Authoritarianism can happen in United States

[Doondoo]

In an excerpt from his forthcoming book, Salon columnist Joe Conason says that the changes in political power set in motion by President George W. Bush have brought the United States closer to a future in which authoritarianism is possible. Conason warns that for the first time since Nixon, Americans have "reason to doubt the future of democracy and the rule of law in our own country."

The excerpt comes from Conason's new book It Can Happen Here: Authoritarian Peril in the Age of Bush. Conason states up front that the idea of an American slide into authoritarianism is not based in any paranoia, but comes because the current president "has repeatedly asserted and exercised authority that he does not possess under the Constitution he swore to uphold."

Conason says there is growing public anxiety and anger about the Bush administration's use and abuse of power. Two events that have particularly raised public concern are "the misbegotten, horrifically mismanaged war in Iraq the heartless mishandling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster." He notes that "we do not know the full dimensions of the scandals behind Iraq and Katrina, because the Republican leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives abdicated the traditional congressional duties of oversight and investigation."

Their unwillingness to take on the president on these issues was due to an acquiescence with authoritarianism, he writes. He says the "style" of the Bush regime is seen in its "almost casual contempt for democratic and lawful norms; an expanding appetite for executive control at the expense of constitutional balances; a reckless impulse to corrupt national institutions with partisan ideology; and an ugly tendency to smear dissent as disloyalty."

Conason doesn't believe that the 2006 turnover of the Congress to Democratic control will be enough to push back against Bush's authoritarian turn. He points to the Senate's narrow Democratic majority as a major obstacle to checking the White House. The question he asks is, "In the era of terror alerts, religious fundamentalism, and endless warfare...whether we are still the brave nation...or whether our courage, and our luck, have finally run out."



http://www.rawstory.com//news/2007/Columnist_Authoritarianism_can_happen_in_United_0219.html

[deadmessengers]

1. CAN happen?

Can? As in that there is a possibility of this happening some time in the future? I would argue that we're already well along the downward spiral into corporate and religious authoritarianism.

[lonestarnot]

2. What deadmessenger said!

[Crazy Dave]

3. For a long time the administration....

...has used the same old tired line that if you disagree with Bush on his war policy than you are in fact on the enemy's side and are giving them support therefore making you a traitor, etc. We all know that treason can be punishable by prison, even death. A little far out? Maybe eight years ago but not so unbelievable now.

[PLF]

4. Authoritarianism runs rampant in the U.S., even from progressives

From the absolute worship of cops to Rick Perry's latest executive order to some of these draconian smoking bans, you see a total disdain for just leaving people alone.

Hell, its got to where you can't even fart loud without breaking some kind of law.

You've got people telling you how to raise your kids, what to watch, what to read, how to be spiritual, and so on.

There seems to be very few people in this country who truly relish freedom and the risks that go along with it.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Another story on it....

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/02/19/conason/