From Freedom to Fascism in 10 Easy Steps

Thanks to Blurbomat for this gem:

Article in The Guardian outlining the steps needed to turn a Democratic Republic into a Fascist State...while citing examples of how the U.S. Government has already accomplished those steps during this administration.

Funny how things can change in 6 or 7 years, isn't it?



If you found that article interesting, check out the movie America: Freedom to Fascism, directed by Aaron Russo.

Watch the authorized version on Google video here.


The moral of this story? Buy a copy of the Constitution of the United States. Learn it. Use it. Love it. Fight for it.


(psst: there's no law that says you have to pay income taxes. just fyi. carry on.)

This is just ONE soldier's story. Imagine some of the others.

If you read nothing else from any soldier of the Iraqi war...or any news story...or any opinion of someone who will never know what it's like...


Read this.




This is how we treat our keepers? This is how we treat the people who risk their lives because they truly believe that they're doing something great and meaningful?

Prisoners of war are given better treatment than that. Frankly, somewhere between the scrotum shocking and full-on health care is where we need to be with them. We shouldn't torture prisoners, but fuck...don't treat them like they're staying in a hotel. They should know they're prisoners - you think the Iraqis treat our prisoners with any respect? Hah.


And call me ridiculous, but I'm willing to bet that this woman got brushed aside mainly for being female. We're emotional...I'll give them that. But depression is nothing to toy with. And it's complete and utter bullshit that she had to go through even half of what she did. "Get over it."? Are they KIDDING? You don't "just get over" depression.

Goddamn, I'm mad. I'm REALLY mad.



As an aside, for those of you who think that socialized medicine in this country is a good idea, Danny brought up a good point: VA Benefits ARE socialized medicine. And you see how it turns out: paperwork backs up, people get lost, and while the government is twiddling their thumbs (or sitting and spinning on those thumbs...whatever...), people suffer, even die.


Now, I don't claim to know what to do about this. But more government control is NOT the answer...EVER. Remember that, guys. Seriously.

Happy Earth Day!

China: Missing child's remains found in crocodile. The thing that gets me about this story is that the manager and keeper are both being held...and they'll probably kill off the rest of the crocs, because that's what people do (kill or destroy whatever doesn't function exactly as they think it should). My question: What the fuck were those kids doing smacking crocodiles with sticks in the first place?

Moral of the story: Disrespect Mother Nature, and her agents will get you.



South Africa: Game reserve owner mauled to death by lions. I'm just wondering about that open car door. Removing a metal barrier when surrounded by large, wild cats is never a good idea. Mother Nature - 2, Humans - 0.

(thanks to View From the Porch for the above links)

Captain Obvious Award goes to this quote: "The fact that there are that many people living at that sea level means there are probably a lot of people potentially in harm's way."


And because I'm not a bitch ALL the time: Astronaut runs Boston Marathon from ISS. I have to admit, that's pretty damned cool. Kudos to Suni Williams!



In all seriousness, though: Happy Earth Day, everyone. Remember that we only have one planet, and we do need to take care of it. Take a walk today, recycle something...do something nice for Mother Earth. Or she'll sic a crocodile on your ass.

Quite the shocker, eh?

Tonight's headlines are filled with "tragic" events:

Close to 300 casualties in Somalia over the past 4 days. All this...for no good reason. Christ. You want tragic? Read that article.


Even worse: 50 killed last week during elections in Nigeria. I'd like to hear someone complain now about waiting in line for hours at the polls.


Oh, those kooky Gaza Strip people... More fighting. You just have to wonder what the REAL story is, you know? Did someone insult someone else's mother?


NASA incident blamed on bad job review.

You have to admit, after reading the stuff from other countries, that story sounds kind of weak, doesn't it? My first thought was, "Oh, WAH!"



Oh, WAH, indeed.

Assortment.

Virginia Tech is being touted as the worst disaster to hit a school ever in the history of the U.S. Did everyone forget about THIS yahoo? (Yes, I KNOW it's Wikipedia, which is in itself a somewhat unreliable source of information, but this actually did happen, and you can look it up in other sources if you're interested.)


I have one word for people who think that having someone in office for an inordinate amount of time is a good idea: Zimbabwe. When someone's in power for that long, they really lose touch with reality, and they start to rule using their grudges rather than common sense.


Do I really need to say anything about the Gonzales "scandal"? He's human, he screwed up and made a decision based on political alliances, and that decision caused some serious problems. Fire him and get the fuck on with it.


Ice traps seal hunters? This is big news? Unless they're Inuits legitimately hunting for food, I say leave them there. Dumbasses.


The European Union pretty much bans people from calling events like the Holocaust "stupid". The thing about this article that gets me is that Germany is disappointed with the new law...because they wanted a Holocaust-denial ruling in their country. Yeah. Sweep THAT under the rug. I dare ya.


Response time of Taiwanese officials tested by students. This came after the events of Monday. Frankly, I commend the kid. With the way that OUR police officers acted (hiding behind trees? Are you kidding me?), I think people need to be wary of relying 100% on law enforcement without knowing if they're going to follow through.


And that's all I have for now.

A small, but VERY important, victory.

TN Legislators vote to allow guns on state-owned property.

Thank goodness SOMEONE realizes that guns aren't the evil component here.

Shit or get off the pot.

Hot Air has posted a video of Senator McCarthy wherein she is asked a very simple question that she is unable to answer.

The question? "Your bill proposes to ban weapons with something called a barrel shroud. Can you tell me what that is?"

McCarthy proceeds to dodge and squirm, choosing to try to harp on guns in general, even going so far as to try to start a "cop killer" sort of discussion. Tucker Carlson doesn't let up, and finally says, "Oh, cuz it's in your legislation" in a tone of voice that clearly says, "you're an idiot", after McCarthy FINALLY admits that no, she doesn't actually know what a barrel shroud is.


Interestingly enough, her bill (which you can find the text for here) states the following definition:

`(36) Barrel Shroud- The term `barrel shroud' means a shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel of a firearm so that the shroud protects the user of the firearm from heat generated by the barrel, but does not include a slide that encloses the barrel, and does not include an extension of the stock along the bottom of the barrel which does not encircle or substantially encircle the barrel."

Nice. You propose a bill that would strip Americans of a very basic right, and you don't even read the fucking thing. Way to go, kneejerk reaction!

Inspiration of a different sort.

The occurrence on Monday was terrible. I will not dispute that.

However, we need to stop treating these situations like excuses to lament and start using them as opportunities for change.

I don't mean the kind of change that causes stricter laws or more discrimination against people who might not fit in with our "ideal" society.

I mean the kind of change that allows people to be who they are, express their opinions, and PROTECT THEMSELVES, above all else.


I think it's wonderful that people are reaching out to the victims' families. Good on ya, if you can reach far enough outside of your Monkeysphere to actually CARE about the people, rather than using the tragedy as an excuse for your own agenda.


However, as A View From the Porch pointed out, and what will ultimately be the point of my creating this blog, people have got to start paying attention. They've got to start realizing what consequences their actions and reactions are going to have on the world around them. We are no longer a nation cut off from the rest of the world...we haven't been in decades. The world is watching, and some of them are waiting for us to become a discombobulated mass so that they can strike...much like someone pouring water on an ant hill in order to draw the largest number of the colony to the top before applying poison.


This has got to stop. We have got to educate ourselves and begin fighting back. Whimpering in a corner may draw sympathy from your mom, but the stranger down the street is going to think you're a wimp, and he may rob you blind while you're crying.