anthonyqkiernan
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Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
Apr 24, 2007, 13:22
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Interesting article in the Grauniad
Last autumn, there was a military coup in Thailand. The leaders of the coup took a number of steps, rather systematically, as if they had a shopping list. In a sense, they did. Within a matter of days, democracy had been closed down: the coup leaders declared martial law, sent armed soldiers into residential areas, took over radio and TV stations, issued restrictions on the press, tightened some limits on travel, and took certain activists into custody.
They were not figuring these things out as they went along. If you look at history, you can see that there is essentially a blueprint for turning an open society into a dictatorship. That blueprint has been used again and again in more and less bloody, more and less terrifying ways. But it is always effective. It is very difficult and arduous to create and sustain a democracy - but history shows that closing one down is much simpler. You simply have to be willing to take the 10 steps.
The whole thing
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handofdave
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Fascist BUSH ADMINISTRATION, in 10 easy steps
Apr 24, 2007, 14:26
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Hey, as fucked up as my country is, it certainly didn't invent fascism.
Can we please make a distinction between the majority of the people of the USA, for whom the label 'fascist' does not apply, and the fewer, but disproportionately controlling Bushies (loud, attention getting, ruthless, selfish, and yes, fascist in their designs).
Democracy is messy. There are those who exploit it towards undemocratic ends. This is the core of the battle between those who seek a better America, and those who merely want to control it for their own oligarchal gain.
I in no way whatsoever defend the wrongs of the 'leadership' that is currently raping the world and even it's own citizens. But when the term 'America' gets used wholesale as an expletive I can't help chafing. I AM an American!
'nuff said. I don't feel personally attacked, just trying to request more precise language.
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anthonyqkiernan
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Re: Fascist BUSH ADMINISTRATION, in 10 easy steps
Apr 24, 2007, 14:34
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Naomi Wolf is American. The premise of the article (as I think the title shows) is not that it actually is a fascist state, but that there is a blueprint that could be followed to make it so.
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handofdave
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Edited Apr 24, 2007, 14:48
Re: Fascist BUSH ADMINISTRATION, in 10 easy steps
Apr 24, 2007, 14:47
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anthonyqkiernan wrote: Naomi Wolf is American. The premise of the article (as I think the title shows) is not that it actually is a fascist state, but that there is a blueprint that could be followed to make it so.
All true.
I guess I get a bit defensive sometimes. I don't deny, as I said, that there are some loathsome characters representing my country on the world stage these days.
In spirit, America is three overlapping nations of people... those who seek to exploit everyone else, those who seek a fair, progressive future, and those who simply don't have any larger vision whatsoever.*
*pretty much sums up all of humanity, I suppose.
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Michael Portillo
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Re: Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
Apr 24, 2007, 15:09
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That's an excellent article.
Thanks for flagging it AQK.
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