Is American democracy dead?

[Cyrano]

Who would have thought it was possible? We've spent the past four years getting raped by this administration. And as Theresa Heinz Kerry said, we're looking at "Four more years of hell."

Everything that has made this country a decent place to live is under attack. The right to sue businesses, the right to declare bankruptcy, the right to demonstrate in the streets, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, sane federal judges, veterans that are cared for when injured or sick, election results that we can trust, clean air, clean water, a safe food supply, aid to disadvantaged children and families, the destruction of the wall between church and state, and a thousand other rights and freedoms that the criminals running this country are in the process of destroying.

The wingnuts in the Bush administration, the congress and the courts are on a mission to make sure that there will be no middle class left by the time they're done: Just the very wealthy, and the rest of us peasants who will cater to them, serve them, and grovel on command.

So here's the question that the Democratic Party seems incapable of answering. What the hell do we do now?

[donsu]

1. YES

we fight back in all ways possible

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Yes.

[liberal N proud]

3. Rise up and take our country back

I just wish there were leaders today, like ones in the 60's that would rise up and lead us all to the streets where they could not ignore the cries.

[Discord]

5. HERE HERE!!

[Cyrano]

11. Taking to the streets won't work anymore.

I live in Florida and about two years ago, there was an international meeting on trade in Miami. No one was allowed within about three blocks of the meeting.

Thousands turned out to protest. Seniors took buses from as far away as Palm Beach, but the buses were waved off by the police and directed the wrong way. There was no rioting or disorder (with the exception of a couple of assholes who set a dumpster on fire).

Nonetheless, a totally uncalled for police riot occurred. They blocked streets so that no one could escape, shot rubber bullets injuring many people, rounded up and arrested anyone who asked them for some restraint or explaination, maced anyone who didn't move fast enough to get out of their way, and, in general, acted like storm-trooper thugs. (Anyone who had access to Randi Rhodes while she was broadcasting down here, heard what was going on and saw it on local TV).

The police were dressed in Darth Vader outfits (with the money for them supplied by Jeb's brother in the White House). They totally ran amok, yet there was no national coverage of it, and the local TV whores talked about how brave these storm troopers were.

In summary, very few Americans know what took place down here. Don't try taking to the streets. It will be Kent State multiplied a thousand times.

[ladjf]

25. The street thing definitely won't work in the U.S.

If there is any hope of fighting back, it may have to be some sort of organized consumer protests. And a Iraqi style Resistance seems out of the question.

Meanwhile, it might be possible to reform the horrible voting process. While Republican politicians don't want voting reform, there must be a significant number of Republican voters that are opposed to voter fraud. (or am I being too optimistic about that?)

[Neoma]

4. yeah

The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism
by Dr. Lawrence Britt

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14-defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights -
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause -
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military -
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism -
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media -
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security -
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined -
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected -
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed -
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts -
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment -
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption -
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections -
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

[tom_paine]

6. Yes. Dead and gone. BushPutinism reigns in Amerika.

Only the pale shadow, left in place for propaganda purposes, remains.

[ladjf]

7. Very good post!

It sums it up in a few good sentences. Please keep pounding away.
You are doing your part. Perhaps you should write some political articles for various websites.

[Cyrano]

12. Thank you ladjf. I submit articles to all the local newspapers, but

there's no way they're ever going to print anything that would displease those in power. After all, the mission of the press has come to mean access, and genuflecting to those in power. It obviously doesn't mean reporting on the actions, behavior, responsibilities, adherence to the rule of law, the lack of common humanity, and lack of American values that seems to elude right wing Republicans.

Perhaps, someday in the (far) future, today's "journalists" (both print and electronic) will be looked upon with the disdain and disgust they have earned. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be around to see it.

[ladjf]

20. Cyrano, Although your are correct in your assessment of the

media, you might be too pessimistic about getting your articles printed. I read the Atlanta Journal Constitution daily. And they regularly print letters and guest columns from all points of view. I doubt that this paper is exceptional in that regard. Your writing style is powerful by it's compactness. Some people may find that too strong for their taste. Don't give up. You have something to say.

[gulfcoastliberal]

8. Short answer: we're doomed

The democrats are just about as corrupted as the repukes. Look at all the dems supporting the bankruptcy bill, the lawsuit bill, etc. It's only a few, just enough to give the repukes victory while stillpretending to be an "opposition" party.

If the dems had half the backbone of the repukes, Bush and his criminal gang would not have nearly as many victories. Until we have full public financing of campaigns, the dems will be just as bought-and-paid for (MBNA Biden, Feinstein, etc etc) as the repukes. And hell will freeze over before that happens.

[ladjf]

21. GCL: I agree with your assessment that the Dems are as or almost

as corrupt as the Republicans. But, don't forget that the Dems in Congress aren't the only Dems in the U.S. Millions of Americans are Dems and I don't think that the main body of the Democratic voters is corrupt.

So, what's our best strategy? Do we support the Republicans, the Democrats or try to form a new party that isn't corrupt? I believe the best odds for us is to target the worst of the Dems,and replace them with honest politicians who care about all Americans. We have more control over replacing rogue Dems that knocking off incumbent Republicans. It would take too long to organize and build a third party. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that some of them wouldn't become whores just like some of the Dems have done.

The most important step of all is to restore legitimacy to the election process. Without that, all is to no avail. The bastards have almost overthrown the govt. by rigging the elections.

[Al-CIAda]

9. Yes...and cowering impotent 'opposition' to PNAC tyranny shows

no sign of resistence. Complicity and treason reigns.

[patricia92243]

10. Huge National Debt=China taking over USA. Democracy will really be gone

then. So technically and really, Bush is contributing to the downfall of us all.

[Sapphire Blue]

13. How to break free? Again, the answer is quite simple.

An excerpt from 'The Politics of Victimization'....


First, you must admit you are a victim. Then, you must declare the state of affairs unacceptable. Next, you must promise to protect yourself and everyone around you that is being victimized. You don’t do this by responding to their demands, or becoming more like them, or engaging in logical conversation, or trying to persuade them that you are right. You also don’t do this by going catatonic and resigned, by closing up your ears and eyes and covering your head and submitting to the blows, figuring its over faster and hurts less is you don’t resist and fight back. Instead, you walk away. You find other folks like yourself, 56 million of them, who are hurting, broken, and beating themselves up. You tell them what you’ve learned, and that you aren’t going to take it anymore. You stand tall, with 56 million people at your side and behind you, and you look right into the eyes of the abuser and you tell him to go to hell. Then you walk out the door, taking the kids and gays and minorities with you, and you start a new life. The new life is hard. But it’s better than the abuse.

http://mathewgross.com/blog/archives/001041.html


"Is American democracy dead?" No, not yet, but the funeral preparations are being made. It's time to administer life saving measures.

[ladjf]

22. Our Democracy isn't dead. But, it's being held prisoner, waiting

for good Americans to break it out.

[pdxblue]

14. YES...unless it is compatible with corporatism/fascism

Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal!


"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war."
-- Abraham Lincoln, letter to Col. William F. Elkins, Nov 21, 1864.

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini

"A clique of U.S. industrialists is hell-bent to bring a fascist state to supplant our democratic government and is working closely with the fascist regime in Germany and Italy. I have had plenty of opportunity in my post in Berlin to witness how close some of our American ruling families are to the Nazi regime. ... Certain American industrialists had a great deal to do with bringing fascist regimes into being in both Germany and Italy. They extended aid to help Fascism occupy the seat of power, and they are helping to keep it there."
-- William E. Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, 1937.


"We can have a democratic society or we can have the concentration of great wealth in the hands of the few. We cannot have both."
-- Louis Brandeis, Supreme Court Justice from 1916-1939

I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue in. I helped in the rape of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street."
-- General Smedley D. Butler, former U.S. Marine Commandant. In "Common Sense," November 1935.

The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling power. Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing."
--President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

"It is market fundamentalism that has rendered the
global capitalist system unsound and unsustainable...market
fundamentalism is today a greater threat to open society than
any totalitarian ideology."
-- George Soros, legendary billionaire Wall Street marketeer
from "The Crisis of Global Capitalism, Open Society
Endangered", 1998.

"Since water is as central to food production as seed is, and without water life is not possible, Monsanto Co. is now trying to establish its control over water."
-- Robert Fraley, Chief Technology Officer of Monsanto, in The Hindu, Saturday, May 1, 1999


"Since water is as central to food production as seed is, and without water life is not possible, Monsanto Co. is now trying to establish its control over water."
-- Robert Fraley, Chief Technology Officer of Monsanto, in The Hindu, Saturday, May 1, 1999.

"The advanced nations have entered a pre-fascist social condition that will ripen in various ugly ways if the market's imperatives prevail...."
-- William Greider, quoted in International Herald Tribune, Dec 6, 1999.

"Of course, I have as much power as the President has."
-- Bill Gates, in "The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth", Wired, November 2000.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-- Albert Einstein

[leftofthedial]

15. yup. as adoornail.

died 12-12-2000.

RIP

[Guaranteed]

16. Basically....yeah.

Our media's been corrupted. As the foundation of democracy, that's pretty much the end of it. I don't think we're getting it back.

[quinnox]

17. Welcome to Bush's Amurika

Where serfs serve giant credit card companies, and anyone who isn't rich is not part of the club.

[FrenchieCat]

18. as a doornail!

[PowerToThePeople]

19. R.I.P. the dream that was America

[ladjf]

23. Of all the bad feelings I have about the turn of political events

in America, one of the worst is that we, the American People, actually assisted in the coup. We have just rolled over like a fish that has been poisoned, belly up, without a fight. I admire the Iraqis. They may lose their struggle, but, at least they are trying.

[marcologico]

24. Let's just say it's been privatized :)