Sinclair Lewis (no relation to C.S. Lewis) has been misquoted as saying something like "if fascism comes to America it will come wrapped in the flag and whistling 'The Star Spangled Banner.'" Liberals have been repeating it ever since.
Who thought it would come riding on a donkey?
But seriously, the democrats are not fascists, and Lewis' sentiment doesn't apply anymore, since the US populace is no longer as susceptible to patriotic or religious appeals, and thank God for that. Have any two ideals been more abused by politicians? Nowadays, fascism would have to be wrapped in hundred dollar bills, porn, botox and free stuff for all.
Here's a more appropriate quote from a different Lewis:
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive.
It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.
The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-- C.S. Lewis
It's About Ideas--Republicans just happen to be on the right side this time
For three straight days I've attacked Democrats, and this after I proudly told some liberal bloggers I respect that I don't engage in partisan political arguments, I'm about ideas. Well, this is about ideas.
Shall we be free to make our own choices and live our own lives, free even to fail? Or will we allow a nanny state government to infest every last corner of our lives?
Shall we be free to make our own choices and live our own lives, free even to fail? Or will we allow a nanny state government to infest every last corner of our lives?
They are not Nazis
A commenter yesterday obliquely accused me of calling Democrats Nazis, but I'm not doing that at all. Despite the Leni Reifenstahl propaganda and public displays that border on deification of Obama, it is not appropriate. Obama is not Hitler and the Democratic party in no way resembles his horrible ideology.
It's Not Socialism
Obama's coterie includes some socialists and Chairman Mao fans, but they are not implementing socialism or communism either. This despite the cult of personality, the artwork and the iconography. Socialism dictates that the state seize the means of production. They are not doing that.
It's Called STATISM
They are statists. Statism does not advocate seizing the means of production, but rather using the power of the state to manipulate them. This leads to crony capitalism where companies curry favor with a corrupt political class that routinely milks them for money to pay for voter freebees. In return, favored companies are allowed to make money in a rigged market while calling themselves capitalists.
Statism is better known as fascism, but that is a European concept that rightly conjures ugly, murderous thugs. ACORN and SEIU aside, it doesn't fit here, so I prefer to call them statists. And there are plenty in the GOP as well, they just don't have any power right now.
Statism includes:
* Grab the corporations by the throat and challenge them: You're either with the state or you're against us!
* Drastic decrease in strikes--The state is looking after the worker now. Unions are only allowed to march on companies the state has declared evil. The federal government, through a Department of Labor, intimidates uncooperative businesses to get in line
* Central control by the state of everything, from schools, to commerce to public health.
* Manipulation of societal institutions such as church, family and community
Our government bears all of these marks, and it's only getting worse.
I put Soviet hats on Democrats not because I think they are communists, but because they have come to resemble a Soviet Politburo, binding all states together tightly, snuffing all differences and applying top-down, one-size-fits-all solutions that vast majorities do not want.
8 comments:
Good points, but when one steps back and looks at it, Statism (created out of Capitalism) just borrows from Communism, Facism $ Socialism to meet its goals.
I do agree what the current administration resembles Facism the most. People go nuts with that thinking Hitler but a better historical comparison is Mussolini.
Your summation is perfect.
Thanks, Christopher. I believe in calling it what it is, and if we strip it of the inflammatory language and images, we may even get to thinking liberals to see it. Especially if we truthfully include Bush and the Republicans.
This is about the people CS Lewis was talking about.
Do gooders trying to save the world, unfortunately they are trampling the constitution and our liberties to do it, but it's for our own good!
Silver,
Nice post, probably gonna be a lotta comments flying here today.I'm grateful for a chance to put some thoughts together, and get my mind off the anger at this POS health bill for a bit.
My only disagreement with your post (mostly I'm on board) is with the degree of govt control. It's my observation that corporations are more likely to have govt by the throat (thru guys like Paulson/Bernanke/Summers) than the other way around. Or could be I miss your point somewhat, and you infer increased govt influence over them is gradually coming, or is on the rise?
I appreciate you understanding not all us liberals are party line.
Oso: Yes, it is a sick, two-way corporate-government embrace.
Hank Paulson is a perfect example. When the spam hit the fan back in 2008, who got bailed out first? Goldman Sachs, while Bear Stearns went under.
I don't give a crap about any of these gold plated Wall Street outhouses, but you see how government plays favorites depending on whose grimy dickskinners are on the levers of power. Government should not have bailed anyone out.
Oh, where did Dirty Hank come from before joining the Bush gang? Goldman Sachs!
So yes Oso, I agree with you. It is a two way street where the taxpayer gets run over.
As I read your posts and comments I am struck by the amount of comments that say, they are going to, if, they are all about, they are this and that and you seem to want to portray opinion as fact and mostlt the environment around here seems just mad at our government. It seems to me that were you to focus your anger into something productive and a better America and actaully accomplish something you would at the end of the dya feel better and reduce the stress and anger.
Silver
your mention of playing favorites I think is right, and something I've neglected to really consider when I looked at the massive bailout. Kinda forest for the trees.While the govt was concerned with propping up the entire banking industry, they DID make more efforts on the behalf of certain banks,GS like you say. That could be govt exerting it's control over them like you said. Could be GS ante'd up more $ though? Or like you also point out they had and continue to have hella alumni in govt "service".
Yeah Oso, and AIG was way over leveraged with GS money, so they got bailed out as well.
Iahru: I am neither angry nor stressed out. I do find it distressing what our government has become. They have departed from the constitution and are now playing favorites, which ends up pitting groups against one another.
Opinion as fact? I think I run a pretty intellectually honest site here. You need to bring specifics if you're going to level such a charge.
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