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Last autumn, there was a military coup in Thailand. The leaders of the coup took a number of steps, rather systematically, as if they had a shopping list. In a sense, they did. Within a matter of days, democracy had been closed down: the coup leaders declared martial law, sent armed soldiers into residential areas, took over radio and TV stations, issued restrictions on the press, tightened some limits on travel, and took certain activists into custody.

They were not figuring these things out as they went along. If you look at history, you can see that there is essentially a blueprint for turning an open society into a dictatorship. That blueprint has been used again and again in more and less bloody, more and less terrifying ways. But it is always effective. It is very difficult and arduous to create and sustain a democracy - but history shows that closing one down is much simpler. You simply have to be willing to take the 10 steps.

As difficult as this is to contemplate, it is clear, if you are willing to look, that each of these 10 steps has already been initiated today in the United States by the Bush administration.

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1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy.

2. Create a gulag.

3. Develop a thug caste.

4. Set up an internal surveillance system.

5. Harass citizens' groups.

6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release.

7. Target key individuals.

8. Control the press.

9. Dissent equals treason.

10. Suspend the rule of law.

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As Americans turn away quite leisurely, keeping tuned to internet shopping and American Idol, the foundations of democracy are being fatally corroded. Something has changed profoundly that weakens us unprecedentedly: our democratic traditions, independent judiciary and free press do their work today in a context in which we are "at war" in a "long war" - a war without end, on a battlefield described as the globe, in a context that gives the president - without US citizens realising it yet - the power over US citizens of freedom or long solitary incarceration, on his say-so alone.

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Interesting article by Naomi, she lists 10 steps to get to a fascist state, and Chris Hedges list 14 telltale signs of fascism indwelling in conscious thought and action, that are indicative of pushed movement towards it.

It is not too hard to believe that an incident will occur before Bush leaves office, where he will be able to impliment the new " John Warner Defense Authorization Act." After all why get it put into place if you do not intend to use it? And they cannot afford to fail this time.

It is alarming, that the signs are rearing their ugly head here in Canada too.

The military and the RCMP are fully co-opted by Harper and business. The theo-con right are frothing at the mouth about returning society to some mythical "past" tradition where everything was perfect.

The military is fed the BS they are being heros in Afghanistan. That message is trying to be rammed down the throat of Canadians too. To say different is almost treason.

The belief in the notion of a constant state of war is being fostered here to, because of "external" threats, and/or by spreading the nonsense of being heros over the long haul to create something out of nothing.

The CPC tried to suspend the rule of law, but were blocked, though they are still trying to subvert it by stacking the judiciary committees. The court challenges program was dissolved.

Threatening people with job loss if they do not tow the line, has been happening within parliament even. Bureaucrats like the head of the wheat board are being tossed out, or ministrial agencies being destroyed, environment Status of Women, giving clear messages to other heads of bureaucratic arms of government.

Keeping secrets from the population regarding Canada being complicit in the torture and extrajudicial executions being done.

Oh, yes the signs are here, and Canadians had better stop being distracted before it is too late.

[ 27 April 2007: Message edited by: remind ]

She gave very interesting and disturbing facts from Chile and Russia, to name two off the top of my head. I am looking forward to seeing the whole book. Oh yes and New Orleans.

Edited after reading above that the quote was from another Naomi. Here is a link to our Naomi with some preview info about her book.

Naomi Klein link

[ 27 April 2007: Message edited by: kropotkin1951 ]

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Originally posted by kropotkin1951:
I heard Naomi speak at a CCPA fundraiser in Feb. and she was talking about her new book on Disaster Capitalism. Very in depth analysis of the fascists implementation of the Chicago School of Economic's game plan for stealing the publics communal wealth.

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Can't wait for her new book.

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Originally posted by remind:
And our very own Stephen Harper is a product of the product of the Chicago School.

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oh my GOD!!! He's a replicant!

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One in 10 public high school students in Chicago wears a military uniform to school and takes classes -- including how to shoot a gun properly -- from retired veterans.

That number is expected to rise as junior military reserve programs expand across the country now that a congressional cap of 3,500 units has been lifted from the nearly century-old scheme.

Proponents of the junior reserve programs say they provide stability and a sense of purpose for troubled youth and help to instill values such as leadership and responsibility.

But opponents say the programs divert critical resources from crumbling public schools and lead to a militarization of US society.

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