The Developing Storm

[mpohl 1]

Fascism in America won't come with jackboots, book burnings, mass rallies, and fevered harangues, nor will it come with black helicopters or tanks on the street. It won't come like a storm--but as a break in the weather, that sudden change of season you might feel when the wind shifts on an October evening: Everything is the same, but everything has changed. Something has gone, departed from the world, and a new reality will have taken its place. All the old forms will still be there: legislatures, elections, campaigns--plenty of bread and circuses. But "consent of the governed" will no longer apply; actual control of the state will have passed to a small and privileged group who rule for the benefit of their wealthy peers and corporate patrons.

To be sure, there will be factional conflicts among the elite, and a degree of debate will be permitted; but no one outside the privileged circle will be allowed to influence state policy. Dissidents will be marginalized--usually by "the people" themselves. Deprived of historical knowledge by a thoroughly impoverished educational system designed to produce complacent consumers, left ignorant of current events by a corporate media devoted solely to profit, many will internalize the force-fed values of the ruling elite, and act accordingly. There will be little need for overt methods of control.

The rulers will act in secret, for reasons of "national security," and the people will not be permitted to know what goes on in their name. Actions once unthinkable will be accepted as routine: government by executive fiat, state murder of "enemies" selected by the leader, undeclared wars, torture, mass detentions without charge, the looting of the national treasury, the creation of huge new "security structures" targeted at the populace. In time, this will be seen as "normal," as the chill of autumn feels normal when summer is gone. It will all seem normal.

--Chris Floyd, November 10, 2001

[Lefty 0]

/emo

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin

[Rookie120 0]

Who are you and whats your point here?

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[narcimund 0]

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Fascism in America won't come with jackboots

All the future tense makes people feel safer but this has already come to pass. It's over, man. It's over. Save yourselves.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[mpohl 1]

Who I am is unimportant. THINK!

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Who are you and whats your point here?

[Michele 1]

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Who I am is unimportant.

Why does your profile list 12 posts, but only three show up?

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THINK

O.K.

I think you might be trolling...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Who are you and whats your point here?

Who cares!

[narcimund 0]

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Dissidents will be marginalized--usually by "the people" themselves.

Behold.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Rookie120 0]

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Who I am is unimportant. THINK!

I am thinking, and I think your full of shit!

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[skydyvr 0]

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I am thinking, and I think your full of shit!

. . =(_8^(1)

[skydyvr 0]

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--Chris Floyd, November 10, 2001

Blah. Ben Franklin also warned of Facism, as have others throughout US history.

It isn't here. It's not going to be here.

. . =(_8^(1)

[purnell 0]

THINK

You mean, like simply quoting someone?

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Who I am is unimportant. THINK!

I am thinking, and I think your full of shit!

I'm thinking this might be a relative of Hairyjuan's.

[lawrocket 3]

I don't like what's going on. But I also don't equate it to fascism.

Here's a bit of advice to you marginalized dissidents - if you want to be taken more seriously to fit into and wake up the mainstream, just say, "I don't like it. Here
s why." Don't say, "It's fascism, right-wing conspiracy fourth Reich blah!!!"

While marginalized dissidents tend to be reactionary to vitriolic puffery, most of us just say, "What's your point?"

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Rookie120 0]

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While marginalized dissidents tend to be reactionary to vitriolic puffery, most of us just say, "What's your point?"

You say a lot of the things I want to but you do it with a lot more class. Thank you.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[Gravitymaster 0]

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I don't like what's going on. But I also don't equate it to fascism.

Here's a bit of advice to you marginalized dissidents - if you want to be taken more seriously to fit into and wake up the mainstream, just say, "I don't like it. Here
s why." Don't say, "It's fascism, right-wing conspiracy fourth Reich blah!!!"

While marginalized dissidents tend to be reactionary to vitriolic puffery, most of us just say, "What's your point?"

But in this case there was no opinion by the OP. Just a "Hey, I read this and this on the internet."

[shropshire 0]

From the responses that you've received thus far... (no debate, no questioing of content... just attacks) ... I guess it's too late

.





When they find out where the quote came from.. it will be a done deal

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Gravitymaster 0]

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From the responses that you've received thus far... (no debate, no questioing of content... just attacks) ... I guess it's too late

.

Not surprising considering the only response from the OP has been "Think".

Not exactly the stuff good debates are made of.

[skydyvr 0]

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From the responses that you've received thus far... (no debate, no questioing of content... just attacks) ... I guess it's too late

I rendered a small point of debate, and made no attacks. You can't yet say the same.

. . =(_8^(1)

[Rookie120 0]

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Not exactly the stuff good debates are made of.

Yeah, but it's fun to make fun of him/her

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

[shropshire 0]

Personally, I think that it was a good mechanism for starting a debate.... I dont happen to entirely agree with the content of the quote... but it is thought prevoking.
As the original poster said.. it doesn't matter who he/she is (like the rest of us) and as per the forum rules... question the content not the poster.

What was the most offensive part of the quoted essay? The fact that it questioned America? - come on... you guys must be bigger than that by now. I read past that and saw a well written article that raises more qesutions than it answers...

By the way. Good morning everyone.
Regards,

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[lawrocket 3]

I didnt' find it offensive. I just tended to believe the "point" was a generally unsupported statement about "fascism."

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Gravitymaster 0]

A cut and paste rant isn't a good mechanism for debate when it isn't followed up by an opinion by the OP. I didn't really find anything offensive. I saw it as the usual 12 post wonder ranting on about how horrible America is, but unwilling to venture beyond "Think" in supporting what he posted. Usually posts that start off like that with no further input from the OP end up decaying into other poster cajoling the OP to defend his cut and paste post.

Do you know who Chris Floyd is? The usual "Zarqawi was invented by Bush" crap slinger.

[shropshire 0]

and you're probably correct - the current situation in both our countries does not look like fascism by a long shot, but we do see what appears to be new levels of control that have hitherto not been seen. Acts performed in our names that some of us are not happy with, whilst other dont mind.... hence the debate.

I would like the original poster to come forward now and set out his/her store and provide their insight....
.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[shropshire 0]

I agree. There should be a follow up... but the opening post is not without precidense on this forum.

I didn't know who Floyd was , unitill I googled. But I still think that the piece was thought prevoking (correct spelling this time).

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome