March 26, 2009 8:00 AM
ObamaNation: Marching on to Fascism
[This is very long, but I think it will be helpful in establishing how the details add up to a very ominous picture of the future. We need to understand where we are headed.]
As some have pointed out, the Obama&Co juggernaut is not really about socialism - as Newsweek touted in its "daring" cover story We Are All Socialists Now, but about fascism. From a must-read response by Michael Ledeene, We Are All Fascists Now:
There's a element of truth to the basic theme (although not to the headline): the state is getting more and more deeply involved in business, even taking controlling interests in some private companies. And the state is even trying to "make policy" for private companies they do not control, but merely "help" with "infusions of capital," as in the recent call for salary caps for certain CEOs. So state power is growing at the expense of corporations.
But that's not socialism. Socialism rests on a firm theoretical bedrock: the abolition of private property. I haven't heard anyone this side of Barney Frank calling for any such thing. What is happening now-and Newsweek is honest enough to say so down in the body of the article-is an expansion of the state's role, an increase in public/private joint ventures and partnerships, and much more state regulation of business. Yes, it's very "European," and some of the Europeans even call it "social democracy," but it isn't.
It's fascism. Nobody calls it by its proper name, for two basic reasons: first, because "fascism" has long since lost its actual, historical, content; it's been a pure epithet for many decades. Lots of the people writing about current events like what Obama et. al. are doing, and wouldn't want to stigmatize it with that "f" epithet.
Second, not one person in a thousand knows what fascist political economy was. Yet during the great economic crisis of the 1930s, fascism was widely regarded as a possible solution, indeed as the only acceptable solution to a spasm that had shaken the entire First World, and beyond. It was hailed as a "third way" between two failed systems
(communism and capitalism), retaining the best of each. Private property was preserved, as the role of the state was expanded. This was necessary because the Great Depression was defined as a crisis "of the system," not just a glitch "in the system." And so Mussolini created the "Corporate State," in which, in theory at least, the big national enterprises were entrusted to state ownership (or substantial state ownership) and of course state management. Some of the big "Corporations" lasted a very long time; indeed some have only very recently been privatized, and the state still holds important
chunks-so-called "golden shares"-in some of them.Read entire article here.
Keep in mind that Ledeen was writing February 12 - I'd say he's worth listening to in the days to come. Catch him at Pajamas Media.
Where to start? Our American political foundation and heritage are under attack on so many fronts, it's overwhelming to sort through the daily news and try to filter out what's important enough to interrupt your vital everyday work to bring to your attention. In a nutshell, what is happening is this:The Mainstream Media have completely abandoned their responsibility to present the news, instead becoming cheerleader/propagandists for the administration - while serving up People-magazine type celebrity distractions to humanize Barack and Michelle (and did you catch her gardening outfit?). Katie Couric - who in stepping into a job too big for her had lost her appeal and her ratings - is now the award-winning media darling because of her dishonest and distorted interview with Sarah Palin. The absolute failure of the media to investigate the creepy tax-evaders like Geithner (imagine! Touted as the only person smart enough to fix our economy though he failed to pay his own taxes) and compromised candidates like Hillary Clinton (financial ties to enemy countries), their ignoring of the most serious and grievous missteps of the administration - these just affirm that the goal of the MSM now is to advance our Glorious Leader and to destroy every hindrance to his glorious progress.
In answer to this failure to print the actual news, what happened? People stopped buying newspapers. Papers started laying off employees, cutting back on size or folding altogether. Even those considered invincible - like the New York Times and the Washington Post - have begun to collapse.
And didn't we breathe a sigh of relief as natural justice took its course.
But the story isn't over. Or did you know?
U.S. bill seeks to rescue faltering newspapers
By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With many U.S. newspapers struggling to survive, a Democratic senator on Tuesday introduced a bill to help them by allowing newspaper companies to restructure as nonprofits with a variety of tax breaks.
"This may not be the optimal choice for some major newspapers or corporate media chains but it should be an option for many newspapers that are struggling to stay afloat," said Senator Benjamin Cardin.
A Cardin spokesman said the bill had yet to attract any co-sponsors, but had sparked plenty of interest within the media, which has seen plunging revenues and many journalist layoffs.
Cardin's Newspaper Revitalization Act would allow newspapers to operate as nonprofits for educational purposes under the U.S. tax code, giving them a similar status to public broadcasting companies.
Under this arrangement, newspapers would still be free to report on all issues, including political campaigns. But they would be prohibited from making political endorsements.
Read entire article here.
Get it? Oh, yeah, they newspapers will be just as neutral as PBS or our public schools. Or a Katie Couric interview. Which is to say that were this bill to become a reality, newspapers - already in Obama's pocket - would have even more reason to rev up the propaganda, only with your tax dollars funding it.
My advice: Forget these prehistoric and prevaricating news outlets completely. Stop watching anything on TV that insults and demeans you, your children, your churches, your traditions and your way of life. Tomorrow I will post a list of reliable sources and arrange to get them into my sidebar. Please, it is so important for us to understand what is going on - for our children's sake, and to resist in whatever way we can, even if it's just something like the Red Envelope Campaign or writing to protest HR 1388 or Notre Dame's slap in the face to Catholics/Obama invitation.
Please consider gathering your family to participate in the nationwide Tea Party April 15. This a movement that is growing, with thousands protesting in cities each Saturday - virtually ignored by the mainstream media (but available on YouTube).
For perspective, compare last weekend's AIG bus tour - where media outnumbered 40 protesters - with the lack of attention to Tea Party protests across the nation - including 4000 citizens in Orlando. It's hard for me to understand: don't these guys with the big fancy cameras pay taxes too? Do they really hate America so much that they would give up their own personal freedoms to give them to the Obama Regime? That Obama Koolaid is powerful stuff indeed.
On the Fascism Watch, be alert for the scapegoating of groups of people. That the President of the United States and other elected officials would personally stir up the rage of the populace at a small group of people - in simplistic terms for the simplistic people whose minds they control, "the rich" - represents a descent into darkness unseen in this country before - and more akin to Nazi Germany, where Hitler seized the economic woes of a country and the perceived underdog status of a population to advance an agenda that eventually gave him absolute freedom to do as he wished.
I received this email from a reader a few days ago:
Barbara, I have really struggled whether or not to share this publicly. I was going to post this on your blog, but the old fears came back, and I hesitated. I decided to email you instead. Let me explain:
I grew up with a parent who survived WWII. She spoke sparingly about her experiences, when I was a kid, she would share a little here and there, either it was too painful to recount or she wanted to spare me from her memories, probably both. What she did share with me, as a child and now as an adult, has made me take notice.I grew up with an idea that next to every window and door was someone willing to report you to the "authorities". She had to join a youth organization, her older siblings had to join a civilian mobilization organization. Propaganda meetings/rallies, home visits,neighborhood cadres, anything to indoctrinate the young and keep everyone in check. Everything became controlled, what you read, what you ate, what you said, where you went, what you thought.
Adoration and worship of the Leader, blind obedience, and if you wanted to survive, you kept any contrary thoughts to yourself, and if you shared them , you did so very carefully, and maybe not even with your own family. Family, neighbors, friends, all potential spies.
I am afraid. I am afraid because my family has seen this play acted out before. Fascism is now in control of my beloved country, and all I can do is pray. Americans who think that it can't happen here are blind. It can happen, it is happening. It has already begun in my own family, one family member is a very big supporter of O, and tonight I found myself wondering if remarks when he is around should be relegated to mutterings about the weather. I have this collective memory, and it is that strong. I thought it was just me, then I read on the internet others whose parents fled to America, or lived through WWII, or grew up in communist countries and they know too.
I think that you are a very brave lady.
I don't know about the brave part. So far the only hits I've taken have been from a few angry men who think anyone who disagrees with their point of view is by definition stupid. As a former leftist, I know that's the blanket explanation that keeps them from having to actually listen to the other side or consider that intelligent people can actually disagree. Unless a leftist has some sort of epiphany, most function pretty much like Squealer or Boxer or the sheep in Animal Farm, with all their thought concentrated on defending the leftist status quo.
That's an interesting thing about the Left, isn't it? All the things they blame conservatives for are the things of which they themselves are truly guilty. They are the ones against free speech (unless used to defend pornography), freedom of religion (they want freedom from religion). As Orwell so deftly captured in 1984, they deconstruct history, tear down American heroes, and use DoubleSpeak in an effort to advance their agenda under false pretenses.
Not only has the president used his incomparable power to malign private citizens - including Rush Limbaugh, aided and abetted by the MainstreamMedia (like Napoleon's dogs in Animal Farm), but he and his cronies - Barney Frank et al - have LIED to the American people. THEY were the ones who rammed through the stimulus bill (Obama breaking his promise to be transparent and to give time to read legislation - so he could whisk Michelle off to Chicago for an expensive dinner date at taxpayer expense), KNOWING the AIG bonuses were built into the package. They were a contractual obligation that AIG had signed well in advance - sometimes in lieu of salary - to pay execs to get the company back on track.
No matter how you feel about corporate greed - and I am aghast at it myself - there is NO EXCUSE for this kind of presidentially-inspired with hunt. Barney Frank - who hangs on to his seat year after year despite his general craziness and overt scandal such as having a "roommate" running a male prostitution ring from his DC apartment (did you Gen X-ers know this?) - has sounded far more menacing and provocative than McCarthy ever did. And yet, all we hear from the Left is how evil McCarthy was.
Sorry for all the caps above - it's not my usual style. But my goodness!!! What are we going to do about this terrible situation in which the office of the presidency has become so demeaned (Jay Leno appearance), so ugly (The Bamster's gratuitous Jessica Simpson cut) so petty (Special Olympics slur), and so crazy (Nero-style laughter) and yet so protected by those who would have been demanding the head of a Republican president? Where are all those Code Pink agitators who hounded Bush about the war in Iraq? Funny, now they're off the war and protesting AIG. Where are their principles? Don't they care that Obama dropped bombs on Pakistan three days after taking office? Where's the press on this?
And isn't the whole anti-war posture a shell game? Decrease troops in Iraq but send them to Afghanistan? Promise to remove the prisoners at Guantanamo with no study or plan about what to do with them. Has it occurred to the Close-Gitmo crowd that we were safer under Bush because these dangerous people were not fulfilling their plans? Compare the vilification of AIG executives with the sanctification of these prisoners. Who would you rather have living in your neighborhood?
It is truly mind-boggling, isn't it? And begs comparisons - as the collective consciousness has already gushed forth - with Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. And then there's Obama - his sidewing teleprompters replaced by a giant screen in the back of the room, that we might not notice that even his press conferences must be scripted - as drapes a verbal screen before what's really going on - so reminiscent of the actually-very-small Wizard of Oz. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" Try not to notice how obviously psychologically crippled the man we elected to lead our nation is: a boy abandoned by not one, but two fathers - and his mother. A narcissist through and through, who keeps this frenetic pace going because he can't be alone with himself, must have constant adulation and affirmation. A man who obviously is not a whole human being.
And a man who is obviously filled with loathing for anyone who worked hard to succeed. He is now fulfilling on a massive scale what he always was, a rabble-rouser. He is now our Community-Organizer-in-Chief - preying on people's discontent to mobilize them to overthrow the enemies - conservative, work-ethic-oriented, financially comfortable - and redistribute what they've worked hard for back to those who've been waiting for an earthly savior to fix everything for them.
Funny - well, really not funny at all - that while we are losing jobs in the private sector, the government is increasing jobs. And all those government workers are pretty much sewn up for the Democrat party. Their jobs and benefits are never at stake, are they?
One final thought - for today - on the advancement of fascism. Fascists want to control every aspect of our lives - from what we say and write and publish, how we are allowed to defend ourselves, even to what we are allowed to say in church. Oh yes, this is coming, my friends.
The speed at which O&Co are building the framework for a citizen army and a youth brigade is very ominous. This must be stopped NOW or we risk replicating the ugliness of Nazi Germany.
Beware of ALL legislation proposed with altruistic names.
Keep in mind that the Freedom of Choice Act - nice ring, huh? - is really about giving women the absolute power to arrange for the murder of babies in the womb any time during gestation - a minute short of birthday. It means no parental consent or even notification. It means no say by the father, who if he pushed the mother down the stairs would be tried for murder as the bay would be considered a real person in that case.
Keep in mind that the Fairness Doctrine is really about shutting down conservative talk shows because liberals can't attract an audience. It doesn't matter to them that they own Hollywood, movies, and TV. Hey, maybe we should have a Fairness Doctrine for that - and have an equal number of squeaky clean movies and TV shows. Sounds fair, doesn't it? But see, the Fairness Doctrine isn't about fairness. it's about shutting down dissent. Now that the population is onto the truth about this though, the left is attacking on a more local level and we'll need to keep us with that. See Fairness Doctrine morphs into "Broadcast Localism."
Then we come to G.I.V.E. - that's HR1388 which sailed quickly through the House of Representatives in while Barney Frank - one of the primary agents of our financial collapse - railed against AIG and Obama sought affirmation in Hollywood. GIVE stands for Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education. Now doesn't that sound special? And yet it's less GIVE and More TAKE: take years away from people to indoctrinate them - so they can indoctrinate others - in much the same way as ACORN activists. And we all know how important ACORN was in getting Our Glorious Leader into office.
Yes, this is our Community-Organizer-in-Chief playing straight out of Alinsky's handbook with the help of True Believers (or Puppet Masters) like David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel.
Mothers and father, while at first I counseled that we accept the will of our countrymen, pray for our president and do our best over the next four years to raise our families, given the rapidity of America's descent - with nations all over the world mocking us and our own Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Jane Fonda mode maligning and making a mockery of our country everywhere she goes - we must be educating ourselves, our families, friends and neighbors; writing our congresspeople, becoming political party delegates, and running for office ourselves.
In the meantime, I will continue to sift through the news you send me each day. Please pray that I may choose wisely and that they won't be coming for the blogs soon. Until that day, I will be here for you.
Three four hours ago, I sat down to post a round up of individual news stories, but now that this has poured out, I see that we needed to stop for a minute, step back and take a broad view, so as not to miss the forest for the trees.
The truth is that we are marching toward a fascist state - not the kind my counterculture cohort warned of in the 60's, but a much more likely history-repeats-itself cataclysm today. Watch for continuing signs of fascism and government control - even when proffered as a boon to the populace. This regime wants one thing and one thing only: power - unmitigated and unceasing. They need the country in a desperate situation in order to get that kind of power - which explains why they are doing all the wrong things to address our financial problems and our international relations, while building up this fascistic infrastructure and targeting/scapegoating "enemies" within.
Be wise as serpents, meek as doves. Matthew 10:16
~~~~~~~~~~~
Feel free to share this post by clicking the button below.
Posted in Obama Nation | Permalink
Comments
Thank you.
Posted by: aine | March 26, 2009 1:42 PM
Barbara, you said:
"Fascists want to control every aspect of our lives - from what we say and write and publish, how we are allowed to defend ourselves, even to what we are allowed to say in church. Oh yes, this is coming, my friends."
I've just sent you an email with a link, something just broke in the news you would be very much interested in.
Apparently you were right on the target. Again.
Posted by: aine | March 26, 2009 1:56 PM
Barbara, you are such an inspiration to me. I pray that God will continue to guide you in this and give you discernment. I have been contacting my representatives and will continue to do so. Even though I'm in a blue state and they don't vote the way I want them to, this is a representative government and I must not be apathetic. In a representative government,their accountability is increased when we inform them of our positions. And yes, I am also planning to take my family to the local Tea Party on April 15. And I am trying to recruit others to go with us!
To all who have faith in Christ: We must not be fearful! (Revelation 21:8) I have found that courage improves with practice. If we don't have courage now, when it's relatively safe, what makes us think we'll ever have it? This is a great time to set an example for our children.
Posted by: evergreen | March 26, 2009 2:02 PM
There's also CPSIA, passed last summer, which squashes small producers and sellers and resellers of children's products, and H.R. 875 in the House now, which would establish a frightening amount of Federal oversight and control over all food growers and processors. Both advance fascism under the pretense of ensuring the public's "safety".
Posted by: Peggy | March 26, 2009 2:11 PM
Barbara, if you have the time please read John Taylor Gatto's latest (02/09) book, "Weapons of Mass Instruction."
He puts the pieces together, explaining how fascism is made possible by Prussian schooling. In other words, we're currently ripe for the plucking. I agree with what you say about the dangers of this time.
Posted by: Amy R. | March 26, 2009 3:42 PM
Very thought provoking post. I read part way through Jonah Goldbergs book about facisim and it is pretty scary. It's amazing all of the stuff that is happening now that seems to be leading us in the facist/socialist direction. I am speaking up, educating myself and staying committed to homeschooling my daughter. I am also praying constantly for our saner leaders to start speaking up and speaking loud. Thanks for your continued posts.
Posted by: Lisa | March 26, 2009 5:03 PM
Once again Barbara, thank you.
I am so grateful for your willingness to put all this together, to pull in the threads and weave them for us.
I read Drudge and National Review Online. I listen to Rush and Mark Levin.
I am also very concerned, but I am cautiously optimistic for several reasons, the biggest being that we have read the end of The Book, and no matter what they think, God wins.
They can strap themselves to the gates of hell, but they won't prevail.
The other reasons that I feel hope are: 1. We are Americans, not Europeans. We come from stock that didn't sit still for Fascism. Our grandparents and parents did something. Many of us have a nature that runs counter to the status quo. 2. Almost half of us opposed this move on the part of the left during the election, and that number is growing. 3. I feel, that there is going to be another strike at our country from the outside, that it will be devastating, and that it will unite us in a way that 911 couldn't begin to. I think it will bring us back to our knees. I think it may be the thing that brings us back to the fundamental values we were founded on. We have a strong leadership buried somewhere in this mess and I think it's going to take a REAL crisis to get the real leaders to stand up and tell the kids to sit down and be quiet.
I'm ready for it. I pray that America will be that light to the nations again.
Posted by: Jennifer | March 26, 2009 5:18 PM
Barbara, this is an awesome post! Thank you, thank you for taking all the time to put this together with all the excellent links. Can you somehow put a link as sticky in your sidebar to keep it accessible?
May God ever save & protect you for speaking the truth in such a compelling and concise manner.
I'd also give my opinion that Mark Levin's LIBERTY & TYRANNY would be highly beneficial reading for all of us.
Posted by: Maura | March 26, 2009 5:33 PM
I just sent this to everyone I know. Thank you so much for writing this, Barbara.
Posted by: lauren | March 26, 2009 6:24 PM
Barbara, I am so grateful that you write about these issues. God has uniquely gifted you for such a time as this. Continue in boldness and know that I am covering you in prayer. I hope all your readers join me in praying for you and your family. I hope they are also in prayer for our nation.
Posted by: Elizabeth M Thompson | March 26, 2009 6:25 PM
Much as I hate hearing this stuff I'm thankful for those who say it. Thank you, Barbara!
Posted by: Kim | March 26, 2009 8:06 PM
Thank you Barbara! I couldn't agree more. I'll be taking my 6, 5, 3, and 1 year old daughters to the Tea Party on April 15. I'm very concerned over the GIVE Act and fear everyone is just so complacent that one morning we'll wake up and not know where we are anymore.
Posted by: Bethany | March 26, 2009 9:44 PM
Barbara,
Thank you for doing what you do, making sure that us moms are informed of what's really happening and not just drinking the Kool-Aid. I appreciate all of the research and news stories you pull together, as well as your inside view from the other side. Keep us the good work!
Posted by: Laura | March 26, 2009 10:07 PM
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for your blog. You keep me well informed of the news. We did not have internet service for several weeks after the wind here knocked the satelite dish out so I have a lot to catch up on now. I also am praying for you all, blessings.
Posted by: Abiga/Karen | March 27, 2009 7:46 AM
Thank you for your honest and open words. I will definitely be back. I am planning a Tea Party for my town in Phoenixville, PA.
Your post furthers the talking points in my mind to share with participants and the public. We need to educate as we rally or the efforts will be in vain.
In Christ Alone,
www.twitter.com/GenMom
Posted by: Sarah (GenMom) | March 27, 2009 8:09 AM
"And isn't the whole anti-war posture a shell game? Decrease troops in Iraq but send them to Afghanistan?"
I was just thinking about this today. Where are the anti-war protesters now? Why aren't they protesting Obama?
Posted by: Donica | March 27, 2009 4:12 PM
Thank you for this wonderful post. I have featured as Best of the Web on Worthington Wire.
This post is linked in 'Politics' section of Worthy Wire.
Congrats on the feature and keep spreading the word. Let's wake our fellow citizens up.
Blessings, Allison
Posted by: Allison @ Worthington Wire | March 27, 2009 6:11 PM
