Republicans closely resemble autocratic parties in Hungary and Turkey – study

[D_NATURED]

If I may respond? Thanks.

Communism, and I lived through the McCarthy era and heard much of the hearings, never established a foothold among the American people*. There were a vocal few, but that was all. A few were Russian sympathizers, but the accent should be on the word 'few'. Senator McCarthy, though, did present something of a danger. He was an excellent example of a demagogue who didn't believe in what he was proclaiming. It can be argued that his disbelief was his downfall. He somehow lacked the aura -- the glow -- of a true believer. Now, a number of politicians are guilty of this, but generally they don't do much damage. Senator McCarthy, in a different society with a different history and different values, might well have succeeded. A quietly spoken lawyer who spoke for America was all that was needed to stop him.

Regards, stay safe 'n well. Remember the Big 3: masks, hand washing and physical distancing.

* For what it's worth, socialism, the control by the government of the means of production and distribution, isn't on the horizon, either. Political accusations of 'Socialist!' are simple hogwash.

Thanks for that. McCarthy was crazy but he couldn't have harmed and blacklisted so many without there being a broader sickness in our country. Lots of good people were forever hurt by job loss, being socially outcast and worse.

Even though fascists have been an ever-presrnt influence in American politics, even planning a coup using a military vets to take over washington, there's never been the kind of witch hunt that communism hysteria inspired. Why is that? Maybe it's time we called out some actual fascists like we did so many innocent others.

 

[Torus34]

Thanks for that. McCarthy was crazy but he couldn't have harmed and blacklisted so many without there being a broader sickness in our country. Lots of good people were forever hurt by job loss, being socially outcast and worse.

Even though fascists have been an ever-presrnt influence in American politics, even planning a coup using a military vets to take over washington, there's never been the kind of witch hunt that communism hysteria inspired. Why is that? Maybe it's time we called out some actual fascists like we did so many innocent others.

Hi!

I'm in agreement. The trick here is to be careful of terms like 'fascist' and use a more generic appellation as, for example, authoritarian. What's going on in, say, Poland, Hungary and Turkey is not easily map-able onto Italy during the rise of Mr. Benito Mussolini, but certain characteristics are. Instilling a sense of distrust in the structures of government is one of them. Using legislation to carry out an increase in power for the party in power's another.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

 

[D_NATURED]

Hi!

I'm in agreement. The trick here is to be careful of terms like 'fascist' and use a more generic appellation as, for example, authoritarian. What's going on in, say, Poland, Hungary and Turkey is not easily map-able onto Italy during the rise of Mr. Benito Mussolini, but certain characteristics are. Instilling a sense of distrust in the structures of government is one of them. Using legislation to carry out an increase in power for the party in power's another.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

I agree the word "fascist" has been irrevocably redefined-by fascists- until its meaning as an apt descriptor for far-right authoritarian greed merchants has been rendered confusing to many. There needn't be a direct parallel to Mussolini for it to apply to those who would consolidate political power into the hands of the wealthy, crack down violently on the poor and have a big ****ing parade to celebrate it. They are, indeed, fascists, even if they're not Italian and they reject the lable.

 

[Fred C Dobbs II]

I think it’s totally irrelevant, especially in America. Fascism, on the other hand, still has strong support from many on the far right.

Do you feel that the Italian Fascists were worse than the Communists? Are aware that the Communist Party in the US is much stronger than any Fascist Party?

 

[Tigerace117]

Do you feel that the Italian Fascists were worse than the Communists? Are aware that the Communist Party in the US is much stronger than any Fascist Party?

The Trump cult is actively sympathetic and supportive of fascism and white supremacism. The Italian fascists under Mussolini were complicit in the Holocaust so yes, they were far worse than the Italian communists on multiple levels.

 

[Fred C Dobbs II]

Hi!

I'm in agreement. The trick here is to be careful of terms like 'fascist' and use a more generic appellation as, for example, authoritarian. What's going on in, say, Poland, Hungary and Turkey is not easily map-able onto Italy during the rise of Mr. Benito Mussolini, but certain characteristics are. Instilling a sense of distrust in the structures of government is one of them. Using legislation to carry out an increase in power for the party in power's another.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

McCarthy's fight was against Communism and those members of government who were members of, or sympathetic to, the Communist Party. And there were many. We know also that over 100 million people died as a consequence of this murderous ideology, much more than Fascism or Nazism combined. While it's true that at least 10 people lost their jobs for having flirted with Communism we must also be aware of the number of people who have had their careers ruined because of charges of racism, sexism, global warming denial, and so on. And these people do not get a friendly ear from those looking for 'justice'.

Next time you hear of McCarthyism being mentioned in a derogatory way we should look around and see all the hate targeted against groups and individuals because they may only have a difference of opinion. In fact you ca see a much worse version of McCarthyism happening on these boards and in the media every day.

The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression: Courtois, Stéphane, Werth, Nicolas, Panné, Jean-Louis, Paczkowski, Andrzej, Bartošek, Karel, Margolin, Jean-Louis, Kramer, Mark, Murphy, Jonathan: 9780674076082: Books - Amazon.ca

The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression: Courtois, Stéphane, Werth, Nicolas, Panné, Jean-Louis, Paczkowski, Andrzej, Bartošek, Karel, Margolin, Jean-Louis, Kramer, Mark, Murphy, Jonathan: 9780674076082: Books - Amazon.ca

www.amazon.ca

.

 

[Fred C Dobbs II]

The Trump cult is actively sympathetic and supportive of fascism and white supremacism. The Italian fascists under Mussolini were complicit in the Holocaust so yes, they were far worse than the Italian communists on multiple levels.

You can easily make these claims, anyone can do it, but do you have any facts to support them?

You know that Communism was not restricted to Italy, right?

 

[Fred C Dobbs II]

Thanks for that. McCarthy was crazy but he couldn't have harmed and blacklisted so many without there being a broader sickness in our country. Lots of good people were forever hurt by job loss, being socially outcast and worse.

Even though fascists have been an ever-presrnt influence in American politics, even planning a coup using a military vets to take over washington, there's never been the kind of witch hunt that communism hysteria inspired. Why is that? Maybe it's time we called out some actual fascists like we did so many innocent others.

Yes, "Show trials" sound like a great idea and, in fact, these political trials without genuine evidence have shown to be popular among Leftists throughout the US for the last four years. Feelings are important too, and here's the guy to inspire them.

 

[Torus34]

McCarthy's fight was against Communism and those members of government who were members of, or sympathetic to, the Communist Party. And there were many. We know also that over 100 million people died as a consequence of this murderous ideology, much more than Fascism or Nazism combined. While it's true that at least 10 people lost their jobs for having flirted with Communism we must also be aware of the number of people who have had their careers ruined because of charges of racism, sexism, global warming denial, and so on. And these people do not get a friendly ear from those looking for 'justice'.

Next time you hear of McCarthyism being mentioned in a derogatory way we should look around and see all the hate targeted against groups and individuals because they may only have a difference of opinion. In fact you ca see a much worse version of McCarthyism happening on these boards and in the media every day.

The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression: Courtois, Stéphane, Werth, Nicolas, Panné, Jean-Louis, Paczkowski, Andrzej, Bartošek, Karel, Margolin, Jean-Louis, Kramer, Mark, Murphy, Jonathan: 9780674076082: Books - Amazon.ca

The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression: Courtois, Stéphane, Werth, Nicolas, Panné, Jean-Louis, Paczkowski, Andrzej, Bartošek, Karel, Margolin, Jean-Louis, Kramer, Mark, Murphy, Jonathan: 9780674076082: Books - Amazon.ca

www.amazon.ca

.

Good morning!

Senator Joseph McCarthy ["Mr. Chairman, I have here in my hand ..."] made a big deal out of what was, in retrospect, very little. The damage done through the associated blacklisting was far greater than any which might have occurred absent his 'revelations'. What he did was nothing new. The techniques he used are in full display today in many venues. You know them as well as I, so I'll not give specific examples. One which is easily recognizable makes use of association. It goes something like this: "X has been seen in the company of Y. Y, as you know, is related to Z, who travelled to Russia during the same week that ... ."

And so it goes, in the land of free speech. These days, it's a tad more difficult to convince people you're selling steak when it's obviously tripe. We may, as a society, be maturing a bit, here and there.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

 

[Tangmo]

The Republican Party has become the largest pro Russia political party outside of Russia itself. It manifested after Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 made over to be the champion of the Global Right.

Republicans-Conservatives in the USA have become what we fought successfully against throughout the 20th century. Which is why the Right has failed miserably trying to say fascism originates with the Left. Indeed people virtually everywhere know fascism comes from the Right and is fiercely anti Left.

Trumpolini took up virtually every issue that has long eaten away at the Republicans-Conservatives and he's run with the whole of it since. Now they're working at their only and best hope, ie, minority rule.

Making America Russia Instead.

 

[Torus34]

The Republican Party has become the largest pro Russia political party outside of Russia itself. It manifested after Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 made over to be the champion of the Global Right.

Republicans-Conservatives in the USA have become what we fought successfully against throughout the 20th century. Which is why the Right has failed miserably trying to say fascism originates with the Left. Indeed people virtually everywhere know fascism comes from the Right and is fiercely anti Left.

Trumpolini took up virtually every issue that has long eaten away at the Republicans-Conservatives and he's run with the whole of it since. Now they're working at their only and best hope, ie, minority rule.

Making America Russia Instead.

Hi!

'Scuse me for interrupting. Just wanted to suggest that it's worth while learning the characteristic indicators of a drift toward a single-party state regardless of whether left or right is involved. The driving force can be either or, in one present on-going attempt, a religious conviction.

Regards, stay safe 'n well. Remember the Big 3: masks, hand washing and physical distancing.

 

[Tangmo]

Hi!

'Scuse me for interrupting. Just wanted to suggest that it's worth while learning the characteristic indicators of a drift toward a single-party state regardless of whether left or right is involved. The driving force can be either or, in one present on-going attempt, a religious conviction.

Regards, stay safe 'n well. Remember the Big 3: masks, hand washing and physical distancing.

Learned that long ago and much more thx anyway.

You might take some comfort all the same to know I'll call you when I think I may need the prescient aid or assistance of a pipe smoker in a tweed jacket.

I trust meanwhile you might share the thesis of my post you're ignoring yet believe you're responding to that the Republican Party has become the largest pro Russia party outside of Russia itself. And that, concomitantly, Republicans-Conservatives have become what we fought against throughout the 20th century.

Given your presumptuous post I'll be more specific in this latter respect: absolute monarchy early in the 20th century, ie, the Great European War; subsequent fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, Japan; to include a miserable Soviet totalitarianism and insane CCP Maoism.

Other than that nothing much happened last century that set the world on fire in quite the same ways. I say these things having lived through a quarter of my country's history.

 

[Torus34]

Learned that long ago and much more thx anyway.

You might take some comfort all the same to know I'll call you when I think I may need the prescient aid or assistance of a pipe smoker in a tweed jacket.

I trust meanwhile you might share the thesis of my post you're ignoring yet believe you're responding to that the Republican Party has become the largest pro Russia party outside of Russia itself. And that, concomitantly, Republicans-Conservatives have become what we fought against throughout the 20th century.

Given your presumptuous post I'll be more specific in this latter respect: absolute monarchy early in the 20th century, ie, the Great European War; subsequent fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, Japan; to include a miserable Soviet totalitarianism and insane CCP Maoism.

Other than that nothing much happened last century that set the world on fire in quite the same ways.

Oh my goodness! It appears that my writing style or something I wrote didn't sit well with you. Please accept my apologies. Btw, I did have a liking for Harris tweeds and smoked a pipe years ago! [Ed.: He never got to the leather patches on the elbows stage.]

That the present Republican party exhibits some of the characteristics associated with a group attempting to establish a one-party state is a given. By avoiding stating that, I hoped that others who checked out my suggestions would come to a similar conclusion. Russia, meanwhile, has played a role in American political shenanigans tracing back to at least McCarthy Hearings times. This present period is not different, though the tools used have changed somewhat. The Russian leaders, it appears, can no more resist dabbling in the US than the US can resist the temptations to meddle in Central and South American nations.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

 

[Tangmo]

Oh my goodness! It appears that my writing style or something I wrote didn't sit well with you. Please accept my apologies. Btw, I did have a liking for Harris tweeds and smoked a pipe years ago! [Ed.: He never got to the leather patches on the elbows stage.]

That the present Republican party exhibits some of the characteristics associated with a group attempting to establish a one-party state is a given. By avoiding stating that, I hoped that others who checked out my suggestions would come to a similar conclusion. Russia, meanwhile, has played a role in American political shenanigans tracing back to at least McCarthy Hearings times. This present period is not different, though the tools used have changed somewhat. The Russian leaders, it appears, can no more resist dabbling in the US than the US can resist the temptations to meddle in Central and South American nations.

Regards, stay safe 'n well.

With your perpetual blessings how could one miss eh.


Perhaps your writing seeks to gloss over there is no moral equivalency vis a vis USA and Russia. That is, it's flat out indisputable that generally and overall we are the good guys and they are the bad guys. For you to get to this recognition -- indeed, realization -- you first need to get past yourself.

Keep me posted thx.

 

[D_NATURED]

Do you feel that the Italian Fascists were worse than the Communists? Are aware that the Communist Party in the US is much stronger than any Fascist Party?

The REPUBLICANS are the fascist party, in deed if not in name. Let's quit worrying about labels and start thinking about the political substance.

So, no, the almost non-existent communist party is not more powerful.

 

[Torus34]

With your perpetual blessings how could one miss eh.


Perhaps your writing seeks to gloss over there is no moral equivalency vis a vis USA and Russia. That is, it's flat out indisputable that generally and overall we are the good guys and they are the bad guys. For you to get to this recognition -- indeed, realization -- you first need to get past yourself.

Keep me posted thx.

Hi again.

I don't see things in a 'good guys/bad guys' light. I do see national governments as 'better' or 'worse'. That's based on their long-term histories. It can also extend to large segments of a country's population. Massacres of part of a population by another part's an example.

And so it goes.

Best wishes to you and yours. [See? You can teach an old dog new tricks! ;-)]

 

[Tangmo]

Hi again.

I don't see things in a 'good guys/bad guys' light. I do see national governments as 'better' or 'worse'. That's based on their long-term histories. It can also extend to large segments of a country's population. Massacres of part of a population by another part's an example.

And so it goes.

Best wishes to you and yours. [See? You can teach an old dog new tricks! ;-)]

I'm aware of how you see thingys thx anyway to include how one can write cliches too, both intellectual and literal.

Thx meanwhile for granting my request to keep me posted on your assigned Project Realism. All the same I wish I could be encouraged. So I think you and I are finished here thx again -- or at least I'd hope so as this goes nowhere super fast and high speed.

 

[D_NATURED]

Yes, "Show trials" sound like a great idea and, in fact, these political trials without genuine evidence have shown to be popular among Leftists throughout the US for the last four years. Feelings are important too, and here's the guy to inspire them.

So, let me understand your "argument". You're saying that I am glue and you are rubber? Hmmm...interesting take for an adult.

Let me ask you, how many innocent fascists lost their jobs or were blacklisted when the big, bad wiberals hurt your feelings by trying to impeach the criminal, Trump, but were obstructed by his fellow fascists?

Answer: We'll see on election day.

 

[Tigerace117]

You can easily make these claims, anyone can do it, but do you have any facts to support them?

You know that Communism was not restricted to Italy, right?

Yes, I can. You specifically asked about Italian fascists. I pointed out that they were, in fact, far worse than the Italian communists.

 

[Torus34]

I'm aware of how you see thingys thx anyway to include how one can write cliches too, both intellectual and literal.

Thx meanwhile for granting my request to keep me posted on your assigned Project Realism. All the same I wish I could be encouraged. So I think you and I are finished here thx again -- or at least I'd hope so as this goes nowhere super fast and high speed.

Your concern for me, superseding even the issues of the day, is touching.

Hi, and bye. Like, really bye.

 

[Tangmo]

Your concern for me, superseding even the issues of the day, is touching.

Hi, and bye. Like, really bye.

So no more of your touchy touching and your feely feeling thank God.

Not that there might be a god given 'thank God' is an expression and manner of speaking of course. Everyone's God being the one and only God being capitalized besides.

Otherwise I would not be thanking any kind of god for anything so thx again for hitting the trail. Let's accept that you and I can meet again somewhere down the trail rather than continue your self embarrassment right here still with more yet to come.