Gibson writes: "It is no longer extreme to say we now live in a fascist police state. Thanks to the Patriot Act, the SCOTUS' Citizens United decision, and a complacent electorate, our First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly now only exist on paper. In Tienanmen Square, the Chinese government also censored the press and violently cracked down on peaceful protesters. All that's missing here are the tanks."
A scene from director Michael Radford's version of Orwell's classic novel - 1984. (photo: MGM Studios Inc.)
America Has Become a Fascist Police State
26 November 11
Reader Supported News | Perspective
eorge Orwell's "1984" wasn't meant to be an instruction manual.
One word that emerged from the novel was the word "doublespeak," where truth is deliberately obfuscated through clever wording. In some cases, the meaning of a word is reversed entirely. Oceania, the totalitarian regime in Orwell's book, used doublespeak as a matter of course. The Ministry of Truth specialized in propaganda. The Ministry of Love was a secretive torture complex.
In the early years of public school, or in public addresses by politicians, America is touted as the Land of the Free, or the Land of Opportunity, or the Greatest Country on Earth. We're taught from near-infancy that this country was founded on the right to say what you want, whenever, wherever, to whomever. We're told we have the freedom to assemble peacefully, to petition our leaders for a redress of grievances. We're taught that if you're apprehended by the law, you have the right to a fair trial and legal representation.
Yet, today we live in a country where government aids the corporate takeover of elections. Here, banks who fraudulently took Americans' homes for profit can get bailed out by the taxpayers, and use the money to pay themselves 12-figure bonuses. This is a country where even US citizens can be detained without due process, tortured, and even assassinated overseas.
Today, in the Land of the Free, nonviolent political protesters using their First Amendment rights to speak out against all of the above can be beaten, tasered, and maced by heavily-militarized police forces, using military-grade equipment, without any provocation.
- Students sitting down in the quad at UC Davis were covered with military-grade pepper spray, before cops in riot gear knelt on them and sprayed indiscriminately down student's throats according to Professor Nathan Brown of UC Davis.
- At UC Berkeley, Robert Hass, a former poet laureate, was clubbed by police while nonviolently protesting with students.
- In Seattle, cops clad in riot gear pepper-sprayed an 84-year-old woman and an expectant mother.
- In Oakland, veterans who served overseas to allegedly protect the rights we hold dear come home and get aggressively beaten without warning, and shot in the face with tear-gas canisters. Oakland police even threw a flash-bang grenade at people rushing to give medical attention to the wounded vet.
The recent Black Friday mobs of consumers pitching tents in parking lots and rioting over $2 waffle irons were met with silence from the police. Yet, 10 people speaking out in a Wal-Mart about the company's CEO making $19,000 per hour while his employees are forced to work on a holiday for less than poverty-level wages apparently provokes police to tackle and arrest the citizens nonviolently encouraging shoppers to buy local. In today's America we can Occupy for Capitalism, but not for Democracy.
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan has openly admitted that the recent police crackdowns on Occupy Wall Street solidarity encampments were the result of careful coordination between mayors on a series of conference calls. There are also reports that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI gave advice on the crackdowns, encouraging municipalities to deploy large numbers of police, equip them with riot gear, and break up encampments when the media were least likely to be present. Reports from New York allege that reporters were asked to raise their hand if they had press credentials, before being penned in an area far from the protests. Those trying to get through were arrested, and told that it was illegal to "take pictures on the sidewalk."
It is no longer extreme to say we now live in a fascist police state. Thanks to the Patriot Act, the SCOTUS' Citizens United decision, and a complacent electorate, our First Amendment rights of free speech and free assembly now only exist on paper. In Tienanmen Square, the Chinese government also censored the press and violently cracked down on peaceful protesters. All that's missing here are the tanks.
Mussolini said, "Fascism should be more accurately called corporatism, because it is a merger of state and corporate power." It is Orwellian doublespeak to call this country "free" while freedom is actively suppressed with aid from a corporate-owned government. The people are not free if their leaders are actively making war with them.
Carl Gibson, 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, is a spokesman and organizer for US Uncut, a nonviolent, creative direct-action movement to stop budget cuts by getting corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism before starting the first US Uncut group in Jackson, Mississippi, in February of 2011. Since then, over 20,000 US Uncut activists have carried out more than 300 actions in over 100 cities nationwide. You may contact Carl at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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SHAME ON YOU!!!
Look up the definition of "Fascism" and you will then know what is happening here.
Thanks in advance for your lead.
We should clearly see that our system is fatally flawed and move to replace it.
This has been going on FOREVER by the US all over the world. We just got thrown out of the Shamsi air strip for our role in the NATO air strike that killed 25 Pakistani's, unprovoked!
The bigger deal is that the US have been doing this sort of thing here in the face of non-violent disruption recently; we've been a fascist State for a long, long time.
Carl's right: "all that's missing are the tanks" on our soil and I fully expect that to happen.
N.
NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN !!
They don't care about the citizens at all, it's all about the big corps and big money to them. We can die in the streets for all they care.
We tossed King George out in 1776 for the exact same offense.
If the passivity continues, America will be completely overtaken by the worst elements in our country. This has been developing and being implemented by the right since the '70's.
Its construction followed a long, private phone conversation she held outside with someone.
I questioned her after discovering and disassembling it. She assured me it was a "mistake." Clearly, someone prompted her, and I'm rather sure it was to send me a message about some of the things coming from my keyboard the last couple months.
I guess I've graduated.
Check out "Crossing the Rubicon"(had/ha s site called fromthewilderness.com)
I am becoming more cautious, dammit!
We cannot let em pick us off individually, if we can help it.
Best wishes and keep the faith !
Imperial militaristic power destroying the World - hated.
Not an optimistic outlook for young generation.
It is up to ua, the 99% -- it is our job to bring in the Change we can believe in. We must evolve our consciousness beyond the self-survival 'fight/flight' instinctive level. That is legitimate for the physical survival of animals but it is not appropriate for humans to use as an ezxuse for war on behalf of our 'beliefs'.
the consvioudnrdd of human beings must rise to the level of compassion. Eac one of us must live for the good of the whole.
took population ecology - and most of the animals cooperate for survival. There is NOTHING instinctive to human greed and annihilation of others to make PROFIT.
It is Money Culture/Nationalism/System.
History (if we survive) should judge this period more harshly than the Hitler Nazism.
it would be difficult to imagine that neither Dennis Kucinich nor Barbara Lee have spoken out against this ... they probably have, but the MSM won't tell us so ...
http://thehill.com/video/house/185749-kucinich-occupy-wall-street-finally-getting-the-attention-of-the-nation
------------------------------------
Rep. Barbara Lee: "I shared my outrage and grave concern about the police brutality in Oakland directly with the mayor. My thoughts go out to the injured and especially Scott Olsen . I strongly support the Occupy movement and continue to stand with the peaceful protesters in this struggle for economic justice and equality."
This is a vile country, and the Foxes, in more ways then one, are in the chicken coop. Horrifying!!
You prove just how pervasive ignorance is in this country.
K. Harris, with Jeb (Fla Gov)Bush's knowledge had a "felon" caging list that stopped at least 57,000 black, democratic voters(Broward County)who were legally registered from voting. Because SCOTUS stopped the recount, Bush won Florida by 534 votes...giving him the presidency.
As far as I'm concerned, K. harris, J. Bush, G.W. Bush and 5 members of the U.S. supreme court, along with other miscreants, all committed treason.
Read: The Betrayal of America by Vincent Bugliosi.
I'll say my definition of stupidity once again - it is the self-imposition of ignorance...the greatest threat to democracy and the political health of our country!
Your analogy could not be more apt, mwd870. It happened because most of the country has been asleep since the takeover began in 1980. We are now waking up to a "bad dream that turns out to be true".
Not quite! Banks got bailed out by representatives elected taxpayers who chose to vote on a given day. That's a problem with representative democracy that could in fact be resolved by universal referenda on key issues, which digital technology and telecom have made possible. The one hurdle left thereafter is the software for voting and vote-counting that, for some reason, America can't get right but more primitive democracies, such as India, can. The US need not be allowed to go wholly fascist and getting alarmist might cause more apathy and less participation.
"But there are Public defenders!" you say ? OK - but be aware that most - if not all - of America's condemned prisoners on death rows were defended by overworked, underpaid and understaffed Public Defenders. On the other hand, prosperous well connected, true criminals who can afford top lawyers are rarely questioned seriously and seldom, if ever, indicted.
Everything always comes down to "money" (which is synonymous with "power"). Consequently, through Citizens United and the Too Big To Fail FUBAR, Fat Corporate America - aided dy their cyphers in Congress & the Administration - can - and do - loot the American Treasury and WE THE PEOPLE with naked impunity.
Is this not what OWS is all aout?
Yes, that is what OWS is all about.
"Everything always comes down to "money" (which is synonymous with "power"). Consequently, through Citizens United and the Too Big To Fail FUBAR, Fat Corporate America - aided dy their cyphers in Congress & the Administration - can - and do - loot the American Treasury and WE THE PEOPLE with naked impunity."
This is the status quo that makes me angrier than every other issue threatening the well-being of our country. OWS deserves so much credit.
Actually, there be tanks here, too, Carl. In Tampa http://twitpic.com/7fnsos and Georgia http://www.shtfplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/policetank2.jpg
Plus LRADs http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/328-121/8476-introducing-the-lrad-sound-cannon
Land of the Fried and Home of the Bruised. Let freedom wring!
YES - it is not our team (Democrats) against the others (Republicans) Sunday game.
This is the present Money Culture System that is destroying the country and the World.
We need to get out of our cubicles into the rain.
I believe that Militarism (1.3 trillion/year)- US killing in the Afghanistan and Middle East, Africa is much more dangerous. We did not learn from 911 what bombing does.
So, let's have a show of hands: Who in America really wants to live under a totalitarian fascist government?
No one? Then why are we trying so hard to achieve it? Remember, we're all working together at this, whether we like it or not. Because we're abiding by laws, that we're electing officials to change. Yet no one wants to claim responsibility for anything that doesn't sound good. While everyone keeps claiming that they're fighting against things that are bad!
So, why is it that the sum total effect of all this goodness is turning out bad? I don't understand, should we be fighting for badness? Would that make things good again? Oh wait, now I see it, it's this imprecise usage of words that is causing the confusion, problems and troubles.
Therefore, what we need is clearer interpretations of what is being said. Once people understand that, the liars can "drop dead"!
Oh dear, here goes old reactionary shill Eagle again. People like you remind me of Ghandi's statement when asked what he though of western civilization, to which he replied "I think it would be a very good idea!". Just as applicable today as it was then.
More seasonably "Are there no prisons, are there more workhouses?". (Which was turned against Scrooge in re-quoting him by the Ghost of Christmas present later in the story). "Isolated incidents" -bah-humbug!
They'll "come for you" eventually too y'know, no matter how much of a head-in-the-san d conformist you appear and declare yourself to be.
Any more false quotes for us today, as you have trotted out in the past?
I HEREWITH CHALLENGE YOU TO PROVIDE ANY VERIFIABLE REPORT OF LAWLESSNESS AND VANDALISM. POST IT DIRECTLY BELOW AS A REPLY. I'LL TAKE EVEN ONE INSTANCE. I HAVE PERSONALLY SPENT HOURS RESEARCHING EVERY SINGLE REPORT OF SUCH DISTURBANCES THAT HAS APPEARED ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN, AND - UNIFORMLY - THE REPORTS ARE ISOLATED AND ANECDOTAL. ANY TRUE ACT OF CONFIRMED DRUG ABUSE, RAPE, VANDALISM OR VIOLENT ACTIONS COMMITTED BY OWS PROTESTORS WILL HAVE MOST CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION - TO ALL HELL AND BACK - BY FOX NEWS, LIMP-BAUGH (sic) AND CO.
In your defense, all large cities & towns have their share of homeless, wackos, psychopaths, druggies, etc. These street people are naturally attracted to large gatherings and especially to free food and possible shelter. These people ARE NOT OWS participants, but they have the same right to gather as we do. The problem is, of course, that their antics and crimes are immediately attributed (as a right-wing default) to the peaceful, committed OWS demonstrators.
As for "Isolated incidents" of police brutality: even one case is inexcusable. Unwarranted bullying and brutality by our police is anathema, and refusal to obey illegal or improper police orders instantly is what "Peaceful Demonstration" is all about!
So Robt Eagle, Fox news is not a source for facts.
http://readersupportednews.org/pm-section/256-justice/4820-is-it-fascism-yet
Insert any names of your choosing for Moses or Aaron. What exactly have the citizens of the U.S. done? Or the citizens of the many countries now suffering punishment?
Citizens must decide where to go from here. Make no mistake, however, the tanks are lurking just outside the firelight.
One easy answer: We went to sleep.
If it be true that the U.S. government and those they truly represent have been building toward this, how would you have proposed it be stopped? Of course, this was coming, and yes, we did warn of it 50 years ago. Folks were doing good in the interim, however, so why would they fight against something they knew nothing of? That is all citizens on this planet want: to live their lives and raise their families and be creative.
Don't blame citizens for being "asleep".
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." -- Wendell Phillips, (1811-1884), abolitionist, orator and columnist for The Liberator, in a speech before the Massachusetts Antislavery Society in 1852,.."
We need to be WIDE awake, not just awake. I don't think the totalitarian takeover of this country was hard to detect.
I wrote a paper years ago recommending U.S. government revision due to increases in population numbers, the geographical size of the country, etc., knowing it was not going to happen. Even then, though, nobody knew just how bad it would get or that the country would become much bigger than a true democracy was meant for.
California, where I live, was THE place to be. Great schools, and wealth all around. I think Reagan was the one who started the decline. To save money he closed the mental hospitals and let the poor sick people out into the street
That man has a lot on his conscience.How interesting that he basically lost his mind. I wonder if it was payback, by whoever is in charge.
My poor state is in so much trouble. The schools are in bad shape and so many people have lost not just their homes but also hope about the future.
I lived in California when Reagan came in and was astounded at the corruption and illegal activities. Changing the welfare system caused thousands of dollars in new stationary, forms, and all the rest, then the feds called Reagan on it and all had to be changed again. Reagan was ruthless in dealing with students, and yes, he ruined the economy and the school system. Also, he was one of the worst presidents this country has ever had.
California was once an amazing place, just as Oregon and Washington. I suppose it was inevitable that a paradise would be corrupted. During the sixties and probably afterward, there were are many as 3,000 people moving into the Bay Area alone. I heard at least two ex-governors of other states warn the country that as California goes, so goes the country. They were right.
In addition, I don't see people as "asleep". The people have been brainwashed to believe the government represents us (the people)and the "my country right or wrong" sort of mentality with the incorrect belief that our government would protect its people.
Face it, less than 50% of the population votes, which means our representation if based on less than 25% of its population. We have grown complacent and we are now suffering from that very same. We have NOT been watchful of what our representatives do and how they act. We have believed the lies, or settled for the "lesser of two evils" in most circumstances.
Someone that is NOT of wealth would have little or no chance for running for a high political office without an enormous financial support of an enormous amount of people.
There are so many things antiquated about our system, that benefit the 1%, that need to be changed for the benefit of the 99%.
instead of the 19th century fear of 'tyranny of the majority', we have moved to 'tyranny of the minority' in the form of the corporations and the tea-baggers; John C. Calhoun is spinning in his grave...
Yes I agree and the Imperial Nixon White House really got it moving. Watergate was a set back...but while dirty politics has been with us since the first election (Note the low number of votes for Adams and how that was worked in private by Hamilton)...thi s move towards a facist state...and then starting with Reagan it has been a movement of the corporate right.
V.M.Mohanraj
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language..
Noun (1972, 1981 editions) Fascism 1. A philosophy or system of government that advocates or exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with an ideology of belligerent nationalism. 4 basic elements occurred right in front of our noses (but but the accompanying stench of fascism went largely undetected by the powers that be:
1) merging of state and business leadership; (2) extreme right wing ideology ruled; (3) attempted dictatorship under the SCOTUS-sanction ed Unitary Executive theory; (4) belligerent nationalism--se lf-evident in the jingoism and warmongering that went on. Okay, we know what it is--stamp it out by handling each point. And that's what OWS in doing, starting with breaking the links between The Corporation and government. More to come..
Class warfare is as old as history; hell, if it were not for Class warfare we would never have become the United States.
Religious and political liars have been spewing hate and discontent from generation to generation, all the time these little devils are seeking wealth; being the biggest benefactors from the crap they spread.
We have the right wing religion teaching that anyone, who gives to their god will get up to 100 X’s back; and that is the fastest growing number of worshipers of wealth around.
God’s view of wealth:
KJV 1st Timothy 6: 9-11
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
We The People need to demand that those in Congress roll back the Patriot's Act...
We The People need to demand that Homeland Security be abolished.
We The People need representative that view themselve in the serrvice to America and We The People first and foremost: Not thier party or corporations.
Michael Parenti, Howard Zinn, Chomsky and other's books, broadcasts on "Alternative" media and lectures at more enlightened venues and colleges, have been pointing at this tendency in the U.S.A. (as I perceived after a year or two of living here) for a long time but who in the mainstream will even give them air time or what's left of print space?
This is why only critical mass such as OWS will work; "They" can't kill, torture and intimidate all of us; it now needs to congeal into a tighter, goal-oriented rolling, solid ball!
Agree - aka Fatherland Security and Geheime Staatspolizei, "Secret State Police"
http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizens-battlefield-they-define-being/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army
Benjamin Franklin
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