This is the name of Naomi Wolf’s original article by the same name. Carolyn Baker wrote a very interesting article analyzing not only Wolf’s original article, but changes that have slowly been occuring in our nation during this “twilight” where things seem to be staying the same, but every-so-slightly are actually changing. Wolf’s list of 10 easy steps that need to occur to walk us into a fascist state are:
- Invoking an external and internal threat
- Establishing secret prisons
- Developing a paramilitary force
- Surveiling ordinary citizens
- Infiltrating citizen’s groups
- Arbitrarily detaining and releasing citizens
- Targeting key individuals
- Restricting the press
- Casting criticism as espionage and dissent as treason?
- Subverting the rule of law
I’ve bolded the points above that I think are the most damning, but from the list I think most, if not all, of these points have already been executed have they not? Unlawful wiretapping, circumventing of standard laws and requirements by the administration, secret prisons and restriction on the press are all things we are seeing and have been watching happen slowly but surely more and more over the last 8 years.
Think back 10 years ago… were you reading almost every day in the paper about illegal wiretapping, secret prisons and the administration simply refused to comply with investigations? No… you weren’t. These have all been subtle changes.
These changes are not magical or confusing. These changes are making corporations richer and richer. You think it’s an accident this war is taking so long? You think it’s a mistake that the U.S. has paid Blackwater alone close to $1 trillion dollars in the last 4 years? Bitch please… wake up and smell the coffee. The unfortunate truth is that a true democracy is not as profitable to huge corporations as a more restricted, controlled, oppressive and predictable government. Especially one where the political figure heads are representatives sent to the table by the corporations that back them.
What I found most interesting was how throughout history the term “fascism” has really been distilled down to what it really is: “corporatism“. It’s a state of government at which corporations are essentially in control and create policy that have the greatest benefit to the corporations themselves. I was always under the assumption that “fascism”, this big scary word meant “Nazis” and other hand-wavingly-sinister terms… but it doesn’t.
The documentary “The Corporation” is a movie I have sitting next to me that I have yet to watch, but covers some of this information. I think what a lot of people don’t realize is two-fold:
- Just how much power and control corporations have over our lives and laws
- How profitable it is to these corporations to create a more repressive state of existence for citizens
It might be something to think about, the next time a company you purchase services from decide to shove some ridiculous rules down your throat.
All these “things” started when 15 Saudi Muslim terrorists attacked America. The fact that US corporations are getting rich is just the result of the terrorist attacks.
So because of a terrorist attack, it’s alright that America become more fascist in nature because it’s the *terrorists* fault, and because of that, out-of-control profits for military companies is expected AND alright?
That’s a hell of a thing to declare.
Using that logic, you could say the exorbitant cost of pharmaceuticals in this country and terrible health care is *actually* the fault of all the sick people out there and that the enormous profits and vendor lock-in is justified.
You may have had a better more concise point to make, but it didn’t come through in your post. If you did, please clarify, because I don’t think an attack justifies *any* of this.
Sorry for the short and quick comment. Let me be a bit more clear, now that I have a few seconds.
First, I don’t think America is becoming a Fascist state. That is a very extreme comment. America is still the greatest country in the world. It’s a country where our citizens have great freedoms and blessings.
Had we not been attacked on 9/11 the government wouldn’t have changed it’s policies on “monitoring” phone conversations, prisons, etc. I for one, don’t have a problem with what the gov’t is doing. But the key, I think, is that the gov’t has made all these changes too keep Americans safe. I think the gov’t will ease up on some things, and maybe get even stricter on other things. The key, imo, is that they are doing it for our protection, not so big business can profit. If big business *does* profit, then so what, we’re safer, and somebody profited. I don’t see a problem there.
I hope I’ve cleared up my point a bit more.
Erik
Erik,
Thank you for taking the time to followup.
I think our viewpoints are both valid, but incompatible.
When I see top members of government oversight groups, creating government contracts with key companies than leaving to become the presidents or CEOs of those companies, I have a major problem with those said companies than turn around and post record-breaking profits as I don’t think *any* of it is via legit business methods.
Now, conspiracy-theories aside, assuming the government was completely trustworthy, I think I would actually agree with you.
And that’s where our opinions I believe diverge, I think fundamentally the administration right now is rife with corruption and incestuous relationships that make a handful of people richer than god through back-channel dealings. GIVEN that, I’m not OK with those companies and people getting richer than God.
So I’m really not against profits… it’s just how they are made that is rubbing me raw.
Also checking out the definition of Fascism online is an interesting read… as I said it’s not that horrible Nazi-stereo-typed system that I had in my head… it really is more along the lines of “corporations hold the majority of control over a nation”, and I absolutely think they do right now.
When you look at our health care system alone, the Bush administration handed that to the pharmaceutical companies and said “Come up with a plan that is good for Americans”, and they handed back Medicare Part-D.
Using that same logic, is like walking into a car dealership, handing your checkbook to the sales associate and saying “Buy me something that will make me happy”… you are going to be driving out of there in a Porche 911.
All of that being said, I respect your opinion and unfortunately I think a lot of dialogs in this country can’t even get to that point anymore… people just hate eachother right off the bat if they simply disagree on a subject.
Thanks again for posting. I do like hearing other people’s take on this situation and other issues I post about from time to time.
If you like points number 3 and 4 look up the term Gang Stalking. Ordinary Citizens have been complaining for months and for years about this stuff. They have been written off as paranoid, crazy delusional and now it seems that this is what is behind all of this.
To concerned citizens,
Mr. Jeremy Scahill has wrote books, news articles, testified before UNITED STATES CONGRESS about “BLACKWATE, illegal private army abuse of power and corruption.” Google “Jeremy Scahill and BLACKWATER” and you will find tons of information on the subject.
a. 190,000 private army in Iraq.
b. 40,000 more in U.S. Cities.
c. Private Air Force.
http://www.utne.com : read http://www.utne.com 1/2009 “corporate spook” – former FBI, CIA and other top government officials working in the private “investigative sector”
****************************** Quote from article *************************************
Blackwater launched the Orwellian-named Total Intelligence Solutions in February 2007. The firm is stacked with former high-ranking officials from the FBI and the U.S. State Department, promising clients around the globe, including foreign governments, unprecedented access to power brokers in Washington. “It is not difficult to imagine clients feeling as though they are essentially hiring the U.S. government to serve their own interests,” the Nation reports (June 23, 2008).
By C. J. CHIVERS
Published: September 12, 2008
A whistle-blower who uncovered evidence of public corruption and deceptive practices by contractor in a Pentagon-sponsored arms deal was found dead on a mountain road on Friday.
Look at the timeline between the establishment of BLACKWATER and massive increase in ORGANIZED HARASSMENT GROUP/ AKA GANG STALKING – illegal surveillance, illegal wiretap ( protected by the Patriot Act) and find an almost identical curve.
It is widely believed these groups are working with local private security/detective, abusing community policing program to destroy regular citizens on behalf of their clients.
Destroy the stinking BLACKWATER!!!