Fascist America, in 10 easy steps - Democratic Underground

meldroc

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Mon Apr-23-07 10:50 PM
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Fascist America, in 10 easy steps

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html

From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. And, argues Naomi Wolf, George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all

Tuesday April 24, 2007
The Guardian

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.

As difficult as this is to contemplate, it is clear, if you are willing to look, that each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration.

Let me summarize the ten steps, which are described in detail in the article...

Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy. Anyone who was watching what the Bushies were doing in the aftermath of 9/11 can see this coming. That's part of the point of invading Iraq (aside from the oil) - to put the country in a perpetual state of war, to justify the encroaching police state.
Create a gulag. Gitmo, Abu Ghraib and Bagram today. KBR FEMA camps a la REX84 tomorrow...
Develop a thug caste. Gutentag, Blackwater.
Set up an internal surveillance system. NSA warrantless wiretaps and Internet eavesdropping with stuff like Carnivore is just what we know about.
Harass citizen's groups. I've seen it firsthand - I was photographed by the FBI at anti-war protests. Some of the people I've protested with have been arrested, had FBI agents knock on their door and interrogate them, etc.
Engage in arbitrary detention and release. Participate in some anti-war protests, then head to the airport and try to catch a plane, see what happens... Yep, they're there for your protection. Gotta cavity-search those protesters in case they commit acts of TERROR! Nevermind that most of the protesters I've met are committed to non-violence.
Target key individuals. U.S. Attorneys count as "key individuals." The Dixie Chicks got smeared for their anti-war stance.
Control the press. Go tune your TV to Fox Noise. Any questions?
Dissent equals treason. Just ask Dick Cheney, who accuses every liberal in the U.S. of treason, even though he's the one that's the actual traitor.
Suspend the rule of law. The Bushies don't appear to care anymore whether they're seen to be breaking the law anymore. Pretty soon, they'll be exploiting the Military Commissions Act of 2006, and the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 to send the National Guard from any state to any state, answering only to the President, imposing martial law anywhere where there's an "emergency."

And people wonder why I'm not willing to give up my guns. I'll be damned if I'm going to a Gitmo or a FEMA camp - they'll have to kill me first.