One More Sign Our Government Is Moving Towards Fascism

In the spring of 2003 Dr. Lawrence Britt, a noted political scientist, published an article which the blogosphere found astoundingly compelling. He studied historical fascist governments such as Germany (under Hitler), Italy (under Mussolini), Spain (under Franco), and several others, and published his findings of 14 characteristics of fascism.

If you haven't read this article I stongly urge you to take a few minutes to do so. It is an absolute must, because it clearly shows how the United States government, in the 21st century, under neo-conservative, Republican rule, is certainly moving in a fascist direction.

At this point I'd like to draw your attention to item #6 on his list:

A controlled mass media.
Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses

Over the past several weeks we've learned of two stories which I find utterly and completely dispicable, and very reminiscent of Dr. Britt's fascism point #6. First we learned that the NSA is spying on domestic news organizations to find out who's leaking to them. Then, we learned that Attorney General Alberto Gonzalas (I love how Rachael Maddow refers to him as "The Torture Guy") has threatened to prosecute media individuals and organizations who leak (i.e. 'Report') on the illegal activities of the NSA.

As Randi Rhodes would say... "This is just amazing to me". Make no mistake, Ladies & Gentlemen... the Bush regime....er.. Administration, in their evil attempt to 'shoot the messenger', have gone on the offensive to suppress the publication of, and effectively the public's knowledge of, their illegal activities. We live in a fascist state!


A Message to the Right Wingers

Here's a message to all you right-wingnuts out there who are now calling me a Michael-Moore-loving-liberal. No one has said that the National Security Agency should not be able to conduct surviellence in order to protect America from terrorists. It's about Oversight. It's about checks and balances in our government and our society. Listening to people's conversations, without their knowledge, is a clear-cut invasion of privacy and a violation of the United States Constitution. NO ONE, not even the President of the United States, is entitled to violate these laws without judicial and/or congressional oversight. All we're saying is GET A WARRANT, so that at least one judge knows who you're wiretapping.


The President not only continues to violate the Constitution (he swore to protect & defend), he tries to suppress the leaking of these violations by intimidating the press. I can just see those National Guards troops goose-stepping their way to the Mexican border.