Friday, October 25, 2024

Been there, done it: This why I take fascism and dictatorships so seriously

 This is why I am attacking Trump for planning and promising to become a fascist-like dictator and why I am so alarmed that so many do not care. It is personal to me. I have been there and done that. What became history to my children and grandchildren were current events to me. I was born in 1938 and have vivid memories of World War II . Even in my 6 and 7-year-old brain, I knew what enemies of America looked like and., and if we did not beat the Nazis, I experienced the fear my parents felt we would be governed by the evil fascists. We didn't know about Auschwitz yet.. As a 20-year-old, I spent my college junior year in rubble-emerging, war-devastated, pre-wall Berlin, and I had a first-row seat to how Communist dictators consolidated their power in the East Zone they controlled. It was in Berlin I met my husband-to-be of 52 years, who was planning to be a refugee from the communist dictatorship of Yugoslavia. He succeeded, even when threatened by foreign agents. I know how it works firsthand in both communist and fascist dictatorships; how individual liberties are destroyed, from the lost choices of a future profession., the fear of saying aloud what you really thought, the inability to break out of the restraints of mind-controlling propagandized media, the corruption such systems foster and how everyday life is controlled. To see America thinking about becoming a fascist dictatorship under the leadership of Donald Trump, one who tried to be one when he was president, and now is so open about becoming one in practice (if until recently not openly called one), is a bookend to my life that horrifies me. Those younger than me do not have a clue of the dangers and the loss of so many freedoms of what they wish. It is an irony of my life that I was born in the times of fascism and could die in the times of fascism and that I was so fortunate to live in American democracy in the years in between.

For those who object to Trump being tagged as a fascist, as those who knew him best call him "fascist to the core" and "he fits the definition", here are the definitions and reasons for not only my agreement but for raising the issue on this site for several years: Argue with me if you will. MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Gen.Milley and Gen.Kelly aren't kidding " Trump's a fascist updated 10/25/24

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In response to a comment on my Facebook posting, Iwas asked "why you attack Trump if you do not provide what the other side would do better. If you don't do that, you have lost the argument."

 Harris has the best answer: "Trump has an enemies list; I have a to-do list."

 Here is my response: What is this argument about? What good is anyone's position on public policy issues when its fate is made moot by a fascist system with the rule of an autocrat? Fascism v democracy is the fundamental question: how those issues get determined and enacted. All public policy issues are determined by the system and who controls the system: an autocrat or the voters. What Harris would do to democracy is keep it as a system that gives voters control over public policies through the ballot. That is it. Simple. What Trump would do is attempt to set up a fascist dictatorship. Essentially, the difference is Trump wants to end democracy as we have known it and replace it with a fascist system, and Harris is for no change. So far as public policy issues are concerned, that is a separate debate topic that has been fully discussed in my blog. Public policy issues concern government policy on immigration, abortion, tariffs, taxation, civil rights, inflation,  grocery and housing prices, etc. 

In another response through private channels, the responder said that he would not post on FB because he had gotten threats and did not want to deal with the drama. I understand all too well. That is the way dictators, both fascists and communists, work.  Imagine a whole country like that, as I personally witnessed in Yugoslavia. Ordinary people concerned about their own safety or the next promotion just keep their heads down, mouths shut, and be able to parrot back the dear leader's own most up-to-date opinions. There are those all around who have big ears and who are willing to squeal to their upstream handlers. It is already happening in 2024, with Trump running a campaign of fear and retribution promised if he is re-elected.  I wonder if there are hidden Harris votes that are not being honest with pollsters or refusing to even be polled.  They are not cowards; they are in survival and self-protection mode. I get it. Be thankful your vote is still counted, and the election is as free and fraudless as it is in 2024.  That reality, too, goes away in a dictatorship, fascist or communist.


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