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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRachel Maddow and Steve Schmidt
Last night, Rachel Maddow had a conversation with Steve Schmidt. These are two people who grasp current events better than most and are brilliant at shining a glaring light on reality.
Watching it, I couldn't help but see, (some of you will strongly object to this), America becoming a 21st century version of Nazi Germany within the next three or four years.
They didn't use the word "Nazi," but they didn't need to. In listening to them, I could see the likes of Trump and his followers, both in and out of elected office, drawing up plans for what they might label "Reeducation Camps" as a starter, and then far, far worse. Do I need to draw a picture?
They are a crazed, evil minority of Americans. But, as history has shown us time and again, numbers don't matter.
I'm literally living my life like it's my last few years as a free person. And if you think I'm overreacting, or have gone over the edge, take a look at, or read about, Germany in the early 1930s.
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/schmidt-republicans-are-driving-chaos-promising-order-with-easy-scapegoats-121953861736
Stuart G
(38,726 posts)Mr.Bill
(24,695 posts)even for Rachel.
patphil
(6,844 posts)Sort of like Scrooge seeing the future that will be if he took no steps to change it.
Make no mistake in comprehending the possibility Steve Schmidt puts forth.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and the will to take steps to insure we remain free.
The next 3 years will be the toughest anyone of us have ever faced. We need to stay strong, focused, and determined to hold on to our Democracy.
The future depends on us.
Ilsa
(62,164 posts)just scared the crap out of me. It also depressed me, thinking about how many family members fought and sacrificed for our democracy. I'm glad most of them are gone so they don't have to see it.
Mr.Bill
(24,695 posts)While the facts were true, it was presented with some theatrical flair.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)Goonch
(3,803 posts)went out of their way to confiscate even small caliber weapons in Germany.
Not a likely or successful occurrence here.
Blaukraut
(5,863 posts)Talking them into giving up their guns shouldn't be too much of a problem for the fascist leaders. Just use the usual propaganda channels like Fox et al.
soldierant
(7,744 posts)If the confiscation comes from their own kind, they will submit. Maybe eve cheerfully.
BootinUp
(48,638 posts)Is that the fascists just wont have enough political support to get where they want to. But it is way too close for comfort.
Texin
(2,628 posts)BootinUp
(48,638 posts)Our prospects. Biden won pretty convincingly, and we may yet have a good mid-term showing.
dclarston13
(429 posts)This is the still the country on earth but maybe not for long. I worked in a lot of places and many different countries in my life. When US folks complained about America I always said it's still the best game around. But if this Nazi uprising is not quelled quickly and with extreme prejudice, I fear the worst. The part I really struggle with is why? They will wreck the economy, many of the Nazi supporters will also end up on the wrong side of whatever government is in place, they are just too dumb to figure it out.
These Nazis are enemies of the state and should be treated as much.
Thomas Hurt
(13,924 posts)complete with an autocrat and oligarchs siphoning off millions for the one party system.
No abortion, birth control,
public schools destroyed,
unions stamped out,
christofascist religious schools (fundie christianity and white nationalism),
Enforce Public Christian prayer in every public event
Re-establishment of a nobility (see oligarchs above)
This is what the far right has been pushing as their agenda since at the Reagan admin.
bamagal62
(3,586 posts)Auggie
(31,737 posts)About 20 million moderate and liberal Democrats and Indies will say no.
Blaukraut
(5,863 posts)They will come after blue states. Be it economically, or by passing federal laws that will mostly punish those blue states. We'll get squeezed until we give in. States rights are only a thing if they benefit their side.
Auggie
(31,737 posts)uponit7771
(91,317 posts)... to tear it down, it'll be Putin's wet dream
S/V Loner
(9,086 posts)Reichstag moment whether economic, terrorist, or any other type of occurrence that they can use to instill fear. That is all it will take.
Hekate
(94,107 posts).. and the Earth itself.
Kali Yuga.
KS Toronado
(19,260 posts)start framing our midterm talking points with the evils of voting for fascists,
before it's too late.
doc03
(36,475 posts)we are doomed if we lose the House next year. There is a extremely good chance we will, especially if we don't get anything done. It is sad our future may depend on what one Senator does.
certainot
(9,090 posts)and trumpism died with him. the minority extremist sex-on-the-wrong-brainers have been emboldened but trump will conntinue to fade as the investigations expose him and limbaugh isn't there to excuse him
unfortunately schmidt as far as i know ever mentions talk radio, and rachel was in it and seldom mentions it either - like all the aanalysts theyre analyzing fish without water
Evolve Dammit
(18,292 posts)certainot
(9,090 posts)BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Dont forget to read about the violent and brutal end of the Nazi party. Even an empire that was to last a thousand years lasted at best a decade and ended with its leaders body burned in a ditch. So - while we must work hard and not forget the lessons of the past, we must also must not lose our heads.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(153,634 posts)FoxNewsSucks
(10,748 posts)who is paying attention to what is going on.
The fascists nearly have control
SidneyR
(109 posts)The US will be the best fascist country the world has ever seen. We have the finest surveillance technology, the best military and police systems, the most complicit corporations, and the dumbest conformists ever. The Fourth Reich will dominate the globe for a long, long time.
Evolve Dammit
(18,292 posts)Cyrano
(15,282 posts)IMO, it won't take long before they go nuclear against any country or countries that oppose them.
These are basically, stupid people who will bring about their own doom.
The outcome will be some kind of post apocalyptic "Mad Max" world, or a totally lifeless planet.
johnthewoodworker
(694 posts)Awareness changes nothing.
cilla4progress
(25,594 posts)I studied PoliSci at college in the 1970s. There is nothing, in fact, that distinguishes Americans from any other country's citizens. Including 1930s Germany.
I am very wary meeting new people. Most comfortable with those whose politics I know. I don't need their beliefs to be identical to mine, but I'm aware there are many fascists out there, and where I live which is quite conservative.
This country is on its way to some very hard times.
Deuxcents
(19,194 posts)Steve Schmidt back on Nicole Wallace and Rachels shows. I listen intently as he has a way of telling us his point of view with historical relevance. Sometimes my jaw is so tight I think Im gonna crush my teeth. I get educated but distressed at the same time. Just like Germany in the 1930s ...there were warnings n they were ignored. I pray we wont repeat this when we have so much to learn from.
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)there are two actions necessary to survive:
1. Start a garden and learn how to preserve the food you grow
2. Buy a gun and learn how to use it.
scipan
(2,602 posts)I keep being reminded of this:
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Cyrano
(15,282 posts)The fascists have a plan, a defined goal, and they're well along their path to success.
And as for the so many who have seen this coming for years, what have we done to stop them?
I'm not criticizing your statement, scipan. I am criticizing the inability of all who oppose fascism to combat it effectively. Or even combat it at all.
scipan
(2,602 posts)Last edited Sun Sep 26, 2021, 04:27 AM - Edit history (1)
There was a poll recently that showed a much higher percentage of righties felt our country was hanging by a thread than leftists.
And our only plan so far seems to be to get out the vote. That seems necessary but not sufficient to me. I dont know why we dont have anywhere near the organization as they do, except were the ones atm who put our faith in existing government institutions.
Also, its past time for hardball. Redistrict the blue states to get as many dem reps as we can, enough with fighting with one hand tied behind our back, unless we can get a national standard passed. Find dirt on manchin and Sinema and .... Dont let them own our streets like the brownshirts did. But we need ppl to wake up
Evolve Dammit
(18,292 posts)growing up had guns. They were for hunting, varmint reduction and recreational shooting. Now they are viewed as "home defense" or potential offensive weaponry. Thank the NRA which used to sponsor hunter safety in the 1960's and now is a full-blown fascist organization. Then there are the ammosexuals, militia cult groups that want to overthrow the government and kill all Dems, libruls, POC etc. I hope the FBI is hiring and expanding efforts toward the latter. Because ultimately, this shit cannot continue and needs to be illegal.
I hope Steve Schmidt is wrong, but I'm not a betting person either.
colsohlibgal
(5,276 posts)We are closer to sliding into an Autocracy than anytime in my lifetime. That someone like Trump could get elected President, even with the Electoral College, is troubling.
That tens of millions could see and hear him and vote for him is scary by itself.
I live not that far from Ontario and thats my plan B if it all goes totally South here. I have not contemplated that option previously but we are in precarious times right now.
We better pass that For The People Voting Bill, time to quit gumming up the works Manchin and Sinema, not sure how you dont comprehend the peril were in.
uponit7771
(91,317 posts)UCmeNdc
(9,649 posts)Loge23
(3,922 posts)Many folks are making the mistake of trying to anticipate "when it will happen" as if there will be an event that ends democracy as we knew it. This is already happening, we are already living through a momentous time in the history of the United States.
Take voting: it's not a stretch to think that voting can be safe, secure, and much more accessible than it is now, or was in November 2020. Many of us will sometimes participate in online polls, or perhaps in online proxy voting. After entering basic ID information, the poll site will know whether or not you have already voted in that particular poll. Why can't our election process function the same way? Well, it can but there are forces in our country that simply do not want to allow widespread voting, particularly by certain demographic groups. Every American eligible to vote should be able to, whether in person, online, or via the mail. But here we are in 2021, going in the opposite direction.
Take income equality: Again, here we are going in the wrong direction. Certain forces in this country have effectively muted the labor movement and stand steadfast against basic services that the wealthiest country in the world can easily afford, like universal heath care for example. Meanwhile the gap gets wider between the average American and the slim top 1 or 2 %.
Human Rights? I don't have to reiterate what is happening in Texas and other red states, women are losing their basic rights.
We can't even manage to come up with meaningful legislation to combat climate change, repair and renew our infrastructure, or reverse the widening inequality gap. The minority simply will not allow it.
There are many more examples of the deterioration and breakdown of our country - minority rule being present in all cases.
Where we end up may or may not resemble a Nazi state or another dictatorship that we may be familiar with from history - it's a different time after all. But make no mistake, we are living through catastrophic changes, for the worst, and it's difficult to see how we will be able to turn that tide around in most of our lifetimes.