Talk:Rapid Response

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--Tunesmith 18:37, 4 Aug 2004 (PDT) This discussion in Tunesmith's diary is what led to this page's link from the front page.

2006-08-29 "Fascism"

For What It's Worth

Strategic points of thought in attacking the the new NeoCon/SocioCon buzz word/talking point: Fascism. The following are not snappy talking point/bumper sticker responses, but research and ideas that may form an underpinning for their creation.

Consider the Merriam-Webster #1 definition of Fascism itself: "...a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition"

1. ...exalting nation above individual [race is a little more tricky to address]... Consider many effects of the Patriot Act, domestic spying by monitoring almost all web traffic and possible domestic phone taps with absolutely no administration-independent oversight. Responsive Benjamin Franklin quote: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

2. ...a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader... George W. Bush, a rubber-stamp Republican dominated Congress, and a hard-right leaning Supreme Court whose new leaders favor the supremacy of the Executive Branch. Bush's "I am the decider" statement strongly suggests "one who dictates actions," i.e., a dictator.

3. ...severe economic [1] and social regimentation [2]... [1] Tax cuts that primarily favor the rich while spending billions on a needless war that pulls our attention away from those who attacked us -- a severe and flawed approach; [2] Rumsfeld flatly states the concept that if an individual critcizes administration policy or asserts personal accountability for administration officials are "appeasing the fascists," i.e., there can only be one approach, one set of actions, one concept in fighting those who wish to do us harm. That, by itself, is a classic definition of regimentation.

4. ...forcible suppression of opposition... Rumsfeld's thoughts do not quite reach the level of focible suppression. However, the administration asserts the rights of ignoring oversight laws in spying on what people in this country are saying and, simultaneously, hold the ultimate power to declare those who oppose administration policy as compromising US security, and can capture and detain any individual in places like Gitmo "until the war on terror is resolved" [read that: potentially forever] without so much as charging them with having commited a specific crime. We have not gotten there yet, but the foundations are being put in place for that eventuality.

Bottom line: As Goldwater Conservative John Dean asserts in his recent book "Conservatives Without Conscience," what is happening under the Authoritarian regime in D.C. is creating a nascent version of fascim. The only fascistic group being appeased may be those "deciders" within the boundaries of Washington D.C., and the first steps in stopping that appeasement must be taken this fall.

2009 11-11-2009 "Tea Party" stuff, Republicans

Judging from the Gallup and other polls, it's time for people to get back to work and look for good news and good things happening in America, and to start up a heavier effort targeting both Democrats and Republicans. (Yeah, Republicans. If both parties are going to sit around and do the same thing, which is nothing, then we might as well target both parties and see what each party likes about progressivism and what each party doesn't like about it.) Talking points, anyone? Ideas, anyone? Rickyrab 19:26, 12 November 2009 (EST)