Naomi Wolf's Ten Easy Steps to Fascism in America

[liveonearth]

America's fast track to fascism is not a surprise to me anymore, but I am still at a loss as to exactly what to do about it. Our democracy is nearly lost and my best bet is to focus on becoming a doctor? I don't know. I worry, you see. I worry that it will all go to hell in a handbasket before I am ready. But how to get ready? I don't know. How to do what is right and avoid being imprisoned? The fear of government reprisals already limits my freedom.

**It is a mistake to think that early in a fascist shift you see the profile of barbed wire against the sky. In the early days, things look normal on the surface; peasants were celebrating harvest festivals in Calabria in 1922; people were shopping and going to the movies in Berlin in 1931. Early on, as WH Auden put it, the horror is always elsewhere - while someone is being tortured, children are skating, ships are sailing: "dogs go on with their doggy life ... How everything turns away/ Quite leisurely from the disaster."**


the full text is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329789179-110878,00.html
Fascist America, in 10 easy steps
From Hitler to Pinochet and beyond, history shows there are certain steps that any would-be dictator must take to destroy constitutional freedoms. Naomi Wolf argues that George Bush and his administration seem to be taking them all by comparing the actions of the US government in comparison to the Nazis, Pinochet, China and many others.

1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
2. Create a gulag
3. Develop a thug caste
4. Set up an internal surveillance system
5. Harass citizens' groups
6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release
7. Target key individuals
8. Control the press
9. Dissent equals treason
10. Suspend the rule of law

from The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot, to be published by Chelsea Green in September. Dated 4/24/07 in the Guardian.

Comments

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

Yes, the democrats are not stopping the neocons from their takeover. The only politician who gives me hope is Ron Paul, because he would completely cut off government funding of corporations, which is the essence of fascism. There is time to save our country if we elect him. But it would take reclaiming our elections, which we have shown little inclination to do. False elections is another hallmark of fascism that Wolf doesn't mention... But the most insidious is the reluctance of regular citizens to "stick their neck out"...everyone wants to stay under the radar to avoid being on "the list". Understandably so. For those who are not on the list, life can continue comfortably through many years of crisis. It is only conscience that makes some people step forward.

Arbitrary detentions have already started---of every nationality except our own. Now what?

Sorry to bring it up again. It disturbs my sleep too...