Posted on 02/11/2010 8:39:33 AM PST by dvan
History shows us that as free nations become complacent, they become vulnerable to manipulation. Most dictatorships rise gradually -- a step at a time. Smooth talking politicians make each incremental step seem reasonable, because the masses are blind to the tides of change. The wisdom of Wendell Phillips fades away: "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Austria illustrates the power of gradualism. In 1933, it was a free nation. In 1934, its government began to centralize its power and welcome the influence of Nazi sympathizers. By 1938, it had become a Nazi dictatorship .
The downward slide began with one crisis after another. A third of the people were out of work, inflation rose to 25%, and political turmoil caused civil unrest. People longed for a leader to rescue them. Adolf Hitler campaigned in Austria, promising to solve their problems if they were annexed to Germany. A persuasive speaker, he gave them hope and won their hearts. The Austrian people voted him in.[1]
Why? How could the Austrians be so blind? The answer is simple: they faced hard times, so they chose to believe Hitler's promises. They didn't see him as we do -- brutal, arrogant, narcissistic and ruthlessly ambitious. That image came later, when it was too late to escape his grasp. In the beginning, Hitler appeared as a caring, charismatic, captivating visionary.[2] His words brought hope of prosperity, and his public image was intentionally shaped with pictures of his smiles, benevolent deeds and warm encounters with children and babies.[3]
After the annexation, new government jobs were created and order was restored. The people were encouraged and hopeful, and -- for a short while -- the nation prospered. Then it crashed. This transformation is described by Kitty Werthmann:[4]
(Excerpt) Read more at crossroad.to ...
Austia was a Nazi dictatorship? I believe Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany.
The Nazis held a plebiscite after the annexation.
99.73% of Austrians voted in favor of the Anschluss.
Austria asked to be annexed. They voted overwhelmingly for it.
Of course, a few years later they figured out they'd been deceived.
The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage.
- 1943 speech “Industrial Management in a Republic” by H. W. Prentis, president of the Armstrong Cork Company and former president of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Aw! Thanks for refreshing my poor memory of history!
Is that when they stopped speaking Austrian? /s
How can America continue when we have one generation after another of able-bodied people in this country who literally spend their entire lives standing around with their hand out?
It's amazing how much hinges on that question. I think that we need to eliminate ALL entitlement programs over a period of a few years (5-10 seems reasonable) and move on.
Are you saying that nations and civilizations are one in the same?
Americans as individuals and organizations constantly give charitably to the needy and extend care to the disadvantaged. With fewer whining people faking some kind of ‘disadvantaged’ status and demanding things that pass for luxuries elsewhere in the world, we could do more with less for the people who IN FACT need assistance.
I’m not saying it would be easy, but it’s necessary. Also, with tax cuts commensurate with the reduction in spending, the economy would be in better shape to encourage giving to PRIVATE charities.
Actually, the Anschlus, or Nazi military occupation of Austria, occurred because the Austrian government was planning a plebiscite in which the Austrian people could vote annexation up or down. This implies the Nazis thought they might lose the election.
Of course, they held their own election a few months after annexation and 99.73% of Austrians voted for it. Given those numbers it is reasonable to assume the election may not have been completely free.
< / sarc >
That’s lovely poetry, but I’d sure like to see somebody give an example of a single country in which this sequence actually prevailed. I don’t know of any.
Also which countries figured into the 200 year “average.”
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