I want to repeat a story told by Robert Reich.  It is a long excerpt from a post of his, for which I hope I can be forgiven:

"Yesterday I spoke with a former Republican member of Congress whom I’ve known for years.Me: What do you think of your party’s nominee for president?He: Trump is a maniac. He’s a clear and present danger to America.Me: Have you said publicly that you won’t vote for him?He (sheepishly): No.Me: Why not?He: I’m a coward.Me: What do you mean?He: I live in a state with a lot of Trump voters. Most Republican officials do.Me: But you’re a former official. You're not running for Congress again. What are you afraid of?He: I hate to admit it, but I’m afraid of them. Some of those Trumpistas are out of their fu*king minds.Me: You mean you’re afraid for your own physical safety?He: All it takes is one of them, you know.Me: Wait a minute. Isn’t this how dictators and fascists have come to power in other nations? Respected leaders don’t dare take stand.He: At least I’m no Giuliani or Gingrich or Pence. I’m not a Trump enabler.Me: I’ll give you that.He: Let me tell you something. Most current and former Republican members of Congress are exactly like me. I talk with them. They think Trump is deplorable. And they think Giuliani and Gingrich are almost as bad. But they’re not gonna speak out. Some don’t want to end their political careers. Most don’t want to risk their lives. The Trump crowd is just too dangerous. Trump has whipped them up into a g*ddamn frenzy."




There it is, folks- Fascism.  That's how it comes to a country- threats and intimidation toward anyone who dares to speak out.  And we are right on the edge of it now, regardless of whether or not Trump seizes the Presidency.  Writers like me have been trying to get people to see it coming for years, but all the "responsible," mainstream news sources have simply ignored, or actively collaborated with it.  There is absolutely no reason to believe that American democracy is not on its deathbed today.  One way or another, barring a miracle,  people who hate democracy and who hate the very idea of rights for anyone else, are going to take total control of the country within a few years, elections be damned.

Comments

Marc said…
Saw it with W, and the Dixie Chicks. The fawning over the "You're with us, or against us" rhetoric. The trashing of decorated vets by those who couldn't be bothered to serve. The fluster cluck I was involved in in the first decade of this century, and all the (made in China) magnets declaring "Support our Troops!"
October 29, 2016 at 1:21 AM
Green Eagle said…
The Dixie Chicks was vicious abuse. This is the use of threats to force government officials to do the bidding of an insurgent campaign. This is the point where anyone who has read of the behavior of the SA in the late twenties and early thirties, has to see frightening similarities.
October 29, 2016 at 10:36 AM
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