The slow walk into fascism…

Thanks to Tony for sending me this link to a piece that was recently published in The Guardian. In it, the author points out that every fascist state has taken at least these ten steps to close down democracy — and the US has now completed the list as well:

• Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy
• Create a gulag
• Develop a thug caste
• Set up an internal surveillance system
• Harass citizens' groups
• Engage in arbitrary detention and release
• Target key individuals
• Control the press
• Dissent equals treason
• Suspend the rule of law </ul> </p>

  I wish I could quibble with her examples, but unfortunately I not only agree with hers, but can add more. Living here in Vienna we've slowly, and gently, urged Oma to talk about what she remembers of the early years of Hitler. I wish that there weren't so many parallels! Most of the people with whom I've talked about this here -- and they're all friends of Oma's -- are old enough to remember WWII, and can't figure out why US citizens are so slow to defend their democracy. My only response is that I think people believe "it couldn't happen here" -- and don't have any idea of the early warning signs. I hope that more people will read Wolf's article and think about our history.