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The View from the Meadow

Observations of the Passing Scene

Political and Social Commentary by Dave Satre

Wake Up America

Fascism in the White House

Many Americans are upset over the continuing allegations of conspiracy in the White House. These abundant criticisms include support for special interests, cronyism and a private agenda supported by GW Bush and his insiders that does not benefit common citizens. At the same time millions of down-to-earth Americans are worried over a diminishing lifestyle that is resulting in losses of Constitutional freedoms, human rights and traditional values. Many liken the Bush Regime to Nazi Germany.

I often wondered how Nazism became established in Germany, a nation of intelligent and industrious people. Now I know.

It began with the same losses of individual rights that Americans are now experiencing. Political correctness was one of the early indications, followed by loss of free speech and an intensified sense of nationalism. The ultimate goal was to obtain political control and use the power of the state, along with corporate power, to subjugate the common man. Other indicators include excessive support for the military, control of the mass media, empire building and economic deprivation of the working class.

Republican ideologues will automatically contest any allegations that the Bush Administration is engaging in such tactics and that The Regime has a hidden agenda, but I submit the following for your consideration. Ask yourself how many of the following historical characteristics of fascism are actually embraced by the current White House:

*  A strong claim of nationalism and excessive support for the military, including massive spending on pre-emptive wars with a goal toward empire building. They claim to be super patriots, but would willingly destroy the freedoms of the populace guaranteed by the Constitution.

*  The adoption of the most common religion in the land for use as a tool to manipulate public opinion by employing religious rhetoric and terminology.

*  The development of an industrial and business aristocracy that is corrupt at all levels and demonstrates rampant cronyism. This group is the power behind the throne that places people in strategic political positions to capture political power. They talk of free enterprise, but are merely spokesmen for monopolies and special interests. Fascist regimes are typically governed by groups of friends that appoint each other to government positions and protect each other from accountability. National resources and treasures are appropriated by the leaders.

*  Increased power for the rich and economic subjugation of the working class through the use of political and corporate power to intimidate the masses.

*  The destruction of unions, decreases in workers benefits and loss of jobs.

*  An obsession with crime and punishment that results in the abuse of power by law enforcement agencies and the destruction of the rights of the people.

*  Threats against National Security are used to control the masses and to erode civil liberties in the name of patriotism.

*  Male-dominated regimes that are openly opposed to abortion and support anti-gay policies.

*  Control of the mass media by business interests and the resulting use of propaganda and media manipulation to control public opinion and affect elections.

*  Election Fraud including vote manipulation, vote counting irregularities, and the use of the judiciary to control elections and voting results.

*  The employment of lies and smear campaigns, even the assassination of opposition candidates, to gain political power.

*  Open hostility against higher education and academics, resulting in condemnation of intellectuals and liberals who contest government actions.

*  A refusal to fund the arts and continuous attacks on forms of free expression.

Almost all thinking people will admit that most of the listed characteristics exist, to some degree, in America today. They might question whether The Regime is a true fascist organization, but there is ample evidence that this is the result of a continuous 30-year effort on the part of conservatives to take control of this country and guide it in directions that are contrary to the beliefs that made America what it is.

If you understand the policies behind Fascism and the techniques historically employed to take power it is easy to see how such an organization would place someone like George Bush in power. Bush is a likeable oaf, a born-again Christian, who has led such a life of privilege that he lacks both the general knowledge required for the job of president and an understanding of the basic issues currently facing the country. He is committed to the cronies who put him in the White House and is dependent upon them on all major issues.

There are three primary movements that influenced Bush’s rise to the White House:

First, The Project for the New American Century (More Info), a plan developed long ago by the chicken hawks turned warmongers currently in control of the White House. This Nazi-like plot includes taking control of the world’s oil supplies and energy resources.

The PNAC published its agenda in June 1997 while the group was out of power during the Clinton administration. The document was signed by twenty five people, including such Bush cronies as Elliott Abrams, Bill Bennett, Jeb Bush, Dick Cheney, Steve Forbes, Aaron Friedberg, Lewis Libby, Donald Rumsfeld, and Paul Wolfowitz.

In September 2000 the group produced a report for Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Jeb Bush, and Lewis Libby entitled Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources For a New Century. (More Info) The Miami Sunday Herald referred to the report as a "blueprint for U.S. world domination."

Second, the rise of the Christian Reconstructionists of Dominionists. This is a radical, version of Christianity that pushes for theocracy. It is against social programs, welfare and public education. It supports the subjugation of women and homosexuals, and opposes taxation of the rich. (More Info )

Third, a reappearance of Social Darwinism exemplified by the disempowerment of workers while increasing profits for the ultra rich. (More Info)

Examples of the symptoms of fascism that indicate the current situation in America include:

*  Union busting

* Massive increases in CEO pay

* Cutting of workers’ benefits, including pensions and health insurance

* A rapidly expanding prison system

* High credit card interest

* Rising prices

* Outsourcing of jobs overseas

Examples also include: empire building and the military actions of the war in Iraq; the suppression of the people through threats of terrorism, including the frequent orange alert warnings issued by the government to keep citizens concerned; the war on drugs and the resulting losses of civil rights.

The Republicans have adopted conservative, evangelistic Christians as their religious base in their search for power and they have adopted a self proclaimed born-again Christian as their leader. The Bush Regime subsequently opposes abortion and the rights of homosexuals. At the same time, Republicans have pushed “ethics” bills through Congress that make it difficult to hold the members accountable for ethical or legal violations.

The financial power of the country is being concentrated in the hands of just one or two percent of the ultra rich while workers are becoming economically deprived and powerless as jobs are outsourced overseas.

The free press is under threat through mergers and acquisitions that have placed control of the mass media in the hands of just six corporations.

The Republicans have employed gerrymandering to control voting districts, most notoriously in Texas, and the switch to electronic voting systems (More Info) designed and manufactured by heavy supporters of the Republican Party is highly suspect, to say the least.

The Regime employs propaganda techniques, particularly the theory of the big lie, to control public opinion. Everything Bush has said since moving into the White House has been a carefully contrived sound bite or slogan designed to get him re-elected. This does not represent his real plans. His advisors merely determine what the public wants to hear and then have Bush say it. It’s a technique that got him re-elected, but it has nothing to do with The Regime’s agenda for the second term

If your interest has been piqued to the point where you can at least see the possibility that a form of fascism exists among the leaders of the White House, I urge you to observe the actions of The Regime in the future. Some potential activities to be on the watch for include the following:

*  The theft of all Social Security funds

*  Increases in the numbers of uninsured people

*  Decreased funding for public education and support for a system of school vouchers that support Christian schools.

*An increasing loss of Civil Liberties and the development of a police state that is necessary for fascism.

*  Further restrictions of free speech in the name of national security.

*  Attempts to suppress free speech contradicting the government’s policies by cutting back funding for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR).

*  Control of the editorial bias of all media and demonization of media that exists beyond the bounds of corporate media.

*  More imperialistic invasions --- a continuous series of pre-emptive wars that serve The Regime’s goals and keep the populace in a constant state of worry.

*  The reinstatement of the draft, including females, with the offspring of the privileged exempted and a call for the poorest to fight wars of imperialism and greed that won’t benefit the people.

*  Attempts to control the Internet and curtail its effectiveness as a medium of free communications. This will be “justified” as an anti-terrorism measure.

*  Control of the editorial bias of all media and demonization of media that exists beyond the bounds of corporate media.

*  Elimination of environmental regulations in order to benefit special interests, particularly the petroleum and energy industries.

*  Further outsourcing of jobs to improve profits for the money controllers and keep workers in a desperate and powerless state. It will become impossible for most Americans to own their homes.

*  Continued increases in prison populations, particularly because of the criminalization and arrests of protestors and other victimless crimes.

If these things occur it will not be an accident. This has all been tried before and it has never worked. The Regime is brash enough to believe it will succeed, but they should be advised to study history.

And they should be thrown out of the White House for this outrageous attempt to co-opt this country “Of the People, By the People and For the People.”

Links for more information:

Fascism:
Project for the New American Century:
Christian Reconstructionists/Dominionists
Social Darwinism
Electronic Voting Systems
 

We Need a Regime Change --- in Washington