Dr. Guy,

I don't think the Germans "fell asleep on the watch" at all. The transition to totalitarianism under Hitler wasn't a gradual, multi-generational sequence of individually innocent events and decisions. Rather, it happened quite suddenly, in under ten years, as the result of a perfect storm of circumstances: Humiliation in war. Humiliation in peace. Ecnomic collapse. Military weakness in a martial culture. A power vacuum brought about by the sudden and artificial abolition of the German monarchy.

And, of course, the timely appearance of a psychotic demagogue willing and able to take the vast fabric of German frustration and despair, weave it together with the age-old tradition of scapegoating the Other (especially the Jews), and tailor to his frame the mantle of dictator.

But this would have to be my Rule 4 (after Rule 3: Death Camps): Real ETDs happen suddenly, with overwhelming acceptance and approval of the people. Or else they happen against the will of the people, but with equal suddenness, by means of a military coup.

An ETD may perpetuate its grip on an increasingly unwilling populace by a series of subtle increases in ETD-ness, but I think that these subtle increases in totalitarianism happen after the initial, sudden popular surge (or military coup).

E.g., Communism, which started with a popular uprising against the aristocracy and then began the long slide into pogroms, gulags, and secret police.

How afraid are you, really, of the current administration? Do you stay up at night worrying that you've done something to offend them, and they're going to come for you in your sleep?

I'm not "afraid" of the current administration so much as I am the possibility of me becoming a victim of the poor law being pushed and perpetuated by "Republicrats".

When I was in the service (Active Army), I was pulled in to a C.I.D. investigation. Simply because some Pvt. had mentioned my name, I was subject to interrogation (they like to refer to it as an "interview", polygraph testing, and a full account of where I'd been, when I'd been, etc. . The experience was incredibly dehumanizing and traumatic. I was threatened with reprimand if I did not give the "correct" answers the Criminal Investigative Dept. was looking for. I stuck to my story and was put on manual labor for six months until I was eventually cleared. After that experience, I vowed I'd never settle for such a situation as that again. Then 9/11 and all the bad legislature with it came. Martial law and totalitarian practices had entered my civilian life.

Now, I discuss and raise awareness about these issues. Do you think they will come for you? The unhinging aspect of the question is that one never knows for certain if they will or not - but if they do, you'll be powerless to do anything about it. Why not stop them in their tracks before they have the chance?

Well , it's been an intersting read.

And I've seen my own country bagged by complete ignorance of it's history. And of germanies history.

But don't think I hate the US , US people I have found to be very very polite and proud , unlike the French (who commited state terrorism against NZ).

I am actually very envious of some of the systems in place. Seperation of powers and actually having a constitution. NZ like Isreal and the UK doesn't have a writtern Constitution. And considering the NZ PM's office exercises almost complete emporers like powers , that fact that a lot of peeps want a republic makes me worry about it getting worse. Currently the armed forces here swear alligence to a queen that has zero control over NZ. And having things like D notices that = no freedom of speech also make pissed off. As for the maori wars they were over a 100 years ago and I can only think of one was in Taranaki commited by some settlers , not the govt.

But because of the NZ way of life here , and that we are a pretty peace loving place , I suspect that has had a positive effect a dodgy govt. / law system. We rarely go to war.

But basicly what really saddens me , by reading here is that some peeps seem to back up a certain party no matter what , instead of being impartial and liking good law and hating bad , no matter what party is currently pushing it.

A prime example is the new voting related laws the Dems are pushing up the hill at the moment. They seem on the face of it to be very pro-democracy , and any democracy loving republican should consider them on principal. But the cynic in me suspects that it has more to do with the Dems internal party politics at the mo. lol

Wondering why I give a shite about politics in another country than my own? It's simple , a more pro-democracy USA means a safer world , on account of the shear amount of power they project on all other countries in the world. More millitary power than the next seven most powerful countries combined and a war or two every presidential term does have the effect of making other countries more concerned large projection of power by democratic countries , than by the same from smaller totalitarian regrimes.

And responses about not giving a shite about some small country need not post. Dig?

Tremendous. I have rarely actually visited a site like this. I have heard they existed, but I was always convinced it was a myth.

What vitrol. I think a better word is projection. Projecting your own worst traits on to others. And then whining like victims. Amazing.

To the point of the article, I will only take one comment, unsupported by any evidence, and then extrapolate. Tell you what...living in a foreign country has made me appreciate America. But for the first time ever, I'm frightened it will not remain that way.


"And, of course, the timely appearance of a psychotic demagogue willing and able to take the vast fabric of German frustration and despair, weave it together with the age-old tradition of scapegoating the Other (especially the Jews), and tailor to his frame the mantle of dictator."

Here's the new version:

And of course, the timely appearance of a psychotic demagogue willing to take the vast fabric of American frustration (angry white men) and despair (unfounded fear), weave it together with the age-old tradition of scapegoating the Other (gays, illegal immigrants, muslims, liberals, ad infinitum), and tailor to his frame the mantle of dictator.

Now, it can be argued we are not there yet....but with manufactured news (propaganda), manufactured threats (terrorists, environmentalists, et al), the near virtual control of all three branches of the Federal government, a lapdog media, and you have the makings of disaster, regardless of which party is in power. You see, Terri Schiavo is not about right to live, right to die, morality or any such notion. It is pure and blatant "judicial activism." How selectively we manage to apply all this. Simply look at all the grandstanding attempts to subvert (ammend) the constitution to aleviate basic rights: marriage ammendments, flag ammendments, ammendments to allow natrualized citizens to become president, etc. All for short term political gain.

And just as soon as they manage to successfully interfere with one family decision like this, sure as shooting they will find other ways to encroach upon our lives. Today it may be your bedroom and your right to decide how and when you will make family medical decisions. Tomorrow...

The sky is the limit. The only glimmer of hope is that the American public is finally stirring from their 9/11 stupor. Only 43% now think that the current dictator in waiting is doing an adequate job. I guess that is a mandate.

DR. Miller--

--I stand corrected....i think i might have meant superpower....oh well {oh and this is an apology coming from a liberal} OMG!

Why rip on NZ for one thing, it is a beautiful country, not a backwater country in the middle of nowhere or whatever it was you said. Second of all, the US is mildly imperialistic, this is a fact. Invading another country and imposing your beliefs of government on them is imperialism, it is what the British did in India, and is what we are doing right now. As far as the US being a TD, maybe not yet, but if it ever came to that point in my lifetime I can tell you I would be leading a revolution. It is true that 50 years ago if someone said I feel like k**ling the president the FBI probably would not show up at their doorstep, because in our country we are supposed to be able to speak our minds without fear of being punished, but since the Patriot Acts was enabled I would be pretty afraid to say anything about violence against the president, no matter how much I don't like him. The american people would not lay down and give up if the government tried to take over, I can assure you that.

Why rip on NZ for one thing, it is a beautiful country, not a backwater country in the middle of nowhere or whatever it was you said. Second of all, the US is mildly imperialistic, this is a fact. Invading another country and imposing your beliefs of government on them is imperialism, it is what the British did in India, and is what we are doing right now. As far as the US being a TD, maybe not yet, but if it ever came to that point in my lifetime I can tell you I would be leading a revolution. It is true that 50 years ago if someone said I feel like k**ling the president the FBI probably would not show up at their doorstep, because in our country we are supposed to be able to speak our minds without fear of being punished, but since the Patriot Acts was enabled I would be pretty afraid to say anything about violence against the president, no matter how much I don't like him. The american people would not lay down and give up if the government tried to take over, I can assure you that.

sorry bout the double post i must have lagged

ElindelWolf,

If in your opinion, the US is an empire, then what you're really saying is, you have no clue what an empire is.

I could say "Even though the US is not a ham sandwich in the manner of a sandwich from the deli, in my opinion its still a ham sandwich" and it would be just as accurate, and valid, as your statement.

I see you guys have forgotten to add the 3rd and most obvious sign of a TD.

Perhaps.

And that is killing poeple in other countries.

Good point.

Since WW2 , just how many millions has it been?

Well, Saddam killed about one million Iranians, I think. But most dictators kill mostly their own people, because that is legal under international law.

Who was the last US Pres NOT to go to war against someone? Carter?

Try William J. Clinton (Somalia, Desert Storm, etc....)

Why rip on NZ for one thing, it is a beautiful country, not a backwater country in the middle of nowhere or whatever it was you said. Second of all, the US is mildly imperialistic, this is a fact. Invading another country and imposing your beliefs of government on them is imperialism, it is what the British did in India,

You should go back and re-read your history. The British did faaaaaar more to India than that. India was considered "part" of Britian (British colony). In what way is Iraq "part" of the US?