Fascist America, in 10 easy steps - Naomi Wolf

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/24/usa.comment

Tuesday April 24, 2007

"....

4. Set up an internal surveillance system

In Mussolini's Italy, in Nazi Germany, in communist East Germany, in communist China - in every closed society - secret police spy on ordinary people and encourage neighbours to spy on neighbours. The Stasi needed to keep only a minority of East Germans under surveillance to convince a majority that they themselves were being watched.

In 2005 and 2006, when James Risen and Eric Lichtblau wrote in the New York Times about a secret state programme to wiretap citizens' phones, read their emails and follow international financial transactions, it became clear to ordinary Americans that they, too, could be under state scrutiny.

In closed societies, this surveillance is cast as being about "national security"; the true function is to keep citizens docile and inhibit their activism and dissent....


Right now, only a handful of patriots are trying to hold back the tide of tyranny for the rest of us - staff at the Center for Constitutional Rights, who faced death threats for representing the detainees yet persisted all the way to the Supreme Court; activists at the American Civil Liberties Union; and prominent conservatives trying to roll back the corrosive new laws, under the banner of a new group called the American Freedom Agenda. This small, disparate collection of people needs everybody's help, including that of Europeans and others internationally who are willing to put pressure on the administration because they can see what a US unrestrained by real democracy at home can mean for the rest of the world.

We need to look at history and face the "what ifs". For if we keep going down this road, the "end of America" could come for each of us in a different way, at a different moment; each of us might have a different moment when we feel forced to look back and think: that is how it was before - and this is the way it is now..."

[slipslidingaway]

1. kick, esp. after today. n/t

[redqueen]

2. Thanks for posting this...

time's running out.

[slipslidingaway]

5. Would rather prepare for the worst and hope for the best, thanks.

[Sydnie]

3. kick .. through tears. n/t

[slipslidingaway]

7. If you can listen to the first few minutes of the video posted above

:)

[bdamomma]

4. this thuggish government is accomplishing their goals

what are our goals??? shouldn't we put a stop to this??

[slipslidingaway]

8. That's the problem IMO, the goal is to have our team win

why the nation goes to hell.

We need to refocus our efforts.

:shrug:

[siligut]

9. I dread this, but don’t know how to stop it.

Most people aren’t even aware that this is happening.

[slipslidingaway]

10. I do not know how to stop it either, the best we can do is try and

get other people interested and informed...if they will listen.

Some people do not want to hear, because then they might feel obliged to act, pay more attention and upset the comfort of their current lifestyle.

:shrug:

[slipslidingaway]

6. Video Talk by Naomi Wolf - The End of America

48 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

[seemslikeadream]

11. Thanks for posting this slipslidingaway

and thanks for being here

[slipslidingaway]

14. And thank you!!! .......

:blush:

[Indenturedebtor]

12. K+R will Obama turn back the tide?

I certainly hope so. If McBush is elected I'm taking my little family of wife and dog and heading to Germany. What an irony that would be... My Grandparents came here after the Holocaust, fleeing from the facism that had destroyed their lives. And I might have to return to flee facism in America.

[slipslidingaway]

15. Personally I would have preferred to see some indication of that

on the FISA legislation or on the war talk with Iran.

:(

That would be ironic and having a plan B is not a bad idea.

[Indenturedebtor]

17. I'm concerned as well that he won't even if elected

The only real obstacle is learning German (which shouldn't be too hard), and getting my Father's birth certificate. He would resist MIGHTILY at the idea of me moving to Germany.

[slipslidingaway]

18. I have no expectations that there will be any real improvement...

maybe you Father has another Plan B idea.

:shrug:

[Indenturedebtor]

21. He, like most of Murka, has no idea what's going on

That's how it always happens. The Coup will not be televised.

[slipslidingaway]

23. True, it will not televised, people need to remain distracted...

good luck with the birth certificate.

[Indenturedebtor]

24. Thanks I just got some great advice in another thread on it.

I'm not worried about it anymore. I had no idea that my own certificate should list my Father's place of birth!

[LiberalPersona]

27. Moving out of the country

isn't going to save anyone when the "global war" on terrorism finds its way to wherever you move.

[Indenturedebtor]

28. Probably not but

I can maybe forestall the impact on my life and my little family. And in the meantime I can enjoy a much higher standard of living.

[mnhtnbb]

30. The irony has not escaped us that if McBush is elected we may move permanently

to Panama--where McCain was born.

Hubby and I already have our permanent resident visas and hope to have ownership of our completed Panamanian place to live by the end of the summer.

Our hope for the best, prepare for the worst plan was begun after the election of 2004. We really
hope that split retirement between Chapel Hill, NC (where we live now) and Panama will be the future for us rather than a permanent move to Panama.

Good luck to us all.

[redqueen]

13. ...

:kick:

[frogmarch]

16. The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Wolf

I recommend this book. It contains the same "end of America" steps. Anyone who doesn't believe our country is at least on the brink of a fascist state may change their minds after reading it.

[slipslidingaway]

19. That's Naomi Klein and a good recommendation as well. :( n/t

[IDemo]

29. I've always thought there should be a Two Naomi's speaking tour

But they would probably have to supply antidepressants to the audiences instead of popcorn.

[slipslidingaway]

32. That would be a great idea, I just hope that people can see

the erosion of our rights that is taking place.

"...antidepressants to the audiences instead of popcorn."

:)

[frogmarch]

34. I stand corrected. :-)

[libnnc]

20. kick

[slipslidingaway]

25. Thanks n/t

[Vidar]

22. Highly recommended. I bookmarked & saved this one.

[slipslidingaway]

26. Thank you, I just added it to the Congress forum thread as well

seems appropriate for today.

:(

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=308

[mmonk]

31. Join Naomi in the fight to retain your rights

http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/

[slipslidingaway]

33. Thank you for posting the link n/t

[mmonk]

36. anytime

[arcadian]

35. Sadly, I posted this earlier and I was dismissed out of hand.

By some on this board. America is apparently no where near being a fascist country. :sarcasm:

[slipslidingaway]

37. Yes it is sad and today did not help...thanks. n/t