Rollins asked us the question Is Robert Novak a Fascist? This is based on a statement he made to Robert Begala after a discussion about Statehood or at least Federal Representation for D.C. He said "I don't want the people who put in people like Marion Barry in the city council to send two more Democrats to the Senate. In fact, I don't even like home rule" and finally he stated "too much democracy is not always a good thing." This country is supposed to stand for Democracy and they even believe we are here to spread Democracy throughout the world. How can they make statements like this and still be trusted to lead a democratic nation? Since Novak is the most unabashedly Republican Talking Head on television his statements are supposed to reflect what the Republican Party stand for. As I have stated time and again when those in power will do anything to stay in power that classifies as a definite sign of Fascism.
7. Obsession with national security.
Plutonium Page told us that U.S. intelligence 'reform' meets growing criticism from the spies. This is refering to a Boston Globe article where they interviewed over a dozen senior intelligence officials and operatives.
Ray McGovern, a 27-year veteran of the CIA's clandestine service, said of the changes: ''They add an extra layer. But the problem is not a structural one". McGovern also said that because the Sept. 11 Commission declined to blame individuals for the intelligence failures; it had to find fault somewhere else.
And finally ''The commission concluded, therefore, that 'it must have been the system, it must be something with how we organized ourselves,' " he said. ''That is 90 percent wrong. It is the people, stupid."
It seems that with the 9-11 commission being prevented from assessing blame and the rush to enact new legislation we have made changes that may not solve the problems but definitely allow for a new Government layer that controls the purse strings for all of the intelligence community. So I guess the next thing we can expect is more ideological purges in the same vein as the C.I.A. under Porter Goss.
8. Religion and ruling elite are tied together.
Rose Eriter told us that Baldwin's back-and he sounds a lot like us. This Diary concerns Chuck Baldwin a Right Wing Radio personality whose latest newsletter is titled "Why Does the Religious Right Ignore Civil Liberties Issues? Is seems there are those on the right who are beginning to understand the problem of the Religious Rights involvement in Government and how they are compromising their core beliefs of Civil Liberties and Constitutional Protections to support a Corporatist regime. We need to let these people know how what they are doing is also leading us to a true Fascist State.
9. Power of corporations protected.
Gianik Started a good discussion on the issue by Stating Corporate power + State power = ...Fascism. He points out and I agree with him that Mussolini placed much more emphasis on Fascism as the merger of Corporations and the State then the 14 point list I use does. While in an update he stated that he did not believe that a fascist state is coming here. I wish to add two items which I have been looking for an opportunity to discuss. The first is the social security reform. By making more Americans dependant on corporate health with the privatization programs that are being proposed we are tying our countries and our people's livelihoods to corporations. That is Corporatism and when we say individuals are not as important as the whole that is Fascism. The other point is our economic and tax policies that put the money in the hands of the rich and powerful. We assume that they will save the country by investing in it to generate America's prosperity. In doing this we make those who are actually less dependant on America's prosperity into the ones we expect to provide for America's prosperity. The vast majority of people who work in this country and depend on this countries prosperity are the ones who need the breaks because the prosperity of this country affects our lives much more than theirs.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
Downeast Dem reminds us of Wal-Mart's Burden on US Taxpayers. To allow for Wal-Marts destruction of family owned businesses and local town centers in rural areas the Government subsidizes their employees with heath care, housing assistance, and low income tax credits. Employers used to compensate employees to the point where they did not qualify for these benefits. It's as if the Government is ensuring the employees have no reason to demand higher wages. This depresses wages for everyone else. So the cost is actually higher because of the wages lost by employees of their competitors who can hold wages down, There are also cost's due to lost wages of the former employees of the stores wal-mart puts out of business. It's a vicious cycle that harms American workers and America. When the government makes things easier for companies and not for individuals we are closer to Mussolini's dream than we are to Dr. Kings.
11. Distain for the arts and Intellectuals.
Professor Shark informed us of there are those who want us to Be Careful Not to Get Too Much Education. It seems that Dr. Teresa Whitehurst is afraid, along with many other Christian fundamentalists that if we get too much Education we will question our values. I definitely believe there is no such thing as too much education. When the powerful attempt to prevent people from being educated it is because they know that the values they teach would not stand up to critical analysis. What's next burying books? Oh, that was last month's plan.
Cali Blogger commented on a L.A. Times piece about what he calls No Mind Left Behind, or How NCLB is Hurting Our Children As a supporter of Arts Education (my daughter is in her second year in junior college and hopes to get into N.Y.U`s. theatre program this fall) I believe it when he says "I'm perfectly willing to admit that this mental crippling of our children may not be intentional, at least consciously. But I find it hard to believe that it has nothing to do with the mindset of the rule-bound, stultified, unimaginative, intransigent, soulless corporatists that are currently running the country." This is a part of the "distain for the arts" when requirements are made and funding is set such that arts education is eliminated or heavily reduced. I credit 2 years in Drama classes for opening my eyes to other areas even though I actually pursued a math/science heavy curriculum.
Lapin informed us that Pell Grants Taking a Hit (Anti-Intellectualism) and I will take the not so subtle hint and add it. I would have done it anyway Lapin. Is seems that despite the Presidents assertion during the debates that he would increase Pell Grants the Administration is reworking the eligibility rules that in effect reduce the amount 1.3 million students get in grants and eliminate them for 90,000 Americans. This is a tactic used to reduce the educating levels which actually reduces the number of liberals since better educated people tend to be liberals. Seems like a plan to keep the power in the hands of those in power by reducing and controlling the education which the youth receive.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
It seems that those who are posters at DailyKos are not obsessed with crime and punishment and rarely post Diaries that deal with the subject, But I am sure that anyone who reads the Newspapers or watches Local T.V. broadcasts clearly sees that this country does have this obsession and that the Republicans generally lead the way in using this to spread fear and increase Police Powers to the point in which we live in a Police State by many definitions of the term.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
Firedog Lake has hit the nail on the head with his assesment of War Profiteering and You: A CALL FOR ACTION. This is a must read for anyone who actually thinks we went to Iraq for the Iraqi's and everyone else too. This is an analysis of what the top ten benefactors of private sector spending in Iraq have been doing with the money we give them. This is to detailed and important to boil down to a couple lines so go see it NOW.
GOTV wants us to know how we fared in the battle over House Ethics Rules -- we lost. Not only that but the Republicans made it sting really bad. This is definitely a lesson in what we can expect from the new Congress. In the first vote of the new session the Republicans added a rider to the Bill to create the new House Homeland Security Committee that changed the way the ethics committee operates. Now there has to be a majority on the Committee to even get an investigation plus all investigations must be stated within 45 days. So you will see that when a Republican is considered it will be delayed till the 45 day window expires and when a Democrat is considered they will force a vote and say the Democrats are unethical if they fail to vote against one of their own while Republicans won't even have to vote. This will also be played as 195 Democrats voted against the 9-11 commissions recommended House Committee when they were actually against the ethics committee rule change. That how the system works in Fascist states where staying in power in Rule 1.
14. Fraudulent elections.
I'm trying to stay away from the issue of Ohio even though there is a lot of Diaries on both sides of that issue. I think that issue is well covered here and I am actually in the undecided camp on how to proceed and frame it. I have posted some Ohio and other State Election Fraud related Diaries in previous editions. I failed to find any during the last few days where I could provide any meaningful comments for my readers on this issue. I do believe Fraud took place and needs to be investigated and anyone involved on both sides needs to be prosecuted not only for the fraud but for impeding the investigations into same.
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.
We can use this forum like Liberation Learning who lived up to his moniker again with his Diary on the Enlightenment Coalition: American Traditionalists Working for Democracy. He started with a basic idea on how the separate factions interrelate and where we need to be to obtain the coalition required to regain some power in this country. He took input from the respondents and edited his Diary to reflect good ideas presented by others. If we can continue to use the tools and good ideas provides by the posters in this forum. We will be able to get a set of principles that will appeal to a wide enough coalition to ensure election victories. Victory in upcoming elections has to be our goal! But we also must not stoop down or throw away our integrity and principles to do it. Winning small battles are nothing if we cannot win the major battles which are the elections and then win the greater battle of taking this country back from those who are blind too, indifferent too, or actually support Fascism.
Liberation Learning Continues his work on charting the political ideologies and explain that Conservatives Oppose Fascism. He is right! And you should go see why. I just want to say I agree with him and that is why we must explain to the public what Fascism is and get those who should oppose it to understand that it is happening today. If we can accomplish that goal then we will have a chance to stop it. If we fail to persuade the conservatives and they still support those who are leading this country into Fascism then all is lost for what this country stands for. BTW LL you can post comments in other Diaries without your new pretty pictures. He is strange that way as anyone who knows him can tell you.
Savage brought us Labor's Last Gasp or The Next Upsurge? (part one) and (part two). This started a discussion of the labor movement and what steps need to be taken to prevent Corporatists from further enslaving the workers into Economic Servitude. See what he had to say and apply the lessons and action items as best you can in the war against Corporate Nationalistic anti-Communistic philosophy i.e. Fascism.
Some Excellent Series'
Coturnix`s Lakoff Series is in it's 22nd edition and is a must read for anyone who has to communicate with our opposition. Be sure to catch up on the whole series.
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.
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 Newsie's Week In Reviewsies. I bet she does more research then I do.
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