DEFEAT FASCISM

 As if a dark sci-fi film is playing, America has left its home, passed through a portal, and entered a dark world. As hard as one might try, no happy journey’s end appears, at least not for the immediate future. The leaders of this tragic journey now own the three legs of our governmental stool and a majority of its wealth. The press, that much ballyhooed "Fourth Dimension" loses more prestige each day while chasing distractions.  Little friction remains to hinder the achievement of the evildoers' goals.

This does not bode well for those who will spend their productive years under the dark regime.

A large cohort will not live to pay the ultimate price. Some, having served their country and taken an oath to continue, will resist with the powers they have remaining. Some wiggle like maggots in a pile of ignorance. Some have served the agents of hate and now wait for their reward.

Will it come?

It is hard to say.

But in searching for that answer, one might assess the benefit to the agents of evil that would accrue to them should they halt in their march for domination and expend resources on rewarding the misguided.

Our most recent historical guide, the Germany of the 1940s doesn’t support the assumption.

DEFEAT FASCISM

 Thoughts on tipping points. As it stands now, the orders to hate center on a relatively small cadre of usual suspects: the different, the disabled, people of color, librarians, and teachers. At some point, the hate-field will grow, and continue to grow. The movement will reach a tipping point.

When the tipping point is reached, the impacts of fascism will spread to the hitherto unmolested. Those who voted to install the fascism will begin to feel its wrath. The surprise on a supporter’s face will resemble that of a famous painting.

Will this create resistance? Perhaps.

Will this resistance overcome the worst impulses of those in power?

Not if the experience of Germany in the late 1930s is any guide, and history is sometimes our most reliable guide.

DEFEAT FASCISM

 Ever wonder what has happened to America? Let’s look at some famous observers.

“In laws one should make a careful distinction between the aims sought and the way in which they progress toward that aim and between their absolute and their relative excellence.”  - Alexis de Tocqueville

“The manager who comes up with the right solution to the wrong problem is more dangerous than the manager who comes up with the wrong solution to the right problem.” – Peter Drucker

A fanciful example is that of the bull forced into an arena filled with thousands of drunken, jeering, morons there to witness the bull’s savage and tortured death. The bull goes into decision-mode and decides that his immediate danger is the red cape waving in front of him, not the little murderer behind it. He attacks the cape, the right decision based on his analysis and goal to protect himself, but fatal in the end.

A more realistic example lies in the decision that the purpose of government is to preserve the wealth of the few, the rich. Then of course the right decision, though a tragic one, is to make sure that none of the riches of the few are allocated to the safety and welfare of the many.

In an aristocracy where the purpose of government is to enrich the few, laws are simple and effective.

In a democracy where the purpose of government is to make society prosper, laws are complicated and often flawed. The ill-intended can, and do, become masters at blaming complications and flaws on a carefully selected enemy.

DEFEAT FASCISM

 Today the news reports that President Two-Doll Donnie plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the United States will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two U.S. officials.

Public administration at the national level has degenerated to the point where, each day, the elected president of the United States of America says something monumentally stupid. The press runs to his side to report it.

Then the worst happens.

The hardcore cult enthusiasts run around saying "Nah, nah, nah, nah nah. We can do anything we want to and you can't do a goddamned thing about it.

It might be funny on a reality TV show. I don't know. It just doesn't seem, to me at least, to fit the country whose men stormed the beaches at Normandy to rid the world of a previous fascist regime.

DEFEAT FASCISM

 Each day a meme appears on social media implying that what the MAGAs are doing is okay because Bill Clinton did something similar. The memes don't bother to say whether it is true, whether Clinton "did" it, or whether Congress "enacted" it.

At any rate, this doesn't pass my Sainted Mother's "jump off a cliff" rule. Yes, "if all your little buddies were going to …." That's the one.

Oh, and by the way, am I the only one in the country that doesn't always believe in coincidences?

DEFEAT FASCISM

 So far, the MAGA cult has followed the path of the most destructive fascist government of the last 100 years. It has demonized opposing political parties, spread fear and hatred of selected racial groups, suspended the rule of law, and effectively disabled congress, putting the future of America into the hands of one figure. Whether that figure is a sole leader or charismatic figurehead controlled by selected oligarchs is open for discussion, but it really doesn't matter. What matters is what is happening and what will happen.

If the model is followed, we should be on the alert for a couple of moves.

First, there a manufactured emergency will occur in resemblance to the Reichstag fire of February 27, 1933. The cult will use this as justification for martial law.

Next, the cult will cleanse itself of dangerous internal segments that would create friction to slow the progress toward final goals. Read about the June 30, 1934 "Night of the Long Knives" here. Purity is important to fascism and any friction must cease. A group that views its own goals as more important than cult objectives is expendable. It should surprise no one if this happens to be the religious fanatically followers largely responsible for the current darkness in our country. Having served their purpose, their power is no longer essential.

In the meantime, notice how mainstream media outlets are beginning to drift more in line with party dogma in order to preserve their existence. Or, notice how major institutions of higher learning are succumbing to the demands of the book burners.

Let us just hope that when it all ends, we will not be in the line of those forced to walk by and view the corpses and carnage march.

DEFEAT FASCISM

Adolph Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. Although his Nazi party was now in charge, he lacked dictatorial power. But next month a fire erupted in the Reichstag. Hitler blamed the Communists although many now believe the Nazis themselves did the deed. At any rate, the event resulted in Hitler achieving absolute power over German rule, including effectively abolishing congress.

If a modern cult wanted to use Hitler's playbook, it would certainly wish, as final step to power, the elimination of congressional power. Could it be done? Today, my state would guarantee six votes to allow the fatal act. All they would need would be a catalyst. Scary thought?

Yes, very scary. So here is my new motto for our country. Roughly? So long, it's been good to know you.