We are living through a time in history reminiscent to the rise of fascism of the like

[boston bean]

Germany faced in the twenties & thirties.

People felt aggrieved with a sense of a lost nation after WWI. They were aggrieved with the Versailles Treaty. They were aggrieved with liberalism. People believed the fantastical lies of political leaders about the Jews being to blame for everything they felt they didn’t have. Small minded men who were angry bigots who felt they were losing their place in society.

It started as a small nazi party. Took nearly two decades to gain full power. Propaganda and a man whose speeches were given with passion but meant nothing but to serve his own desires for world domination.

There are so many parallels to today. A madman in control of one major party. Blaming liberals, the media, Jews, immigrants, black people. Large swaths of people believing the propaganda.

We are closer to the fascist state of 1939, than the fascist beginnings at the end of WWI.

There are a lot of parallels missing in my post. There are too many to identify. It is also a state of just how fucked up this country is right now and the disbelief of the state we are in and how it can possibly be happening.

I am not a history scholar. But I can recognize something is rotten in the United States of America.

I pray our democratic leaders are also recognizing the danger we are in. I pray justice is swift for those who are perpetrating this upon this nation. Ie the insurrection. That is our one main saving grace. And if it does not come to fruition and this is not defeated NOW, I am dreading the fate of our democracy.

[brush]

1. Agreed. We are in big trouble and the Democratic Party is...

is standing in the breech between trump and his neo-fascist party.

[unblock]

2. I'm convinced the next republicans who "wins" the presidency will mark the end of democracy

Donnie wasn't able to stay in power, but he was able to further the corruption of our institutions.

4 more years of that is something we won't recover from for decades. 4 more years of right-wing federal judges, a right-wing Supreme Court, a "justice" department that will do nothing to stop voter suppression and election rigging, etc.

We will be left with joke elections that always result in right-wing victors and a nominal amount of opposition candidates to keep up the pretense.

[RKP5637]

5. On the current track, the future of the US is likely very very bleak. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

24. +1000

[wnylib]

40. It is likely that we will see fighting

in our streets. Trump is calling for his supporters to take a stand on his behalf if he is indicted. Republicans in Michigan are calling for voting machines to be unplugged if things don't look good for them and for their voters to go to the voting booths armed.

Serious social unrest as they try to take the country by force. Potential civil war of reds against blues.

The reds could have Russian backing.

Hope I am wrong.

[RKP5637]

45. It's a very sad state of affairs brought on by sociopathic narcissistic demented asshole that

belongs in therapy in an institution.

[dwayneb]

50. It's not just Trump

Trump was simply the poisonous toadstool that emerged from the muck of the Radical Right. If it had not have been Trump it could have been someone far worse. Someone intelligent, shrewd and deeply evil like Vladimir Putin.

[wnylib]

54. True. Trump is a tool in a more vast movement.

He could be replaced and the coup would continue.

[RKP5637]

55. Yep, I'm afraid that is still yet to come. n/t

[RKP5637]

3. Absolutely and highly dangerous for the future of the US. n/t

[sop]

4. "To live in the process is absolutely not to notice it -- please try to believe me --

unless one has a much greater degree of political awareness, acuity, than most of us ever had occasion to develop. Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, regretted.

"Believe me this is true. Each act, each occasion is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join you in resisting somehow.

Suddenly it all comes down, all at once. You see what you are, what you have done, or, more accurately, what you haven't done (for that was all that was required of most of us: that we did nothing) ... You remember everything now, and your heart breaks. Too late. You are compromised beyond repair. "

German professor after World War II describing the rise of Nazism to a journalist

[boston bean]

6. So true. Thank you for sharing. It more eloquently gets my point

across better than I ever could.

[unblock]

23. A famous quote. All the more true today. Hitler's rise to power was very faster compared to here

Today's rise to fascism here goes back to Reagan, Gingrich, hate radio, and foxnews. 1980s. 40 years in the making.

And we've sit idly by with no effective counter. We've relied on faith in our system while they have been actively corrupting everything for years and years.

[RKP5637]

46. Exactly!!!! n/t

[dwayneb]

51. Feared this was coming since 1963

I'm an old codger now, but even as a child I understood enough about political systems and our government, and understood enough about recent history to see how easy it would be for the USA to slide into fascism. Why was I one of the few that saw this coming? I guess it is human nature to put the blinders on and pretend that bad things can't happen.

That quote is terrifying, but not surprising.

[FelineOverlord]

7. I am not bowing down

We outnumber them.

We will defeat them.

[boston bean]

8. Who is bowing down? Has nothing to do with bowing down!

Completely misses the point. You will not have much of a choice and people will resist, but your country will be one nasty ass place to live!

Your response is just to simplistic for the gravity of this situation.

[FelineOverlord]

13. Who is bowing down? Has nothing to do with bowing down!

???

I don't mean anyone at DU. This is a feisty group.

But sometimes the doomsday approach on social media and MSM can be very annoying.

It's as if everything is hopeless. I don't believe that.

[boston bean]

17. This is not doomsday. this is identifying an absolute truth

and naming it. That is how you first resist. It is not aww there are more of us than them so what. We already have minority rule in this country.

Please open eyes and recognize the absolute gravity of our situation.

[Initech]

9. It's truly scary what is happening right now.

Trump should have had the book thrown at him after Jan. 6th. He should be rotting in prison.

[EndlessWire]

10. Yeah

Can watch all the free YouTube history videos for an education on fascism, Hitler, and how little it took to have a World War. Hitler had plenty of help from ordinary citizens who either did nothing, or had their own hate-filled agendas working for them. What Hitler and his cronies did to people will make you vomit.

What were those two pieces of legislation that Hitler got passed which gave him total power? The Enabling Act, and...can't remember, but there were two. They made him a dictator. Germany didn't even realize it.

We need to keep fighting. There stands asshole Trump, doing his imitation of Hitler. The people who believe what he says are in for a rude awakening. Go, Committees, get him!

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Hitler abolished the Presidency

Shortly after Hindenburg death.

Hindenburg appoints him Chancellor.

Hindenburg died.

Hitler appoints himself as both President and Chancellor. Then abolished the Presidency and names himself Fuhrer.

And nobody lifted a finger to stop him.

[EndlessWire]

18. Yeah, he did

I just can't remember the name of the piece of legislation that he got passed which made him a dictator. Those two acts were very important, and I can't remember one of them. I think they fixed it so he could take over in the manner you describe. A complete power grab. And, no one noticed.

[appalachiablue]

31. The Enabling Act, 1933, Cornerstone of Hitler's Dictatorship:

THE ENABLING ACT: The Enabling Act allowed the Reich government to issue laws without the consent of Germany’s parliament, laying the foundation for the complete Nazification of German society.

The law was passed on March 23, 1933, and published the following day. Its full name was the “Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Reich.”... https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-enabling-act

[Bobstandard]

21. The Patriot Act looms over us

It is full oh holes that a bad actor can Weaponize. Does that fit? You

[JustAnotherGen]

11. The Apathy of many in the Weimar Republic

Cannot be discounted. In the space of a few years they went from a free wheeling open society - to a regressive dictatorship which suppressed free thought and intellect. They went freely into their oppression.

The former aristocracy, and politicians saw benefit to themselves - knew what was happening - but the vast majority didn't care.

[EndlessWire]

15. I watched a video

which showed how every aspect of German life was invaded and controlled. The propaganda machine was in full force and effect. You can see some of it happening here.

[Bobstandard]

22. When it happens here life...

Will be miserable for everyone and many trumpets will be surprised.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. This is a great book

At a high level - The Death of Democracy: Hitler's Rise to Power and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic by Benjamin Carter Hett

One of my take aways? How effective the Nazi party was PRIOR to 1933 at convincing average Germans that the Communists and the Moderates and the lower case left were actually the one ones committing the acts of terror they were.

The accusation that BLM and Antifa at January 6 as the ones who committed acts of violence - fell apart very quickly. That's a good thing.

[summer_in_TX]

36. Did Hitler and his supporters have a FOX News/conservative media

machine during the 1920's and into his seizing control of the reins of German government in 1933?

As for "The accusation that BLM and Antifa at January 6 as the ones who committed acts of violence - fell apart very quickly. That's a good thing," well, that's true for those of us in our media ecosystem. But it's not what those who listen to Rush's successors and Tucker Carlson et al. believe in many cases. Their audiences believe the lies and distrust other sources of information.

The ability to whip up a frenzy of hate and fear on media has a long track record of leading to violence, as in Rwanda. Fox News has been laying the groundwork for a long time. I'd like to see research on empathy and a comparison done between sources of information. I'll bet NPR listeners have high levels and FOX listeners have low levels for those unlike themselves.

[JustAnotherGen]

42. Hitler Engineered Fake News

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/16/opinion/hitler-speech-1919.html

Hitler’s form of politics gained mass support when the Great Depression brought to Germany a new series of global shocks. One of the consequences of that economic crisis (as of the one of 2008) was the collapse of independent newspapers, an institution Hitler always denounced as a Jewish “enemy of the people.” As the voices of journalists were weakened, the propagandists delivered the coup de grâce. By then, Hitler and the Nazis had found the simple slogan they repeated again and again to discredit reporters: “Lügenpresse.” Today the extreme right in Germany has revived this term, which in English is “fake news.”

Regarding Rwanda - I'm very close to that in particular - as I was selected as an intern for a Congresswoman that Spring because of a paper focused on America's failed response to Genocide . . .

The US - the Global Community refused to interfere with RTLMC - because of our Free Speech Free-dumb. Try and say to folks at DU - it should be a crime to deny the Holocaust in the USA . . . we lose our minds. If say - it should be a crime to deny the reasons for the 2nd Civil Rights movement - folks freeze. A few of the avid NPR listeners I know personally - will fight me to the death on this. Empathy and kindness can become a self-inflicted wound.

I would say it pre-dates Fox News - it goes to AM Radio in the 1980's and 1990's. Ditto heads and such.

I responded to another poster on this issue - and I do believe we PERSONALLY need to speak the truth regardless of the environment, the situation, the individual we have to confront. I also call it what is is -

Fascism. The GOP has been leading American to it since 1994 - when their 18 years of 'otherism' really took hold. Trump was just the match that lit the fire. It was there all along.

And yet even today - we have good people, democratic party members, liberals, progressives, moderates, center right -

Who are 'afraid' to say that word. They nervously laugh at and dismiss as 'stupid' the antics of the right -

What they fail to realize is - they mean it.

America First. They MEAN it. And the cruelty that American First implies - is precisely what they intend to do/inflict on anyone who doesn't lockstep and goose step with their view/vision of what America should be.

[AverageOldGuy]

37. Your post requires a minor but important edit

You write: The accusation that BLM and Antifa at January 6 as the ones who committed acts of violence - fell apart very quickly.

Should read: The accusation that BLM and Antifa at January 6 as the ones who committed acts of violence - fell apart very quickly in the minds of anyone paying attention but is still an article of faith among Republicans.

[JustAnotherGen]

41. You can combat it with this statement

That means that Trump was controlling Antifa and BLM.

If you engage with these people in local online groups or Face to Face- that shuts them down pretty quickly.

I live in the "Montana" of NJ - and they are pretty outspoken about their beliefs. One of our commissioners was re-elected in November (Susan Soloway) AFTER her attendance at 1/6. The MAGATS are pleased with this.

They've back off on this 'belief' out here in this red spot of NJ - because the Democratic County Committee members have been lock step in this response.

Is their Commissioner a member of Antifa and BLM? Or was she following Trump's orders.

File this one under "How to Shut Up Lou Reiner in Shop Rite on a Saturday".

Lou Reiner is another nasty piece of work in Hunterdon County NJ - and a foaming at the mouth racist who popped off at the mouth to me when I was just trying to get some lobster tails. We got rid of him - we'll get rid of Sedition Susan Soloway too - next time she's up.

[boston bean]

25. Yet the army of the Weimar kept hitler in check for a little bit.

I am hoping our party is not going to go the way of the Weimar.

People please don’t take this as bashing, but there is so much happening and a lot of it will be uncontrollable at some point. That is what I am trying to get at.

They have an entire party and about 40 percent of the country. This is a planned thing. And I don’t think it dies with trump. They have been at this for 25 years or more.

[JustAnotherGen]

28. 1976

That was their first balloon.

I truly think harsh punitive action needs to be taken now. Including - removing people from the military who are a loyal to 45.

[boston bean]

29. That has been concerning me as well. The infiltration or sympathetic members of armed services

to this ideology. Never mind the armies of people who already own guns and are able to mobilize easier with technology and social media.

One leg of the stool to fascism is to have military might.

[inthewind21]

53. The infiltration

of the armed services as well as the police has been going on for many years. Anyone remember Timothy McVeigh? We were warned about this years ago. And the cries throughout the country were deafening. From the Right AND the Left. This is what happens when for years an entire population treats the military and Police as if they are Gods not to be questioned.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dhs-domestic-terror-warning-angers-gop/

[JustAnotherGen]

30. Also - no one should look to the GOP

To cross over to stop it.

They are enablers.

McConnell is thick as thieves with Trump - and is just as dangerous if not more so.

[boston bean]

32. Correct. He has complete control of this party. The party agrees with this ideology.

A major party in a two party system. People with lots of power in high places.

We need to stop wondering when they might change and realize this is their plan. It is what they want.

It becomes very real and terrorizing when one starts to understand in these terms.

[appalachiablue]

33. +1

[mia]

12. Well said, boston bean.

Thank you.

[brer cat]

16. We have the best minds on our side.

I hope and pray that will be enough to stop the fascists.

[boston bean]

20. Best minds are not gonna be enough. Equal justice under law is our only hope.

Fear does things to people. They have an entire party at this time. They aren’t backing down. It is a plan.

[LiberatedUSA]

19. If they don't demand legal action...

…against these threats of war if TFG is prosecuted, then it is almost assured bloodshed will happen if he were to be arrested. It will ensure armed people show up to polls in November.

This has to be stopped now. Not next month. Now.

[ymetca]

27. We haven't learned the lesson of Smedley Butler

that "war is a racket", and stop terrorizing the rest of the world.

The neo-cons and the neo-liberals think they can still get things "under control". But billions of folks around the globe now know otherwise. We're just all too enthralled by our own "New American Century" hubris. The world doesn't work that way anymore.

The sooner we wake up and acknowledge that, the better.

[peppertree]

34. The other great parallel being massive corporate support

The Nazis had a well-oiled fundraising machine by 1927, netting millions in donations from not only German elites - but U.S., French and British ones as well.

The same way today's Repugs (and their many allied PACs) are bankrolled by elites both domestic and foreign - a cinch, thanks to Citizens United.

[AverageOldGuy]

35. "I pray our democratic leaders are also recognizing the danger we are in"

A few of them do recognize the trouble w are in. Most don't and the Republicans are happy about it. The media doesn't believe it and will not believe it until the Proud Boys march into their newsrooms and shut them down.

"I pray justice is swift for those who are perpetrating this upon this nation."

Never happen. Sleepy Merrick Garland is happy with his position and is not about to take an bold steps.

[moniss]

38. People

try to say there is no comparison and that the situation is not that bad. I would remind people that if you were in Germany in the 1930's you would have heard much the same talk about the fascists like "it's not that bad", "nobody will let them get out of hand" etc. So many people stayed in Germany even though others began to leave. Then it was tragically too late to leave without great difficulty and risk to life.

Let's remember the meaning of the words "they came for....but I was not......". The US fascists have come for the ones who run elections. They have come for the books and the educators. They have come for the scientists. They have come for the doctors and nurses. Some echoes never die. Remember the meaning of the words.

[pink]

39. It is almost like watching a slow moving train wreck.

I watched a mini series a couple of years ago called "The Plot Against America". It was based in the late 1930's and Charles Linbergh was running for president. It was almost like what happened, and is still happening in the US right now. Linbergh was very charismatic and won over the voters in an election against Roosevelt.

We all know that Trump is as guilty as sin, but what happens if he becomes a martyr. If the congress is lost after the mid-terms then I feel America is in dire straights. If all the people who voted for the Democratic Party in the last election dont come out and vote in the mid-terms then the country is in real trouble.

The Justice Dept needs to investigate all the damage the GOP has done in the various states with voter suppression etc and call it out.

[dwayneb]

49. 2022 is the pivot point

Agree that this mid-term is going to be the pivot point for our survival as a democratic republic. And it's not just the people who voted for the Democratic Party in the last election that need to come out; more importantly it's the 1/3 to 1/2 of the voting public that didn't bother to vote at all. It's the apathy and foolishness of that bloc that will doom us in the end.

[sop]

43. All these cautionary Hitler references are totally lost on MAGATs.

Normal people who despise trump are afraid he'll become another Hitler, but the imbeciles who support Trump actually hope he becomes Hitler. They really want a Final Solution in this country.

The irony is rightwing propaganda organizations like FOX News, Newsmax and OAN - people who unthinkingly defend Trump's fascism, celebrate nazism and support Russia - fail to realize Hitler and Putin would eliminate First Amendment protections, viewing this sort of rabblerousing, divisive media as a threat to their absolute power. They would also do away with the 2nd Amendment and confiscate their guns.

[dwayneb]

48. Plenty of them admire Hitler

They THINK they want a fascist state with on-party rule, but no one has the slightest clue what will happen should Trump or someone else assume power through a coup.

Economy first of all would go into free-fall making the Great Depression look like a picnic, it will be a tsunami of economic destruction over the entire world.

The assumption is that Americans would go quietly under the boot and that won't be the case. Trying to control a country as gigantic and diverse as the USA will be an impossible task.

The MAGAs think they will be rewarded for their loyalty and a few will - but far more will suffer the same desolation as everyone else..

[boston bean]

52. They are completely convinced it is others who are the fascists. This is how it works.

[Emile]

44. There is still time to save our democracy, but

hope is fading quickly. The longer TFG is allowed to play golf and orchestrate the GOP into making it harder to vote and who decides which votes are legitimate the closer we are to losing it.

[dwayneb]

47. All true unfortunately

People have this naive belief that "it can't happen here" that our Constitution will magically protect us from a fascist takeover, that the Bill of Rights is sacrosanct and that bad things can never happen to us.

Americans as a whole have been living in a Disneyland view of the world in which someone else will do the hard work for them of being a civil servant. It is this essential laziness more than anything that allowed the Radical Right to become as powerful as they did, because their growth was essentially uncontested at the grass roots level.

[Stinky The Clown]

56. I expected our two resident know-it-all-thread-pissers would have weighed in but they absence . . .

. . . . tells me they think you're right.

I know I certainly do. - K&R

[AntiFascist]

57. I agree that it is reminiscent...

In the 20s and 30s, fascism, communism, and socialism were being considered, by some, as potential alternatives to the failures of capitalism. During the Great Depression, it was feared that a wave of pro-communist or pro-socialist sentiment was threatening to sweep through Europe. Fascism branded itself as a form of "national socialism" that would appeal to the folkish sentiments of many Germans, but in fact it was diametrically opposed to the general idea of the "sharing of wealth" between all segments of the population.

This same fear of the "sharing of wealth" has gripped far right Republicans and Libertarians at the present time, which, I believe, is driving support for the extreme authoritarian tendencies of Trump.