You are not out of your mind and an entity or oligarchy could just control half or a quarter of the food in the world and cull the population on a grand scale.
Sinclair Lewis ~ When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.
Lewis' commentary preceded Orwell's... I keep thinking about him and how prophetic he was. We strain to hear the voices of truth and they are so few...Bachmann, Palin, Herman Cain as they are drown out by other forces with sinister motives. Even on the times that Ron Paul and Glen Beck make sense, we are told they are kooks. It's topsey-turvey. We no longer have a press that will stand for something of value. We're pretty much on our own out here. Clinging to our guns and bibles.
Sinclair Lewis makes the point again and again: *The problem is that Americans are arrogant and oblivious, and so saying they have freedom is enough that they don't believe tyranny can happen in their country, even as it is going on right in front of their eyes.*
'All that's really left of the old America are the flags and patriotic ditties, which for many is more than enough because they have others to blame. The blame falls on the "it can't happen here" crowd, those who have yet to realize that being American doesn't change your human nature.
In Windrip's most formidable task, convincing Americans to renounce bedrock democratic principles, was already accomplished well before he took power. The United States was ripe for a Fascist takeover, it was just waiting for its moment. Through a combination of influences-his easy bearing chief among them (along with massive cash donations from Big Business, spineless disorganization in the liberal opposition, a stuffy aloof opponent, and support from religious fanatics who felt like they've been unfairly marginalized)-he wins the presidential election (sound familiar?).
Once in, he appoints his close personal friends and political advisers to high-level positions, stocks the Supreme Court with 'surprisingly unknown lawyers' who called him by his first name, takes away most of the power of Congress under the guise of national security, allows Big Business to dictate economic policy, consolidates the media to a few rich corrupt owners, and fills newspapers with syndicated gossip from Hollywood to keep everyone distracted.
Newspapermen worry that America is moving backward to a time when anti-German politicians renamed sauerkraut "Liberty Cabbage" and "hick legislators"...set up shop as scientific experts and made the world laugh itself sick by forbidding the teaching of true science while silencing real scientists,'' but newspaper readers, wary of excessive negativity, stop paying attention, even when journalists who don't tow the line start disappearing.
Given the nature of "powerful and secret enemies" of America, who are always hiding infiltrated in your neighborhood, and always on the verge of "planning their last charge" to take away our freedom, always hiding around the next corner-an indefinite state of crisis is declared, with freedom tossed aside "until the threat passes."
The President assures this is for America's own safety, and as soon as the threat is over, the freedoms will come back.
Sure, some say these methods are extreme, but enemies are around everywhere, and since everyone is permanently in danger, and plain folks are tired of wishy-washy leaders, and feel the president's decisiveness is good leadership in a time of emergency-not a Fascist takeover.
Besides, as one man says, a Fascist dictatorship "couldn't happen here in America...we're a country of freemen!" most formidable task, convincing Americans to renounce bedrock democratic principles, was already accomplished well before he took power. The United States was ripe for a Fascist takeover, it was just waiting for its moment. Through a combination of influences-his easy bearing chief among them (along with massive cash donations from Big Business, spineless disorganization in the liberal opposition, a stuffy aloof opponent, and support from religious fanatics who felt like they've been unfairly marginalized)-he wins the presidential election (sound familiar?).
Once in, he appoints his close personal friends and political advisers to high-level positions, stocks the Supreme Court with 'surprisingly unknown lawyers' who called him by his first name, takes away most of the power of Congress under the guise of national security, allows Big Business to dictate economic policy, consolidates the media to a few rich corrupt owners, and fills newspapers with syndicated gossip from Hollywood to keep everyone distracted.
Newspapermen worry that America is moving backward to a time when anti-German politicians renamed sauerkraut "Liberty Cabbage" and "hick legislators"...set up shop as scientific experts and made the world laugh itself sick by forbidding the teaching of true science while silencing real scientists,'' but newspaper readers, wary of excessive negativity, stop paying attention, even when journalists who don't tow the line start disappearing.
Given the nature of "powerful and secret enemies" of America, who are always hiding infiltrated in your neighborhood, and always on the verge of "planning their last charge" to take away our freedom, always hiding around the next corner-an indefinite state of crisis is declared, with freedom tossed aside "until the threat passes."
The President assures this is for America's own safety, and as soon as the threat is over, the freedoms will come back.
Sure, some say these methods are extreme, but enemies are around everywhere, and since everyone is permanently in danger, and plain folks are tired of wishy-washy leaders, and feel the president's decisiveness is good leadership in a time of emergency-not a Fascist takeover.
Besides, as one man says, a Fascist dictatorship "couldn't happen here in America...we're a country of freemen!"'
Be alert. Stay safe. Stay armed. It Can't Happen Here.