Are We On the Path to Civil War?

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CaryP

Senior Member
Messages
1,432
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

Clinton did try to create a dictatorship. In fact he ordered the military to do things like get ready to start confiscating the guns, and enforce the \"lawful\" election of Al Gore. To their credit, the military higher ups told him what to go do with himself. Now, I think that Bush was phase two of the same plan, rather than an adversary of Clinton's.
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Phil,

While I wouldn't be surprised at some plan by Clinton or Bush to "take over" and the military brass declining, what do you base your statement on? Is there something that you can provide a link to? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Cary
 
J

Jesus_Bush

Junior Member
Messages
35
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

I found this interesting..


http://www.rense.com/general37/fascism.htm

The 14 Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
Free Inquiry
Spring 2003
5-11-3

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed
to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
 
M

Mai

Junior Member
Messages
30
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

I find all these developments fascinating. I wonder just how far it would all go before (some of) the American people will decide that enough is enough, and what will be the factor that pushed them into action.

Just the other day I had a long talk with an American friend about the "Idea of America": a country where personal freedom is above everything. I noted that many Americans seem to believe, some more and some less, that any other country besides their own is either a 3rd world country or a dictatorship, and that "freedom" is a uniquely American concept. With this mindset, it becomes extremely easy to manipulate these people into almost anything, by telling them that their "freedom" is as stake. And because many Americans believe that most foreign countries are not as "free" as America, it is easy for them to develop a dislike or outright hatred toward foreigners.

I will appreciate the opinion of any American about this subject.
 
T

Timescholar

Junior Member
Messages
105
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

One thing I thought of (not sure if it's based on fact, or just an 'urban myth'), but there's a saying that "if you go to another country, don't drink the water". Implying the other countries aren't as "clean" and as "well off" as the US is.
 
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pauli

Junior Member
Messages
141
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

Timescholar Posted Yesterday, 07:04 PM
? One thing I thought of (not sure if it's based on fact, or just an 'urban myth'), but there's a saying that \"if you go to another country, don't drink the water\". Implying the other countries aren't as \"clean\" and as \"well off\" as the US is.
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Um, well, Timescholar feel free to go to other countries, specifically the third world ones, and prove this theory wrong if you desire. ;) Personally, I will be drinking the bottled water.
 
M

Mai

Junior Member
Messages
30
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

Originally posted by Timescholar@Dec 19 2004, 12:04 PM
One thing I thought of (not sure if it's based on fact, or just an 'urban myth'), but there's a saying that \"if you go to another country, don't drink the water\". Implying the other countries aren't as \"clean\" and as \"well off\" as the US is.
​
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I've been to Europe (Western and Eastern), the States, Latin America, and Asia, and the only place the water was too dirty to drink was Romania (they had little signs by the tap saying "do not drink", and when you opened the tap, the water that came out was all brown...), and rural China. Any other place I've been to seemed to be able to keep their water pretty clean.
 
D

dancho

Junior Member
Messages
87
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

Originally posted by Timescholar@Dec 18 2004, 09:04 PM
One thing I thought of (not sure if it's based on fact, or just an 'urban myth'), but there's a saying that \"if you go to another country, don't drink the water\". Implying the other countries aren't as \"clean\" and as \"well off\" as the US is.
​
Click to expand...

If you go to another country, it takes time for your body to adjust to a slightly diferent "set" of micro-organisms, which are ALWAYS present in the food and water that we drink (unless we drink sterilized water-- then they are still there, but dead). So, it's possible for a person from Mexico to go to the U.S. and get a mild case of diarrhea from the water, for example.

I'm not trying to say that you can't get hepatitis or something worse from contaminated water in the Third World-- what I'm saying is that a number of things contribute to the creation of "myths" like the one about getting sick if you go to Mexico. I don't think that the people who warn you not to drink the water in Mexico (usually it's Mexico) are trying to "sell" a political agenda. If you want to enjoy your vacation, don't drink the water down there.

Notice how I just referred to Mexico as DOWN there. Isn't that interesting? Actually, the idea that the industrialized countries are at the TOP of the globe and the poor countries are at the BOTTOM has been identified as part of a system of cultural prejudice, which is what you are saying about the third world related hydrophobia that we feel. Is all Mexican water bad? Is Mexico UNDER or BELOW the US because of the maps? Is Mexico a TROPICAL country (tropical="TOO HOT") while the US is a TEMPERATE country (temperate="JUST RIGHT")?

Ethnocentrism and xenophobia are embedded in our culture. We inherited much of it from the British, who were world-class xenophobes.

Much of the world is backward and primitive compared to the United States. On the other hand, most of Europe is technologically, culturally and politically superior to the United States, and they are rapidly pulling away from us. I have been actively planning to emigrate from the U.S. for some time now. See ya! :)
 
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PyRo99

Active Member
Messages
567
Are We On the Path to Civil War?

Me too Dancho. Me and CaryP have already been plotting our escape to Europe before the US can seize us :lol:

I'll probably be in Italy, or France. See you guys in Europe!

Then again, I may stay here, and just create as much fun as possible before I'm taken away to a FEMA camp.

The choices, the choices...
 

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