I received inquiries from European friends asking me what was going on in the America they once knew? Many of my friends and relatives live in countries in the Ukraine neighborhood. The fall of Ukraine to Russia or a giveaway by Trump is of serious concern and causes fear for their own futures. One inquirer asked about the rule of law. Does America still have it?. I replied with blog links on those issues as of today, but I had another thought. I am beginning to feel like we are becoming a fascist country, and we are already experiencing some of it. Here is why.
I have recently noted a greater sensitivity to what I am posting on the internet, fear that somehow jobs will be affected if commenters are seen as too lib or as contradicting Trump or could be accused of dis-agreeing. That kind of fear was more like what I experienced in dictatorships. In short, fear is causing a lot of self-editing to make sure what I write is mine or at least comes from some publicly published source that has credibility. Some have even changed their Facebook names because they fear facing repercussions, which is scary to have to feel that way. This already is no longer a free country. It is feeling like we are already in a country run by dictator who uses fear, threats, and revenge to control what people used to freely express. I will not be cowed or bowed, but I will be more careful to make sure I do not quote those who do not want to be quoted or who are living in that fear so long as I have access to a public platform.
Dissent with Trump is not tolerated and is punished using the tools of law enforcement prosecution or being primaried. Press and media daring to report facts and news contradicting Trump get denied access to the Oval Office or Airforce One.. Members of the Trump administration openly say that if the courts rule against them, they can ignore the orders with which they disagree. Or even Trump himself: No laws are broken if he saves the country. No wonder he can say it and get away with breaking criminal laws because the Supreme Court gave him immunity. Now, he thinks it applies to anything he does. The rule of law means the rule of Trump, or so it appears to him. 3/5/25: The Supreme Court, on a 5/4 vote, showed a "stunning" attempt to uphold the rule of law. In one of the first test cases to reach it, it ruled against the Trump administration on the issue of stopping USAID. Next, will the Trump administration obey the ruling? Is this the new pattern, or was it a one-off? https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/whats-big-deal-about-rule-of-law.html
Even immigrants have some Constitutional rights. The Trump regime is making a mockery of the rights to free speech and due process, and going into court to argue against that. In the meantime, visa and green card holders are being snatched off the streets without a hearing and presentation of facts and evidence to justify that they were breaking any laws or were a member of a terrorist organization. Welcome to fascism: https://john-w-whitehead.medium.com/making-our-rights-disappear-the-authoritarian-war-on-due-process-cf0f45f9e0c6
Using a bogus claim, the US is at war with Venezuela in order to justify taking such deportation and prison in El Savado in the cover of night of the accused without due process is one issue. Another is snatching a grad student off the street because she wrote an article in a school newspaper in support of Hamas. Was there any evidence they also had terrorist ties or committed crimes? We will never know if they are snatched and shipped or imprisoned without a hearing before a judge, which is the process to which they were entitled, called due process.
3/28.2025 Judge rules against the Trump regime using the excuse of a war to cover the lack of due process extended to alleged Venezuelan gang members. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-extends-block-trump-use-wartime-law-deportations-2025-03-28/
Update 3/29/2025 Disney and ABC hit with FCC investigation over DEI policies | CNN Business FCC chair opens investigation into PBS, NPR sponsorship practices
Donald Trump calls for MSNBC hosts to be fired after 'disgraceful' comments - Irish Star
Update 3/21/2025: Some hope, though. Trump has been on a crusade to "delicense" media he does not like, particularly MSNBC and CNN. He should be informed that cable networks are not licensed.However, attacking others like NPR and broadcasting networks should be expected. The new head of the FCC that does licenses was one of the writers of Project 2025 and that proposed a frightening course. Trump's FCC pick, Brendan Carr, wrote Project 2025's chapter on the agency. Here's what he wants. - CBS News The media has been called the 4th estate because its power and control of media is part and parcel as one of the first steps a wannabe dictator uses to seize control of the other three "estates," the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Trump has whipped the legislative branch majority into submission, and he is trying to cow the judges by threatening "impeachment". That one is simply a bark with no bite since two-thirds of the Senate to convict an impeachment is such a supermajority that it is a non-starter.
The Trump regime appears laying the groundwork to challenge the judiciary branch's ability to rule against Trump's interests and actions as the chief of the executive branch in the Venezuelan gang import case and he may find a hostile Supreme Court greeting him as Chief Justice Roberts was quick to respond on the threats of impeachment of the judge. He gave a strong rebuke immediately after Trump went on a rant. https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/whats-big-deal-about-rule-of-law.html
https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64407784/
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s request to keep billions in foreign aid frozen |
CNN Politics MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: What those who support the rule of law should fear the most updated
https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/whats-big-deal-about-rule-of-law.html
Political control of his base is already complete. Those of his party in Congress get threatened and fear for their political lives if they raise an objection to Trump's policies. Trump's oligarchs will provide unlimited campaign funds against any dissenters. This past week, we saw that in full array as former hawks against Russia fell into line on Ukraine, contradicting years of past public statements. Now, social media provides the approved word of the day or the rationale for whatever policies Trump supports. Not one GOP voice in Congress (may be one exception) now objects to Trump dumping Western alliances, voting with Russia in the UN, and, as the Kremlin acknowledged, Trump is now aligned with Russia. In his state-of-state address on 3/4/25, the GOP members applauded and rose as a body at his every pronouncement.
Mind control is halfway there as favorable polls of Trump only deviate a little from November 2024. What is different from the fascist rulers and dictators of the past is how the message gets delivered. Once in communist or fascist countries, it was blaring slogans from loudspeakers, banners, and total control over TV and radio. Western press was not allowed. These days thought control is even more effective. Algorithms ensure the faithful get the message, not just on TV but on all the newfangled outlets and social media, and other thoughts are steered away or not reported. The voice of Trump is right there in their smartphones 24/7, and the chances of hearing what the "other side" is thinking are either rare or dismissed as political propaganda. MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: How stupid does Trump think Americans are?
Born in 1938, I have seen much, including the fall of fascism and the Iron Curtain consolidating power, as a student in Berlin in 1958 as Kruschev threatened to close off Berlin, and another airlift was a possibility. I met my forever husband-to-be in Berlin in 1957-58s, a fellow student planning to become a refugee from a communist country. From him, I learned what it was like for ordinary people to live in a dictatorship. We were later able to make nearly annual trips to visit the family as that country liberalized. Still, even then, I had close-up and personal observations of how dictators operate, gain, and maintain their power. I knew what it was like firsthand.
Communist dictators and fascists have much in common, though their messages and ideology are different. The ones I witnessed used the same techniques, blaring loudspeakers and banners everywhere, and no free press was allowed. To succeed and survive, regardless if you had a bone to pick, you had to keep your mouth shut and keep your head down low. Someone was always listening and reporting on you. Dissent was not only not allowed, dissenters would be punished. Rule of law was not what was on paper or their "constitution" but how it was practiced, and the interpretation had to comply with the dear leader's or party functionaries' words du jour.
Does any of this sound like what you are witnessing develop or where we are heading in our own country in 2025? It does to me. I am feeling deja vu all over again.
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