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"Something of Historic Proportion is Happening" (history repeating ?)
Atlas Shrugs ^ | 11-13-08

Posted on 11/13/2008 6:50:52 PM PST by STARWISE

A reader comment over at Dollard's place nails it.

(http://patdollard.com/)

Plain and simple .... and true. This is what I see. I wish I had written it. (hat tip mg)

~~~

I am a student of history. Professionally. I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied it all my life.

I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it.

Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about ten - fifteen years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people we know they can never pay back? Why?

We learn just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has “loaned” two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms.

That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the 700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of “we the people,” who loaned our powers to our elected leaders.

Apparently not.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why?

We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving.

Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity.

Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman.

Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?.

We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, social security is nearly bankrupt, as is medicare and our entire government, our education system is worse than a joke

I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about)–the list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth.

It is potentially 1929 x ten. And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla, Alaska.

All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary

(Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more imporant.)

Mr. Obama’s winning platform can be boiled down to one word: change.

Why?

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.

This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life.

In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

And that is only the beginning.

And I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing.

What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises.

Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his “brown shirts” would bully them into submission. And then, he was duly elected to office, a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression].

Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think.

How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex.

He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.

He did it with a compliant media–did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and . . . change. And the people surely got what they voted for.

(Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.)

Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of.

When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.

Don’t forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe. It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years–a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency–it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course.

The road to Hell is paved with them.

As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong by closing my eyes, having another latte, and ignoring what is transpiring around me.

Some people scoff at me, others laugh, or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe–and why I believe it.

I pray I am wrong. I do not think I am.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: bailout; change; financialcrisis; mandatoryservice; marxist; obama; obamatruthfile; radicals; socialist; thecomingdarkness
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To: justiceseeker93
This represents one educated opinion. Let’s hope and pray that the United States will somehow survive the coming of this potential disaster.

'Amen.

81 posted on 11/13/2008 8:07:59 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator (Vatabbet 'ishto me'acharayv; vatehi netziv melach.)
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To: STARWISE

Thanks for the ping and posting this article.
Saw this a bit earlier and if people don’t get a clue
what is facing us, they will continue to be part of the
problem


82 posted on 11/13/2008 8:09:20 PM PST by SoCalPol (In Defeat: Defiance - Churchill)
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To: STARWISE
"I pray I am wrong."

That makes two of us.

I've never wanted to be wrong about anything as much as I'd like to be wrong about this.

All the signs point to a dictatorship if we don't do something to stop it now.

I too used to wonder how people could be so complacent when Hitler took power... now I understand.

To add insult to injury, Hitler actually had more substance than Obama -- the unaccomplished sock-puppet.

But the people pulling his strings are dead serious about 'transforming' America -- by 'hook' or 'crook' -- in thier ungodly image.

Obama and 'friends' MUST be stopped.

STE=Q

83 posted on 11/13/2008 8:10:26 PM PST by STE=Q ("These are the times that try men's souls." -- Thomas Paine)
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To: STE=Q
All the signs point to a dictatorship if we don't do something to stop it now.

Stop it? Are you sure we shouldn't accelerate it? Let them walk into the high-speed rotating blades of 100 million armed and pissed off victims of a swindle. It solves a lot of problems very quickly.
84 posted on 11/13/2008 8:13:29 PM PST by aWolverine
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To: LucyT

Thanks for the ping. I see it as well. It may even be what the Bible foretold about the rise of the antichrist. But I’m far from certain. I do know this: God wants us to pray.


85 posted on 11/13/2008 8:14:11 PM PST by Kevmo (Palin/Hunter 2012)
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To: beagleone

My aunt, who is 81 and a Texan, lived during the pre-WWII time frame. She had been a Clinton fan, but “O” ran a chill up her spine. She said he reminded her of Hitler and his gift of gab and his followers were in the same kind of trance that she saw on newreels back at that time.

I’m trying to walk in this way, be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

My Daddy was a soldier in WWII, N.Africa, Sicily, Italy and then into Germany where they (88th/351st) liberated a concentration camp. How I hate war!!


86 posted on 11/13/2008 8:14:35 PM PST by Twinkie (REPENT! Look Up! The Lord's Return Is At Hand . . . . .)
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To: Ouderkirk

I didn’t post “my rantings” .... follow the article link.


87 posted on 11/13/2008 8:14:57 PM PST by STARWISE (They (Dims) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)
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To: Sioux-san
Two decades takes us back to Bush I - I am afraid that this is all way bigger than BHO

Yes, and I don't have my presidents very straight but could have started under Reagan, Carter???. The dates for them are in that timeframe. He was a Democrat and most of the time I knew him goes way back to the early 60's, but is an ardent Republican now, very patriotic, and spends much time helping disabled veterans because he knows how to cut through red tape.

One of the articles he wrote was published (unclassified) in a defense magazine; he got an award for it. I can ask if he still has a copy of it.

He wrote a more recent one which I was supposed to edit, clean up, and I got permission to publish here, but I never did, partly because I wasn't involved for some years and couldn't field questions or responses to it. Now it's stuck on my old hard drive which never crashed but I had taken out of that computer B4 I junked it.

88 posted on 11/13/2008 8:15:02 PM PST by Aliska
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To: Jet Jaguar

Wouldn’t the Posse Comitatus Act forbid Obama to do this at all?


89 posted on 11/13/2008 8:15:35 PM PST by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: STARWISE

So, what does something of historic proportion smell like, anyway?

I can’t sign on to this kind of hysterics. We saw it on the left with Dubya during the 2000 election. Some felt 911 was an inside job, designed to introduce a GOP Tyranny (that didn’t work out, did it?).

This is just the flip side of the same coin. Obama and his policies suck, but he is more like a very popular Zapatero than he is a new Kaiser. Giving him too much credit isn’t wise.

I suspect he will quickly find himself in over his head. His policies will suck. He will do damage. But nothing more than that.

The libs looked downright nutty in their hysterics over Dubya. Obama strikes me as an obnoxious, ego-driven stockbroker type. Making him a master criminal with Caesar like ambitions makes our side look silly, too.


90 posted on 11/13/2008 8:15:41 PM PST by Ted Grant
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To: penelopesire

You would think. But, with the leftists at the helm in the senate and house, who knows?


91 posted on 11/13/2008 8:17:27 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: STARWISE

What’s happening? A communist coup d’etat, that’s all.

The people living within the borders of this nation apparently no longer fear communism.

Our politicians apparently feel their bank accounts will be helped by overthrowing our once proud Republic.


92 posted on 11/13/2008 8:19:36 PM PST by hedgetrimmer
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To: STARWISE

good read ping


93 posted on 11/13/2008 8:24:07 PM PST by Mustng959
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To: nw_arizona_granny; WestCoastGal; MamaDearest; LucyT; Velveeta; KylaStarr; DAVEY CROCKETT; Cindy

Take your time and read this.............and then read it again.


94 posted on 11/13/2008 8:25:09 PM PST by Rushmore Rocks
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To: STARWISE

I agree.


95 posted on 11/13/2008 8:28:00 PM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion (Don't blame me, I voted for John McCain and Sarah Palin. Well, for Sarah Palin, anyway.)
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To: Brian S. Fitzgerald
I guess we should be studying Soros and what his goal is.

He's not the only cretin- Maurice Strong is another, Ahmed Huber still another...

Soros has always been very close to the Democratic Party. His top aide is former Clinton State Department and ACLU official Morton Halperin, who gained notoriety for testifying on behalf of Philip Agee, a defector from the CIA during the Cold War who now lives in Cuba. --- Loopholes:-- "DADDY WEEDBUCKS MAKES BID FOR WHITE HOUSE : Who is Peter Lewis? ," by Cliff Kinkaid, AIM Report, January 26, 2004

Soros has categorically denied receiving money from drug cartels or any form of criminal activity. The fact remains, however, that at least some of his financial operations have been based offshore, in banking and financial centers that are widely reported to be considered conducive to money-laundering.  The Soros fund is based in the Netherlands Antilles, a self-governing federation of five Caribbean islands. A CIA factbook describes the region as "a transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center."  Soros reportedly purchased a major stake in one of Colombia's biggest banks, at a time when the Drug Enforcement Administration, in its study, "Colombian Economic Reform: The Impact on Drug Money Laundering within the Colombian Economy,"  was documenting how major drug kingpins were taking advantage of the liberalization of the economy to put illicit drug revenue into legitimate businesses. The report stated: "U.S. and Colombian Government authorities have evidence of drug proceeds being deposited in every major bank in Colombia... A Colombian source indicated that many banks and businesses are owned covertly by principal members of the Cali cartel." ----------------- "The Hidden Soros Agenda: Drugs, Money, the Media, and Political Power ," By Cliff Kincaid , AIM,  October 27, 2004

As noted, in another curious development, the global capitalist has become a global socialist advocating a global tax, known as the Tobin Tax, on the means by which he exploited the global capitalist system and became rich – international currency speculation and manipulation. Soros has declared that the Tobin Tax is a "valid suggestion" for raising international revenue and that opposition to implementing the tax can be overcome. What has not been reported  is that Thomas Palley, the director of the Globalization Reform Project at Soros' Open Society Institute, was a featured speaker at a January 2003 event in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to implement the tax. ------- "The Hidden Soros Agenda: Drugs, Money, the Media, and Political Power ," By Cliff Kincaid  AIM,  October 27, 2004

96 posted on 11/13/2008 8:29:35 PM PST by piasa (How's that change workin' for ya?)
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To: STARWISE

I was listening to Mark Levin last nite - he totalled what had ALREADY been committed (all bailouts).

3.2T dolars (thats Trillion)

Or, roughly 1/4 the GDP for 2007 ...

UNREAL!!!


97 posted on 11/13/2008 8:30:05 PM PST by Lmo56
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To: piasa

Lamp post reservation ping.


98 posted on 11/13/2008 8:31:06 PM PST by aWolverine
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To: mojo114

I work for a small business, and leading up to the election my boss was very concerned (we are all conservatives). Interestingly a woman came by the office the other day and sat and talked with him. I think she was someone local running for some office. But she was definitely conservative. Anyway I was glad to see their are people out there pounding the pavement trying to make a difference and stop the madness.
I was also heartened to hear Sarah Palin talk about federalism and bringing government closer to the people.
Maybe, just maybe, Obama is not the beginning of a leftist takeover, maybe he is the beginning of the end. He is an empty shell, and that fact cannot be hidden forever. I think Sarah is at the forefront of a new vanguard. Because we have to, we have to get back to basics because the war with islam will get worse before it gets better.
the indoctrination of kids has to stop. the leftist indoctrination of our kids, the murderous indoctrination of the muslim kids etc


99 posted on 11/13/2008 8:31:22 PM PST by visualops (portraits.artlife.us or visit my freeper page)
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To: STARWISE

My children are in their teens and early twenties. We recently had a post election debacle meeting where we talked frankly about the future (such as it might be).

I reminded them of all the camping expeditions we took growing up and explained that it was more than a vacation - it was training. Training in resourcefulness. Training on self-reliance. Training in survival.

I told them that they should continue to live their lives to the fullest degree possible, but that they should always keep part of their focus on survival. Choose jobs that might offer resistance-proof to recession or depression. Choose educational skills that would still be needed in a broken world. Guard their money and their resources.

I reminded them of the children’s tale of the Grasshopper and the Ant and told them that it is soon going to be a harsh, unpleasant world for grasshoppers.

I believe that we are destined for some tough times but that, if we keep our heads and our wits about us, we will come out the other end relatively unscathed.


100 posted on 11/13/2008 8:32:05 PM PST by rockrr (Global warming is to science what Islam is to religion)
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