I am going to quit beating around the bush...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

Fascism isn't coming. Fascism isn't threatening us. Fascism is here and it has taken a hold of this country. There is no "oh, no it could be here soon." In the name of Mussolini, we are living it.
This was brought on by my reading of the news and the freaking threads all over DU.
There is hope though. Half of this country has woken up. I am WHOLLY confident that the next election will steer us back to a majority in both the house and the senate unless they manage to steal the election, which is highly possible. Probable even. I don't know. Maybe I'm completely insane. I hope that I am. But I had to say it.

[Cleita]

1. Yes, and not just recently. We've had it for a couple of decades.

It's taken this long to complete it's hold. We are going to have a hard time reversing the damage, if we can.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. So it isn't just me.

Thanks.

[Cleita]

4. No it isn't and many would agree.

They just seem to be cautious about airing that view in public.

[Mojorabbit]

30. It's not just you. I totally agreent

[WCGreen]

36. No it isn't....

The melding of government and corporate interests is a real threat to the personal freedom of every American...

[freshwest]

38. Nope, and it's a damn ugly thing. I hope the half of this nation that wants a better path, wins.

[onehandle]

3. We're getting a taste of it, but we can overcome it.

China on the other hand is fully Fascist.

Communism has never actually been put into practice.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. I believe that Kibbutzes were/are Communist

I could be wrong.

[WillyT]

5. Yep... The Corporations Have Captured The Government, And The Police Are On THEIR Side...

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. I found this today....

Found it quite interesting.

[WillyT]

8. Spot On !!!

[RKP5637]

12. This country meets all of those criteria. I think we're on a

slippery slope. The most dangerous thing IMO one can say is, "oh, it could never happen here." Well, it could, and it could turn into full scale fascism, just imagine this criteria taken just a bit further, and there are those in this country that would willing to do it ... without a question. And there are many that would fall for all of the propaganda helping the enablers.

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. Full blown! We have arrived!

[CBGLuthier]

47. amplification

http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?page=britt_23_2&section=library

[BlancheSplanchnik]

48. controlled mass media---that is why the internet is SO critical.

I'm just thinking out loud here, but it seems like the internet is the one big difference between the present system and past Fascist systems. People have a way to get/share information and communicate with each other instantly, regardless of distance, outside of the Corporate/Party ruled media.

That seems new and the critical break in the chain, to me.

[CrispyQ]

52. I love that they love the internet & social media to spread their capitalist message,

"BUY, BUY, BUY!"

But they hate the internet & social media for how we use it to educate & engage in dialog with each other.

To the OP, you are not alone in your concern over the stranglehold the corpo's have on our government. I think more & more people are waking up to this, however. I hope so.

[teddy51]

6. My surprise still is that GW Bush and Cheney did not declare a Dictatorship. I really thought that

they were right at the gate of doing just that. Bush I believe just got lazy and couldn't see himself having to work that hard to hold together one. I seriously think that both Naomi Klein and Naomi Wolf thought that were headed there as well.

Agree, if we can take back the House with strong numbers, and increase the Senate (and keep the WH) we might be able to turn the tide.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. Bush was a puppet.

Then he figured it out and cut off Cheney's power. Bush didn't have the balls to do it. Cheney would have done it in a heartbeat and then Bush would have been found dead of a heart attack or another pretzel incident.

[teddy51]

10. Agree, and Bush was also lazy. Cheney certainly would have done it, if he could have. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Welcome to the club

[Baitball Blogger]

13. Direct reflection of my thoughts.

Not like, mirror, mirror reflection where everything is the opposite, but a reflection as in...oh, never mind.

+1

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. As in you agree? LOL

You're killin' me, Smalls.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Hey! I protest. I plused one!

Short and sweetly agree.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

27. I was just joshing...

[Baitball Blogger]

34. So was I

;}

[DeSwiss]

15. Another awakens......

[YellowRubberDuckie]

16. It has been a long time coming...

Wishing it weren't happening.

[DeSwiss]

23. I know what you mean, but everyone must come to this point......

...in order to be able to move onto the next stage of Awareness. That is the stage of FREEDOM! Something that we've never truly known.

- Luckily for us, it's a story with a happy ending. We just have to truly want it, FIRST.

''Our paradigm is failing and there is no fixing it. There is so much inequity at every level that the only answer is for a complete collapse.'' ~Chris Duane The Greatest Truth Never Told

[dixiegrrrrl]

67. as a student of history, I knew the nature of denial about fascism:

[XemaSab]

18. I thought we voted the fascists out in 2008

[DeSwiss]

28. Sorry, but cancer can't be ''voted out.'' It's a systemic disease.

Once it's in the system it transforms all around it, in order to feed off it. Even if in so doing, it kills its host.


- Not because it's evil, but because that just what it is, and that's what it does......

[awoke_in_2003]

31. we voted the republican order takers...

out of office and replaced them with democratic order takers. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[SammyWinstonJack]

43. +1000!

[Lizzie Poppet]

49. This, abundantly.

Different sock puppets, same plutocratic hands in the socks...

[NNN0LHI]

44. What do you mean "we?"

I didn't go into the voting booth with you. I have no idea who you voted for.

Don

[The Vrude]

19. It really became overt during Bush

But Clinton and the Glass-Steagall repeal paved the way for the banks tyranny of the past decade. Obama had majorities. Elected officials DO NOT represent our interests. We all need to realize that the only change against this fascism is us.

[KatyaR]

20. I totally agree with you--

we're there, most people just won't open their eyes wide enough to see it. And they sure don't think the best country in the world could ever go bad....

I think part of the problem is that we live in Oklahoma, and it just sucks to be here. This state has gone bat-shit crazy. If they put a law into place to kill the state income tax, we're totally doomed. The political and religious climate here--and seriously, aren't they the same thing?--make me want to sell everything I own and get the hell out.

After the one bat-shit insane legislator who introduced that bill this year to ban the use of embryo/baby parts in food, I think I've seen everything. The fact that people took him seriously just closed the deal.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

24. It is funny you should say that.

We were just talking about getting the hell out of this country. I just have no idea how to go about it. I know people do it all the time, but have idea where to start. If I did, we'd already be the HELL out of here.

[TahitiNut]

22. In other news: Water is wet.

My torch and pitchfork are getting rusty waiting for a mob to start forming.

[Justice wanted]

25. Fascism is basically here. Free speech zones where people can still get arrested for exercising the

first amendment.

[MrMickeysMom]

26. You mean...we're through the 14 step program? DAMN!

Let's see... Yep.... I think you're right...

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

4. Supremacy of the Military

5. Rampant Sexism

6. Controlled Mass Media

7. Obsession with National Security

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined

9. Corporate Power is Protected

10. Labor Power is Suppressed

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

14. Fraudulent Elections

[Ishoutandscream2]

53. Yikes! Shit, shit, shit!

According to the list, we're there alright. Damn!

[Fuddnik]

29. Read "Democracy Incorporated" by Sheldon Wolin

"Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism".

http://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Incorporated-Managed-Inverted-Totalitarianism/dp/0691135665


It will open some eyes.

[dixiegrrrrl]

68. Hedges references that book often.

Guess I will have to break down and get it.

[Nye Bevan]

32. I just love the irony when people go on a free, public, open discussion board,

and without any fear of any kind of reprisals, either to themselves or to the owners of the board, solemnly proclaim that we are "living under fascism".

[sudopod]

39. Why don't you post under your real name?

Who's afraid of the big bad Google?

[stevenleser]

65. Not me. nt

[freshwest]

40. Remember this, my dear friends, I love you! *sound of sirens, heavy thumps, screams, silence*

You are such a buzz kill, man! We were on a roll!

[eomer]

41. It is a mutation in the implementation but the intent and end results are fascism.

The modern American strain has a more evolved and effective system for spreading its propaganda and creating the illusion of consent of the governed. Part of this system is allowing, but managing and manipulating, expression.

Other strains may have struck a different balance between banning expression and managing it, but they still did have a measure of both. The implementation is a bit different; the essence is the same.

[Nye Bevan]

45. A kinder, gentler fascism, if you will.

Where elections take place as scheduled and the loser graciously hands over power to the winner.

Where there are thousands of competing sources of news and commentary, representing every conceivable political viewpoint, all operating without Government interference or censorship.

Where gay people are allowed to get married (in more and more states) as opposed to being rounded up into concentration camps and forced to wear pink triangles.

Where a member of a formerly oppressed racial minority can be elected to the highest office in the land.

[eomer]

46. What are the defining characteristics of fascism and how many of them do we exhibit? (eom)

[Vincardog]

56. Have you heard of Agent Mike?

[truebrit71]

57. You don't think it would be THIS obvious when it happens do you...??

[Dont call me Shirley]

63. I got a reprisal today from this free, public, open discussion board.

[Javaman]

33. as I have been saying for a while now, we have fascism with a smiley face. nt

[RoccoR5955]

35. You are correct.

Not only is fascism here, but it seems that everyone and their grandmother, wants to have more and more of your money. EVERYTHING is all about money these days. Everyone is trying to sell something, or themselves for the sacred buck. It's such a sorry state, I just want to find another planet to live on.
Nobody wants to share, they just want more.
I hope that the occupy movement, which has woke many people up, can stave this tide of fascism, and greediness.

[MrModerate]

37. Take a deep breath and count to 10 . . .

Facism isn't here. The threat is real: economic fascism by the 1% is certainly a danger. But we're not there yet. Saying so just makes you sound hysterical, and also diffuses useful focus on the things that can improve the situation.

Like electing Dems to statehouses, governors' mansions, the House, and the Senate in November.

That won't fix everything (the plutocrats own a lot of Dems, too), but would put a brake on the worst offenses and might even allow some rolling back of plutocratic privilege.

[hifiguy]

50. I have been saying the same thing for years

and people have thought I was nuts. The list doesn't lie.

[bvar22]

51. I wish the solution was as simple as voting in more Democrats,

....but it is not that simple.

Our neighbors in Latin America have given us a Blue Print for "change".

[font size=3]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights,
but FDR and THAT Democratic Party are long dead.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/center]

[lonestarnot]

54. K & R!

[nolabels]

55. A lot of people seem to get hung up on this exact definition thing

My body sometimes get some kind of flu that acts like a cold at first. After the illness is all over the indisputable fact is that it was a virus but what it was exactly is not all that important to me because it has passed. Also i find somebodies meaning and sometimes bent definitions indicate different ideas for those meanings. So needing to inscribe something as such and such sounds kind of foolish to me

A less exact definition of acting characteristics and one more focused on intent would make me agree we are living in on the edge of fascism or living in that state. A small wealthy group adulterating the focus of government to enhance their aggrandizement is how i define it. No surprise this same kind of thing has been done throughout recorded history. The question, i would think, what is to be done about it?

[librechik]

58. Yes indeed, but few dare say it aloud

disgusting.

[woo me with science]

59. Yes, and we ignore that it's bipartisan at our peril.

Obama Department of Justice urged Supreme Court's strip search ruling
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/03/the_obama_doj_and_strip_searches/singleton/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

If fascism takes root and prevails, it will be because we stood around for too long, reluctant to identify it for what it was, because it was coming from our party, too.

[They_Live]

60. I had a nightmare the other night

that I was living with my family inside a concentration camp. Then I woke up and realized that it was true. It's well disguised for many of us, and if you have your TV on, it is easier to be oblivious, but we're all in a giant prison, throttled and controlled economically.

[RevStPatrick]

61. The problem with making statements like yours...

...and with having discussions like this, will be completely obvious once we see how people respond to what I'm about to say. Here goes:

President Obama is just as much of a Fascist as the last guy was.

(puts on flame-retardant suit...)

Actually, he may be much worse than the last guy, who was clearly a total douche-nozzle.
Mr. Obama has a nice smile, a gentle demeanor and is genuinely like-able.
I like him.
I voted for him the first time, and will do so again.
However, he is a Fascist.

Maybe he doesn't want to be, but that's the system we live in, and have for a while now.
In order to get anywhere near the presidency, one has to play the game.
And he plays it, and plays it well.
What did I read the other day?
93 percent of income gains in 2010 went to the top 1 percent?
Just a small example that Corporatism (which I think is a better descriptor than Fascism) is accelerating under Mr. Obama, not receding.
You know all about the other examples.

I think it's possible, and even likely that Mr. Obama doesn't want to be a Fascist and will do more in his second term to stem the tide, but for now... Well, go ahead and flame me. I can take it.

[ZombieHorde]

62. The word "fascism" doesn't have much meaning anymore.

It just seems to be used to mean "government policies I don't like."

It has almost the same meaning as today's use of the word "socialism."

[woo me with science]

64. I've been saying for a while, there is a new one every day.

Today I saw two that I hadn't been aware of, from Democrats:

Obama DOJ urged Supreme Court decision on strip searches
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521527

Owe The IRS? Bill Would Suspend Passport Rights For Delinquent Taxpayers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002521950#post10

[Egalitarian Thug]

66. There is a dangerous belief, advanced in another dairy just today, that says no,

it's not as bad as it could be/has been, therefore it isn't fascism.

I would not respond to it as that would only serve its purpose of spreading complacency, and encouraging apathy. But the sentiment expressed is specifically how this horror always grows.

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
K&R

[dionysus]

69. i'll take hyperbole, and trvializing actual facism for 500, alex.