Fascism: Can It Happen Here?

brianlux

Great article here by Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan. Obviously this article focuses on DT but we don't need another DT thread. Let's talk about the bigger picture, the potential for the rise of fascism in America. Is this possible? Will it get worse or go away or stay the same. There is a large number of Americans who support the idea that the answer to dissension to your beliefs is a punch in the face and this idea is supported by a particular presidential candidate so we know this isn't simply a tiny fraction of militia types holed up in the back woods. Where will this lead us?

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/17/fascism_can_it_happen_here

Bentleyspop

Could it happen? Maybe but not likely
Will it happen? No

Remember that the rise of fascism in the 1930s happened in a vacuum.
No tv
No internet
No 24 hr. News cycle
No freedom of the press
No open borders

To easy for evidence, facts, truth, and common sense to defend against lies, myths, and conspiracy theories.

My 2 cents

brianlux

I hope you're right, Bp, but it really is alarming how many people are fanatically driven in that direction. Will they change or grow in numbers? I don't know. 40 years ago, I would never have believed we've gotten this close to such far right fanaticism.

Jason P

If WWIII occurred and the US had massive casualties and collapse of government, perhaps a chance.

JimmyV

What would we call one political faction barging into the rally of a rival faction, shutting it down, and calling for the scheduled speaker to be arrested? Because that happened a week ago.

Drowned Out

Bentleyspop said:

Could it happen? Maybe but not likely
Will it happen? No

Remember that the rise of fascism in the 1930s happened in a vacuum.
No tv
No internet
No 24 hr. News cycle
No freedom of the press
No open borders

To easy for evidence, facts, truth, and common sense to defend against lies, myths, and conspiracy theories.

My 2 cents

On the flipside, these mediums have opened the door for disinformation and information overload. Confirmation bias is a thing. Any time a person presents facts, truth, and common sense, the person to whom that info is provided can easily do a google search finding another angle presented as truth....at which time they double down and insist that they're right. When we can't convince people of scientific consensus, how the fuck are we supposed to convince them on matters of ideological approach?
I sometimes wonder if we're really that much more informed in this era, esp when you take into consideration the consolidation of mainstream media. People think they're informed but it is demonstrated time and again that it is not hard to falsify or twist fact to suit an agenda, or even to control both sides of an argument in order to create the parameters of the debate - no one has any reason to revise their belief system when there is always someone there to feed the previous ones.... Tribal allegiance and herd behaviour is at the core of our beings.

Drowned Out

Naomi Wolf wrote a book and did a series of lectures on this topic in 2007....before becoming a darling of the Tea Party. Haven't watched this in 8 years, but I remember there being some interesting parallels drawn...and I'm pretty sure things have not gotten any better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

polaris_x

Bentleyspop said:

Could it happen? Maybe but not likely
Will it happen? No

Remember that the rise of fascism in the 1930s happened in a vacuum.
No tv
No internet
No 24 hr. News cycle
No freedom of the press
No open borders

To easy for evidence, facts, truth, and common sense to defend against lies, myths, and conspiracy theories.

My 2 cents

except ... even with all the things you listed - most people are in the dark on every issue ...

as for the initial question ... we are moving to a more fascist state but it's purposefully manipulated under the guise of a democratic principle ...

Bentleyspop

polaris_x said:

Bentleyspop said:

Could it happen? Maybe but not likely
Will it happen? No

Remember that the rise of fascism in the 1930s happened in a vacuum.
No tv
No internet
No 24 hr. News cycle
No freedom of the press
No open borders

To easy for evidence, facts, truth, and common sense to defend against lies, myths, and conspiracy theories.

My 2 cents

except ... even with all the things you listed - most people are in the dark on every issue ...

as for the initial question ... we are moving to a more fascist state but it's purposefully manipulated under the guise of a democratic principle ...

Care to share some viable and believable evidence of this?

gimmesometruth27

i think anything can happen to a country when the public goes to sleep and becomes unable to think critically.

the republicans are about to nominate donald fucking trump. this should be proof enough that anything can happen.

BS44325

Fascism can happen anywhere. No country is immune. A crucial early step though is disarming a populace through executive orders.

BS44325

Fascism also requires the arresting of political opponents. Maybe you arrest them for "hate speech" or for being a general threat to the republic.

BS44325

Fascism also occurs with the general erasure of the checks and balances that govern a country. A large federal government slowly usurps the powers of the state and local levels of government. Federal bureaucrats begin taking free choices away from the people.

BS44325

Today's fascim will also require a government backdoor into everyone's iphone.

BS44325

You will see fascism when people who want to debate science are called "deniers" and when the justice department meets to discuss how these deniers can be charged under existing laws.

BS44325

Fascism always require a vocal youth to enforce speech and behaviour on college campuses. Those who don't tow the party line will be persecuted.

BS44325

Fascism today will also need to control the internet. This will be done under the concept of "net neutrality".

BS44325

For facism to become ascendent religion will have to be removed completely from the public square.

BS44325

Fascism will become evident when respected military generals are charged with sharing classified information while political allies are given a pass by the DOJ for the same crime.

BS44325

In a fascist state party leaders will do everything in their power to prevent a leader being chosen by the people. They might meet in backrooms to plot a brokered convention or they might use superdelegates to counter balance elected delegates.

brianlux

Is that all, BS.

gimmesometruth27 said:

i think anything can happen to a country when the public goes to sleep and becomes unable to think critically.

the republicans are about to nominate donald fucking trump. this should be proof enough that anything can happen.

Truth!