Thank you, Mr. Beschloss. And, sadly, we knew everything we needed to know about this man before his first election. Not only are less than a majority of Americans dangerously stupid, they are intellectually lazy.
So absolutely true on the rampant ignorance that put that abomination in the White House. And beyond that, the cadre of disturbed and dishonorable human beings Trump surrounds himself with.
They cloak themselves in Christian Nationalism, calling the forces of justice “demonic”. It is hard to fight that type of framing, that sort of intellectual and spiritual dishonesty…but they live to create fear among their adherents. For me, this is one of the scariest and most pernicious lies that they tell their followers. This provides them a smug assurance and rationale that they are doing the ‘Lord’s work’ when they terrorize their fellow citizens.
Reading “Grant” was an epiphany for me. The historical events of the time were in small part a precursor to ongoing racial tensions and bigotry. The past is prologue and we must surge forward to prevent the dismantling of our government, our democracy and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness so beautifully proposed in the Declaration of Independence. Though the KKK was a thing of the past, it managed to pop up in the earlier 1900’s until it was revealed as a boil on the posterior of our country. Common sense prevailed and it should do so again.
Your sentence "reflecting on a president's obligations..." says it all. Will repeat: If do not know, remember history are bound to repeat - the best & the horrendous. TY, Stephen, for this today. Will be sharing!
Love this article.Love the visions. Love the ideals. Inspiring
Powerful illumination of our previous history as we strategically created laws and policy to mitigate the unjust and foul uncivilized cruelty of certain forces.
We succeeded previously with hearts and minds of purpose to right wrongs and overcome powerful tyrannical systems and we must succeed again.
You always provide a thoughtful historical perspective. This one documents how Project 2025 is returning us to the past. The parallels are overwhelming and I intend to WAGE PEACE as strongly as I can on October 18.
Great shout out to Ron Chernow and his biography of US Grant. I read it several years ago and remember having to put it down and walk away from the descriptions of Klan savagery. I finished the book, coming to realize all the things I had heard about President Grant were mostly untrue. Thank you Mr. Beschliss for keeping us aware of our own history and not the myths we have been led to believe.
Thank you for your comments; as a retired health professional with an advanced degree in biochemistry evidence-based literature and science is important to me professionally and personally. Number 47 and his minions are sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) to discredit science. One doesn't have to look any farther than his clown show masquerading as news conference implicating Tylenol use in pregnancy as a cause of neurodivergence (ASD -autism spectral disorder) and demanding, because of “his feeling,” childhood vaccine schedules, such as MMR be divided and delayed. He enables RFK, Jr's destruction of the CDC, the NIH, and the FDA. He is complicit in RFK, Jr's promotion anti-science health conspiracies. No thinking person can state we are healthier and safer now than before # 47 assumed office. Since you've got me on a roll, let’s take a look at the existential threat of climate change. Number 47 discounts climate change, defunds renewable energy projects, and promotes fossil fuel production and use. This threatens the entire planet and will affect the health and safety of all persons for generations to come. This administration is a clear risk to the survival our democratic experiment and the rest of the world we live in. I use the following wildfire analogy to describe our current risk. Those of us living in the wild-land urban interface prepare for wildfires. We are vigilant. We understand readiness; when a warning is issued we are “SET” and when an evacuation is ordered we “GO.” In the USA our current events are analogous to the “SET” stage. Right now everyone needs to contribute, get off our tushes, so to speak, excusing my language, get prepared so we never have to get to “GO.” Be well folks, be safe.
Thank you for defining what we see with the historical context. Our forefathers gave us a framework connecting the dots for us. We need to focus on our next steps.
One of the things I greatly enjoy is the injection of humor, silliness and the unexpected into protests and rallies. This provides multiple ways for people to participate & attracts people who otherwise do not participate. It’s an important strategy in the information war. If it was not, satire would be much more popular with despots — not their target. Few things undermine the ‘insurrection’ narrative like cartoon characters, dancers or drummers being held at gunpoint or being wrestled to the ground by masked men in tactical gear. Not what they want in Noem video.
Another is that faith leaders have begun coming to the front of the information war all the way up the chain to the Pope. Not a good look for ICE to be perched on the roof, using ‘less lethal’ weapons on priests, preachers and their parishioners and others who joined them. Even worse to have video of projectiles hitting those individuals who are small in number, no threat to anyone.
I’ll add one caution. It is not unusual for trouble makers to infiltrate protests. It is one reason some organizations advise keeping them small. I’ve seen it up close and personal in the past. We saw it in the Floyd and Taylor protests. Know who the leaders are & have allies monitoring in the crowd. (We used to call them our ‘marshals’. Probably not the best term these days.) Leave an area where someone becomes too aggressive or violent. — They are much more conspicuous in the midst of dancers etc.
The organization, Indivisible, has advised everyone if a conflict/violencebegins, don’t run away, but do lay down and bring your sign down too. Why? Because the people left standing will be seen and they will be arrested for perpetrating a violent activity.
Indivisible does not recommend laying down if ICE agents appear at a protest. Instead, the organization and related groups suggest staying mobile for safety and using other de-escalation tactics.
Based on guidance from Indivisible and partner groups, here are recommended strategies for dealing with ICE during a protest:
Do not run. Indivisible advises protesters not to flee from ICE, as it could be used as a reason to detain someone.
Practice solidarity. Stand with immigrants approached by ICE and remain silent. The idea is to create "power in numbers".
Remain silent. You have the right to remain silent. According to Immigrant Ally guidance from Indivisible, you should refuse to answer questions and say, "I choose to remain silent. I want to speak to an attorney".
Stay mobile and aware. One local chapter of Indivisible advised against sitting down during protests, stating, "mobility is your power" in volatile situations. This also prevents putting vulnerable people in danger.
Document and report. If it is safe to do so, document raids and arrests by taking photos, videos, and notes. You can report raids to hotlines like the one from United We Dream.
Know your rights. Indivisible distributes "Know Your Rights" cards that explain legal protections during encounters with immigration agents.
Seek legal guidance. Indivisible encourages those who are at risk of deportation to create safety plans with legal resources. The organization also encourages lawyers to volunteer their services.
I know. I don’t disagree with that in many circumstances. Aside from what the police will think etc. - Everyone running around during an incident, is dangerous, can cause injuries & is not always possible.
Indivisible’s blanket advice was met with pushback. It doesn’t necessarily keep you from being arrested or targeted. It’s good if you have video when you go to court.
People need to know their communities. In our state you can be arrested far from a violent incident; having never been at the scene. Targeted whether in the immediate area or not if an “unlawful assembly” is declared - after curfew or an a major incident. Then take your chances with the DA or in court.
So don’t feed the beast. Those incidents need participants or victims. — Mostly I meant get away from instigators and bad situations. Our state like other gun loving ones doesn’t stop people from bringing firearms including various ‘militias’. Best not to hang around with them. If someone is approaching people being hostile, physically aggressive, wants a confrontation or acting unhinged. Why wait around to see what happens?
I am only stating what Indivisible recommended but I know there will be either panic, people running away, or those who will try and disarm the perpetrator. None of us really knows what avenue we will take in that situation.
That advice seems like such a long time ago now. A lot depends on circumstances & what officers are trying to do. It might be OK with the new PD where I live (small city). To be honest those days may be over.
For several years I organized protests on and off in a variety of places or was a participant. We always had trusted members spread out in the crowd. In those days they wore armbands so participants would know to trust them. Armbands might not be wise now.
I live in a small city, at the edge but within, a merged city county Metro gov’t. The Metro police have tactical units which behaved like ICE-lite for years. Because of metro PD, Metro Gov’t became such a pariah that it lost its liability insurance carrier a few years ago. No carrier will touch it.
I don’t believe there is any crime except straight up homicide that an officer has not committed among those that come to light despite being covered up or lied about by colleagues and superiors. I mean that literally. No one guilty or innocent can count on not being abused; not children, women, marginalized groups, people who appear homeless, families getting children ready for school, reporters live on air, taxpayers, you name it - Metro PD abused them and their rights even if they had to lie to the FBI or in court.
Therefore, I would not trust Metro PD any more than I would Fed agents not to use gas, projectiles or detainment because people were sitting peacefully in a fraught situation. Personally, I advocate for being proactive & part of that is having a plan.
The man ytou are referring to in this excellent narrative of what used to be a "free nation" is also a TRAITOR. He has conspired with our enemy to destroy our freedoms, our justice, and our democracy. He has been paid - (1) according to Craig Unger -there are over 1300 incidents/transactions of Russian money helping Trump, (2) his elder sons have bragged about now using "Russian Banks" instead of American banks (who refused to loan to Trump due to his corruption, fraud, 34 felony counts, and six banktruptcies). Russian banks, all controlled by Mr. Putin have given Mr. Trump over $100 million - according to Don Jr. and Eric. Real estate transactions of Russians buying Trump labeled properties have exceeded $1.5 billion - and yes, he gets a fee.
This is a bribe by any definition. (www.vanityfair.com and www.businessinsider.com) Mr. Putin's goal since a member of the Soviet Pioneers (Russian Boy Scouts) was to destroy Russia's enemy - the United States, Great Britain, and France. His plan is actually simple: Top-Down - install a man who sold his soul and his country for illicit money and most likely Russian prostitution, and then he is unleashed to demolish the government. Bottom-Up - Place Russian Organized Crime (ROC) agents in every US state for the purpose of arson/fires, murder, cyber attacks, drug distribution, and any other means to destroy our way of life. The 2020 Census shows there are over three million Russians in the US. They are not seeking asylum, but still working for the Russian government.
The facts do not lie. Since Putin took control of Russia in 1999, the US has seen over 500 mass murders and hundreds of children's lives have been cut short. Columbine HS was the first - the date was April 20, 1999.
In the first two weeks of October (1) a Judge in South Carolina legally blocked the DOJ from acquiring voter registration information. Her home burned to the ground. (2) A Mormon Church in Michigan, one of the largest donors to Ukraine was burned and people killed. (3) An ammunition factory in TN blew up, killing 16 people. This factory manufactured weapons for Ukraine. (4) Carrie Romney, the sister-in-law of Mitt Romney - a Republican and an out-spoken critic of Donald Trump, suddenly died, She apparently jumped or was pushed off a high wall in a parking garage in California. All this iin a period of two weeks and within the United States!!!!
Americans across our nation are naive and uninformed. Those who are loyal Trump followers, have believed the lies of this con man who has sold them the Brookly Bridge. While the average new car price is now over $50,000, and the price of groceries has doubled - they continue to follow their fantacy and think he is "making America great again." Hitler and Stalin both told their respective societies the same type of message. Hitler killed more than 6 million Jews, but another 50 million individuals died in World War II which started when Germany invaded its neighbor Poland. Stalin is estimated to have killed 20 million Russians.
Trump, who compares himself to the Pope or to a King, has repeatedly remarked about invading Greenland, Canada, or other nations. He said he will use force if necessary. He is already using force and misusing our military to invade American cities with Black or Democratic leaders.
Trump has cut agricultural contracts that were esssential for US farmer income. His BBB has reduced funding for rural hospitals. These are the people who FEED AMERICA. Not only will the cost of groceries soar, but food just may be scarce and insufficient to feed Americans.
We need an act of God - and with the new Pope an American, this might be possible. Otherwise, our country is quickly - before our own eyes - heading for total devastation.
Comparing Steven’s accurate lists above and the malicious actions of the current regime with these below.
Fascism:
Fascist actions revolve around controlling society through authoritarian rule, aggressive nationalism, suppression of opposition, and the creation of an "in-group" and "out-group"
. They often come to power by capitalizing on social unrest and economic hardship.
Establishing and maintaining power
Fascist regimes use a range of actions to gain and hold onto power, including:
Cult of personality: The leader is presented as an infallible "savior" who embodies the will of the nation. State-controlled media and elaborate propaganda campaigns reinforce this image.
Creating a one-party
state: Political rivals and parties are purged and banned, dismantling democratic processes.
Opponents are jailed without trial.
Elections may be fraudulent or eliminated entirely.
Suppressing dissent: Any form of political opposition, divergent thought, or even criticism of the leader is met with forcible suppression and violence. This can involve mass arrests and the use of secret police.
Militarization: Fascists glorify military values like strength and obedience and invest heavily in the military.
Parades and other displays of military power are used to project strength and intimidate rivals.
Paramilitary forces: Fascist movements often rely on street gangs or paramilitary groups (like the Nazi Brownshirts or Italian Blackshirts) to intimidate, harass, and attack political opponents.
Controlling society and the economy
Actions used to control the population and reshape society include:
Controlling information: The mass media is heavily regulated to spread propaganda that supports the state and its leader.
This involves silencing or eliminating a free press and other independent sources of information.
Anti-intellectualism: Fascists express open hostility toward higher education and the arts, promoting ideas that align only with the fascist narrative. Book burnings and faculty purges are common.
Indoctrinating youth: Youth movements, like the Hitler Youth, are used to indoctrinate children with the state's ideology. Rigid gender roles are often reinforced from a young age.
Suppressing labor: Fascist regimes tend to protect corporate power while crushing labor movements and suppressing the rights of workers.
Exploiting economic anxiety: Fascist leaders use feelings of economic instability and fear to drum up popular support, promising prosperity and stability through radical change.
Fostering cronyism: Loyalty to the leader is prioritized over competence, and powerful positions are filled with loyal supporters and cronies. This often leads to rampant corruption.
Targeting and scapegoating minorities
Fascism creates a national identity based on a shared ethnicity, culture, or race, using blame and fear to rally support.
Actions include:
Scapegoating: Specific groups, such as ethnic minorities, immigrants, or political opponents, are demonized and blamed for the nation's problems.
Creating a hierarchy: Fascists establish a hierarchy of human worth and use populist nationalism to create a mythic "in-group".
Persecution and violence: Regimes use escalating persecution and violence against targeted groups. This can manifest as discriminatory laws, boycotts, massacres, and, in the case of Nazism, genocide.
Sexual anxiety and traditionalism: Fascist movements promote rigid gender roles and often stoke fears and anxieties about non-traditional identities, such as homosexuality, to support a patriarchal hierarchy.
Expansionist foreign policy
Fascists often engage in aggressive and imperialistic foreign policy to restore a nation's perceived past glory.
Territorial expansion: Fascist regimes seek to expand their territory and influence through armed conflict.
Glorifying violence: Violence is often celebrated as a redemptive or purifying force, particularly when it advances the national community.
Thank you, Mr. Beschloss. And, sadly, we knew everything we needed to know about this man before his first election. Not only are less than a majority of Americans dangerously stupid, they are intellectually lazy.
So absolutely true on the rampant ignorance that put that abomination in the White House. And beyond that, the cadre of disturbed and dishonorable human beings Trump surrounds himself with.
As my mom used to say, “stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed.” Let’s focus on how to fix the ignorance.
They cloak themselves in Christian Nationalism, calling the forces of justice “demonic”. It is hard to fight that type of framing, that sort of intellectual and spiritual dishonesty…but they live to create fear among their adherents. For me, this is one of the scariest and most pernicious lies that they tell their followers. This provides them a smug assurance and rationale that they are doing the ‘Lord’s work’ when they terrorize their fellow citizens.
United we stand, divided we fall. Let's stay united!
Well said.
I have a small file where I keep Substack columns that affect me. This one of yours today is going into it. Thank you.
Thank you, Fran. Nice to hear.
Reading “Grant” was an epiphany for me. The historical events of the time were in small part a precursor to ongoing racial tensions and bigotry. The past is prologue and we must surge forward to prevent the dismantling of our government, our democracy and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness so beautifully proposed in the Declaration of Independence. Though the KKK was a thing of the past, it managed to pop up in the earlier 1900’s until it was revealed as a boil on the posterior of our country. Common sense prevailed and it should do so again.
Your sentence "reflecting on a president's obligations..." says it all. Will repeat: If do not know, remember history are bound to repeat - the best & the horrendous. TY, Stephen, for this today. Will be sharing!
An old post, but still pertinent.
We need better leaders, who are elected by better citizens.
https://open.substack.com/pub/albellenchia/p/paging-george-bailey?r=7wk5d&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Thank you for your post Al Bellenchia. One of my favorite movies and George Bailey was a hero in the movie.
The struggles to build affordable housing remain all too real. 🖖
Absolutely still a struggle
Love this article.Love the visions. Love the ideals. Inspiring
Powerful illumination of our previous history as we strategically created laws and policy to mitigate the unjust and foul uncivilized cruelty of certain forces.
We succeeded previously with hearts and minds of purpose to right wrongs and overcome powerful tyrannical systems and we must succeed again.
Oct 18th
State Activities at this link
https://www.nokings.org/
It’s up to us
This is our moment
We are the Majority
We have each other
💙🇺🇸💙
Thank you Steven
You always provide a thoughtful historical perspective. This one documents how Project 2025 is returning us to the past. The parallels are overwhelming and I intend to WAGE PEACE as strongly as I can on October 18.
Great shout out to Ron Chernow and his biography of US Grant. I read it several years ago and remember having to put it down and walk away from the descriptions of Klan savagery. I finished the book, coming to realize all the things I had heard about President Grant were mostly untrue. Thank you Mr. Beschliss for keeping us aware of our own history and not the myths we have been led to believe.
Thank you for your comments; as a retired health professional with an advanced degree in biochemistry evidence-based literature and science is important to me professionally and personally. Number 47 and his minions are sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) to discredit science. One doesn't have to look any farther than his clown show masquerading as news conference implicating Tylenol use in pregnancy as a cause of neurodivergence (ASD -autism spectral disorder) and demanding, because of “his feeling,” childhood vaccine schedules, such as MMR be divided and delayed. He enables RFK, Jr's destruction of the CDC, the NIH, and the FDA. He is complicit in RFK, Jr's promotion anti-science health conspiracies. No thinking person can state we are healthier and safer now than before # 47 assumed office. Since you've got me on a roll, let’s take a look at the existential threat of climate change. Number 47 discounts climate change, defunds renewable energy projects, and promotes fossil fuel production and use. This threatens the entire planet and will affect the health and safety of all persons for generations to come. This administration is a clear risk to the survival our democratic experiment and the rest of the world we live in. I use the following wildfire analogy to describe our current risk. Those of us living in the wild-land urban interface prepare for wildfires. We are vigilant. We understand readiness; when a warning is issued we are “SET” and when an evacuation is ordered we “GO.” In the USA our current events are analogous to the “SET” stage. Right now everyone needs to contribute, get off our tushes, so to speak, excusing my language, get prepared so we never have to get to “GO.” Be well folks, be safe.
AMEN!
Thank you for defining what we see with the historical context. Our forefathers gave us a framework connecting the dots for us. We need to focus on our next steps.
One of the things I greatly enjoy is the injection of humor, silliness and the unexpected into protests and rallies. This provides multiple ways for people to participate & attracts people who otherwise do not participate. It’s an important strategy in the information war. If it was not, satire would be much more popular with despots — not their target. Few things undermine the ‘insurrection’ narrative like cartoon characters, dancers or drummers being held at gunpoint or being wrestled to the ground by masked men in tactical gear. Not what they want in Noem video.
Another is that faith leaders have begun coming to the front of the information war all the way up the chain to the Pope. Not a good look for ICE to be perched on the roof, using ‘less lethal’ weapons on priests, preachers and their parishioners and others who joined them. Even worse to have video of projectiles hitting those individuals who are small in number, no threat to anyone.
I’ll add one caution. It is not unusual for trouble makers to infiltrate protests. It is one reason some organizations advise keeping them small. I’ve seen it up close and personal in the past. We saw it in the Floyd and Taylor protests. Know who the leaders are & have allies monitoring in the crowd. (We used to call them our ‘marshals’. Probably not the best term these days.) Leave an area where someone becomes too aggressive or violent. — They are much more conspicuous in the midst of dancers etc.
https://apnews.com/article/us-citizen-detained-ice-portland-oregon-646ac425d32902b5f447e021f70da7df
The organization, Indivisible, has advised everyone if a conflict/violencebegins, don’t run away, but do lay down and bring your sign down too. Why? Because the people left standing will be seen and they will be arrested for perpetrating a violent activity.
Indivisible does not recommend laying down if ICE agents appear at a protest. Instead, the organization and related groups suggest staying mobile for safety and using other de-escalation tactics.
Based on guidance from Indivisible and partner groups, here are recommended strategies for dealing with ICE during a protest:
Do not run. Indivisible advises protesters not to flee from ICE, as it could be used as a reason to detain someone.
Practice solidarity. Stand with immigrants approached by ICE and remain silent. The idea is to create "power in numbers".
Remain silent. You have the right to remain silent. According to Immigrant Ally guidance from Indivisible, you should refuse to answer questions and say, "I choose to remain silent. I want to speak to an attorney".
Stay mobile and aware. One local chapter of Indivisible advised against sitting down during protests, stating, "mobility is your power" in volatile situations. This also prevents putting vulnerable people in danger.
Document and report. If it is safe to do so, document raids and arrests by taking photos, videos, and notes. You can report raids to hotlines like the one from United We Dream.
Know your rights. Indivisible distributes "Know Your Rights" cards that explain legal protections during encounters with immigration agents.
Seek legal guidance. Indivisible encourages those who are at risk of deportation to create safety plans with legal resources. The organization also encourages lawyers to volunteer their services.
I know. I don’t disagree with that in many circumstances. Aside from what the police will think etc. - Everyone running around during an incident, is dangerous, can cause injuries & is not always possible.
Indivisible’s blanket advice was met with pushback. It doesn’t necessarily keep you from being arrested or targeted. It’s good if you have video when you go to court.
People need to know their communities. In our state you can be arrested far from a violent incident; having never been at the scene. Targeted whether in the immediate area or not if an “unlawful assembly” is declared - after curfew or an a major incident. Then take your chances with the DA or in court.
So don’t feed the beast. Those incidents need participants or victims. — Mostly I meant get away from instigators and bad situations. Our state like other gun loving ones doesn’t stop people from bringing firearms including various ‘militias’. Best not to hang around with them. If someone is approaching people being hostile, physically aggressive, wants a confrontation or acting unhinged. Why wait around to see what happens?
I am only stating what Indivisible recommended but I know there will be either panic, people running away, or those who will try and disarm the perpetrator. None of us really knows what avenue we will take in that situation.
That advice seems like such a long time ago now. A lot depends on circumstances & what officers are trying to do. It might be OK with the new PD where I live (small city). To be honest those days may be over.
For several years I organized protests on and off in a variety of places or was a participant. We always had trusted members spread out in the crowd. In those days they wore armbands so participants would know to trust them. Armbands might not be wise now.
I live in a small city, at the edge but within, a merged city county Metro gov’t. The Metro police have tactical units which behaved like ICE-lite for years. Because of metro PD, Metro Gov’t became such a pariah that it lost its liability insurance carrier a few years ago. No carrier will touch it.
I don’t believe there is any crime except straight up homicide that an officer has not committed among those that come to light despite being covered up or lied about by colleagues and superiors. I mean that literally. No one guilty or innocent can count on not being abused; not children, women, marginalized groups, people who appear homeless, families getting children ready for school, reporters live on air, taxpayers, you name it - Metro PD abused them and their rights even if they had to lie to the FBI or in court.
Therefore, I would not trust Metro PD any more than I would Fed agents not to use gas, projectiles or detainment because people were sitting peacefully in a fraught situation. Personally, I advocate for being proactive & part of that is having a plan.
A fabulous history lesson. Those old guys sure could write! So can Mr. Beschloss.
The Attorney General and the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security: not so much.
I would warrant a guess that not a single member of the Trumpian Cabinet of Horrors knows how closely they are following King George's script.
Thanks very much Steve!! Excellent review of history and how relevant it is today
Beschloss
The man ytou are referring to in this excellent narrative of what used to be a "free nation" is also a TRAITOR. He has conspired with our enemy to destroy our freedoms, our justice, and our democracy. He has been paid - (1) according to Craig Unger -there are over 1300 incidents/transactions of Russian money helping Trump, (2) his elder sons have bragged about now using "Russian Banks" instead of American banks (who refused to loan to Trump due to his corruption, fraud, 34 felony counts, and six banktruptcies). Russian banks, all controlled by Mr. Putin have given Mr. Trump over $100 million - according to Don Jr. and Eric. Real estate transactions of Russians buying Trump labeled properties have exceeded $1.5 billion - and yes, he gets a fee.
This is a bribe by any definition. (www.vanityfair.com and www.businessinsider.com) Mr. Putin's goal since a member of the Soviet Pioneers (Russian Boy Scouts) was to destroy Russia's enemy - the United States, Great Britain, and France. His plan is actually simple: Top-Down - install a man who sold his soul and his country for illicit money and most likely Russian prostitution, and then he is unleashed to demolish the government. Bottom-Up - Place Russian Organized Crime (ROC) agents in every US state for the purpose of arson/fires, murder, cyber attacks, drug distribution, and any other means to destroy our way of life. The 2020 Census shows there are over three million Russians in the US. They are not seeking asylum, but still working for the Russian government.
The facts do not lie. Since Putin took control of Russia in 1999, the US has seen over 500 mass murders and hundreds of children's lives have been cut short. Columbine HS was the first - the date was April 20, 1999.
In the first two weeks of October (1) a Judge in South Carolina legally blocked the DOJ from acquiring voter registration information. Her home burned to the ground. (2) A Mormon Church in Michigan, one of the largest donors to Ukraine was burned and people killed. (3) An ammunition factory in TN blew up, killing 16 people. This factory manufactured weapons for Ukraine. (4) Carrie Romney, the sister-in-law of Mitt Romney - a Republican and an out-spoken critic of Donald Trump, suddenly died, She apparently jumped or was pushed off a high wall in a parking garage in California. All this iin a period of two weeks and within the United States!!!!
Americans across our nation are naive and uninformed. Those who are loyal Trump followers, have believed the lies of this con man who has sold them the Brookly Bridge. While the average new car price is now over $50,000, and the price of groceries has doubled - they continue to follow their fantacy and think he is "making America great again." Hitler and Stalin both told their respective societies the same type of message. Hitler killed more than 6 million Jews, but another 50 million individuals died in World War II which started when Germany invaded its neighbor Poland. Stalin is estimated to have killed 20 million Russians.
Trump, who compares himself to the Pope or to a King, has repeatedly remarked about invading Greenland, Canada, or other nations. He said he will use force if necessary. He is already using force and misusing our military to invade American cities with Black or Democratic leaders.
Trump has cut agricultural contracts that were esssential for US farmer income. His BBB has reduced funding for rural hospitals. These are the people who FEED AMERICA. Not only will the cost of groceries soar, but food just may be scarce and insufficient to feed Americans.
We need an act of God - and with the new Pope an American, this might be possible. Otherwise, our country is quickly - before our own eyes - heading for total devastation.
4/
Finale
And lastly
Comparing Steven’s accurate lists above and the malicious actions of the current regime with these below.
Fascism:
Fascist actions revolve around controlling society through authoritarian rule, aggressive nationalism, suppression of opposition, and the creation of an "in-group" and "out-group"
. They often come to power by capitalizing on social unrest and economic hardship.
Establishing and maintaining power
Fascist regimes use a range of actions to gain and hold onto power, including:
Cult of personality: The leader is presented as an infallible "savior" who embodies the will of the nation. State-controlled media and elaborate propaganda campaigns reinforce this image.
Creating a one-party
state: Political rivals and parties are purged and banned, dismantling democratic processes.
Opponents are jailed without trial.
Elections may be fraudulent or eliminated entirely.
Suppressing dissent: Any form of political opposition, divergent thought, or even criticism of the leader is met with forcible suppression and violence. This can involve mass arrests and the use of secret police.
Militarization: Fascists glorify military values like strength and obedience and invest heavily in the military.
Parades and other displays of military power are used to project strength and intimidate rivals.
Paramilitary forces: Fascist movements often rely on street gangs or paramilitary groups (like the Nazi Brownshirts or Italian Blackshirts) to intimidate, harass, and attack political opponents.
Controlling society and the economy
Actions used to control the population and reshape society include:
Controlling information: The mass media is heavily regulated to spread propaganda that supports the state and its leader.
This involves silencing or eliminating a free press and other independent sources of information.
Anti-intellectualism: Fascists express open hostility toward higher education and the arts, promoting ideas that align only with the fascist narrative. Book burnings and faculty purges are common.
Indoctrinating youth: Youth movements, like the Hitler Youth, are used to indoctrinate children with the state's ideology. Rigid gender roles are often reinforced from a young age.
Suppressing labor: Fascist regimes tend to protect corporate power while crushing labor movements and suppressing the rights of workers.
Exploiting economic anxiety: Fascist leaders use feelings of economic instability and fear to drum up popular support, promising prosperity and stability through radical change.
Fostering cronyism: Loyalty to the leader is prioritized over competence, and powerful positions are filled with loyal supporters and cronies. This often leads to rampant corruption.
Targeting and scapegoating minorities
Fascism creates a national identity based on a shared ethnicity, culture, or race, using blame and fear to rally support.
Actions include:
Scapegoating: Specific groups, such as ethnic minorities, immigrants, or political opponents, are demonized and blamed for the nation's problems.
Creating a hierarchy: Fascists establish a hierarchy of human worth and use populist nationalism to create a mythic "in-group".
Persecution and violence: Regimes use escalating persecution and violence against targeted groups. This can manifest as discriminatory laws, boycotts, massacres, and, in the case of Nazism, genocide.
Sexual anxiety and traditionalism: Fascist movements promote rigid gender roles and often stoke fears and anxieties about non-traditional identities, such as homosexuality, to support a patriarchal hierarchy.
Expansionist foreign policy
Fascists often engage in aggressive and imperialistic foreign policy to restore a nation's perceived past glory.
Territorial expansion: Fascist regimes seek to expand their territory and influence through armed conflict.
Glorifying violence: Violence is often celebrated as a redemptive or purifying force, particularly when it advances the national community.
https://www.taskforcebutler.org/what-is-fascism#:~:text=The%20gathering%20and%20deployment%20of,%2C%20Jews%2C%20and%20Romani%20people.