The United States of America, once “the light of the world,” began death throes in 1980, not then appreciated. Warnings were ignored. The first, ironically, appeared in 1776: Gibbons” “The Decline and Fall of the Roman. Empire.” Tuchman’s “The March of Folly” ignored. Diamond’s “Collapse. How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” obviously ignored.
In 1935, Sinclair Lewis’ novel, “It Can’t Happen Here” had demagogue “Buzz” Windrip elected president. His campaign created fear; promised drastic reform; promoted patriotism and “traditional values.” In 2016, the outdated Electoral College allowed a Windrip clone to become president. He promoted fear with a divide-and-conquer campaign claiming America undermined by “others” not legitimate “Americans.” His kleptocracy enriched family and close associates, ran up national debt.
Windrip II significantly weakened unwritten “soft” rules underlying American democracy; corrupted language, engaging in word salad pronouncements saying nothing. He corrupted the very purpose of “democratic” government, appointing a cabinet of the rich hating departments they ran; ruled with openly authoritarian practices.
Windrip II capped this refusing to accept his 7 million vote defeat; plotted with inner circle to subvert the 2020 election. Some of this in plain sight, most infamously, January 6, 2021 insurrection. Other revelations became public in 2021, documenting the depth, breadth, depravity of his treason
Windrip II had help. Like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, he had enablers. “A Warning” by a senior administration official, described democratic “guardrails” systematically dismantled. Chapters included “Assault on Democracy.”
Truth-telling books about Windrip II continue being written, by award-winning authors, corroborating Windrip II’s amoral kleptocracy. His “true believers” refuse accepting overwhelming evidence.
There were earlier warnings. Former Nixon lawyer, John Dean’s “Broken Government..How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches” described and predicted what would happen if a Windrip II was elected. Highly respected Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein’s “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks..How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism”‘s conclusion: “The Republican Party..is an insurgent outlier..ideologically extreme; contemptuous of inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence, and science;..dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition, all but declaring war on government.”
There were “confessionals by ex-Republican staffers. Stuart Stevens” “It Was All A Lie” said what was needed was “Burn it [Repub Party] to the ground..{Windrip II] didn’t hijack the GOP..the party had already become [Windrip II], and he or his like was inevitable.”
Windrip II primary victims are truth and language. Read Victor Klemperer’s “The Language of the Third Reich;” Michiko Kakutani’s “The Death of Truth;” Adam Hodges’ “When words Trump Politics..Resisting a Hostile Regime of Language;” “Language in the [Windrip II] Era.. Scandals and Emergencies,” edited by Janet McIntosh and Norma Mendoza-Denton.
1980-2021 pronouncements by authoritarians are word salad and code words. A “yes-no” question results in a 5 minute word barrage, spoken arrogantly and rapidly, at high volume, that says nothing. As Stevens said, most 1980-2021 far right positions and policies are “Al A Lie.” They have to cover up lies, otherwise never win elections. Their weapons: fear and anger, divide and conquer. Their messages delivered by extensive “alternative universe” of media propaganda outlets: one TV station, “talk radio” liars, and internet idiots. The coordinated conveyor belt pushes propaganda lies upward; repeat the lies often.
The propaganda is directed at vulnerable people. We were previously warned. Eric Hoffer’s “The True Believer” analyzed the fanatic, compelled to join a cause. Hoffer: “Who is the True Believer? “He’s a guilt-ridden hitchhiker who thumbs a ride on every cause from Christianity to Communism. He’s a fanatic, needing a Stalin [or Christ] to worship and die for. He’s the mortal enemy of things-as-they-are, and he insists on sacrificing himself for a dream impossible to attain.”
Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” analyzed effects of electronic media. His premise: “The form in which ideas are expressed affects what those ideas will be.” We’ve paid a heavy price for printed ideas demise.
Jay Lifton’s “Losing Reality..On Cults, Cultism, and the Mindset of Political and Religious Zealotry” discusses “..the cooperation between Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. C.A. ..was largely the creation of Steve Bannon and his billionaire sponsor, Robert Mercer. One former co-executive referred to C.A. as “Bannon’s arsenal of weaponry to wage a culture war on America using military strategies.'”
John Dean and Bob Altemeyer’s “Authoritarian Nightmare” studied why some people are vulnerable to a Windrip II. Altemeyer’s decades-long research, combined with current polling: an estimated 14% of American adults were double risk authoritarians, waiting for the next Windrip, Hitler, Stalin. Some were visible on January 6, 2021
For food for thought: Allen Frances’ 2017 “twilight of american sanity,” and Public Affairs Report’s “What Orwell Didn’t Know,” edited by Andras Szanto
Many believe America is an oligarchy. Start with the easy stuff: from 1947-73, America achieved its peak broad-based middle class golden age; top marginal tax rates averaged 81%; most rich restrained by social mores. Some didn’t like this. High taxes on them “HAD” to go – they did.
Oft-mentioned about the top 1%/corporate revolt, Lewis Powell’s 1970 speech and infamous 1971 “Memo.” Corporate lobbyists multiplied like rabbits. After 1980, election costs exploded. Those who had the play money – top 1% – wanted something; tax lobbying is 50% of D.C. activity; others eliminate labor rights and regulations – both protect the lower 95% – which explains why 2021 America is an oligarchy.
Gone from greatest mass prosperity to: hundreds of thousands of homeless; massive drug overdosing; extensive job “offshoring;” 50% struggling to survive; pervasive hunger; child care crisis….. This DID NOT. happen “naturally.” It was planned.
Beginning of post-1980 theft and inequality comes from unspun IRS income data; March-April, 2011 “Mother Jones;” double Pulitzers Bartlett and Steele’s “The Betrayal of the American. Dream;” Pulitzer winner Hedrick Smith’s “Who Stole the American Dream?:” “The Cheating of America” by Charles Lewis, Bill Allison and the Center for Public Integrity; the “Panama” and “Pandora” Papers; Charles Ferguson”s Academy Award winner “Inside Job” and “Predator Nation;” Sept-Oct, 2021, stories of top 1% cheating America by $160 billion every year.
Further documentation: Nancy MacLean’s “Democracy in Chains..The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America:” Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money…the Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right;” Anne Nelson’s “Shadow Network…Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right>”
Quotes from top 1% employee: “Only governments and..courts remained as sources of authority, if enacted Charles’ libertarian policies would eliminate these. “He was driven..to smash the one thing left in the world that could discipline him: the government.: Betsy DeVos [1997]: “Soft money was..hard-earned..dollars..Big Brother has yet to control…I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion we are buying influence. Now, I simply concede the point..We do expect something in return.” [IS THERE ANY DOUBT??????] Warren Buffett: “There’s class warfare, all right, but it is my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.” Republican Representative Fred Heineman: “WhenI see someone..making anywhere from $300-750,000 a year, that’s middle class.” [10/25/96]
The Founders’ #1 fear: corruption. Madison’s notes show “corruption” written 54 times in the 100 days of 1787. America now #24th best in honesty. Money decides elections; foreigners have DC lobbyists; white collar criminals rarely held accountable
Basic info: Teachout’s “Corruption in America.” Sarah Chayes’ foreign service experiences developed her corruption senses for “Corruption in America and What’s At Stake”‘s major message: 3rd world corruption IS. IN. AMERICA. Pulitzer winner Anne Applebaum’s “Twilight of Democracy,” discusses “the seductive lure of authoritarianism,” relating East European tendencies occurring in America.
1995-2021 Congressional corruption now so bad, issues formerly easily discussed and dealt with become “wedges” and “bargaining chips.” Major industries have people they “own” by “campaign contributions” and future jobs. [this from confessions]. Lobbyists write laws, infest Congress, pressure regulators, file lawsuits – whatever “necessary.”
Another major Founders’ fear: religion. Article VI and Amendment One were to prevent corruption – they’ve failed, because of Supreme Court rulings. The Rhenquist and Roberts Courts attacked then “establishment” clause with the “freedom of religion” clause; they’ve made the First Amendment say what Founders explicitly DID NOT say.
Documentation of this corruption can be found examining 1776-1799 state constitutions>. In great detail, those constitutions express an ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL “separation of church and state.” North Carolina, 1776: “..neither shall any person, ON. ANY. PRETENSE WHATSOEVER, be COMPELLED..” to support any church, attend any church, “..contrary to what he believes right.” [ ANY. DOUBT?]
Words from state constitutions, 1776-1799, appear in Article VI and Amendment one: no religious test, no “established [state, official] church., no person compelled to do anything against his will. My challenge to any doubter: look up the original state constitutions, 1776-1799. They have ENTIRE PARAGRAPHS. describing what the First Amendment has in a short phrase. – those constitutions are what Amendment One means
Reactionary religious zealots have very clear goals. “Schools are the battle grounds. The goal of 500,000 born-again Christians working inside the ‘system is to bring public education back under..control of the Christian community.” [Robert Simonds, 1991] Randall Terry: “Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty…are called by God to conquer this country…We don’t..want..pluralism.”
Evidence cited herein, a minute part of 50 years’ evidence, leads a “reasonable person” in one direction: some “AmericanS are planning to end 1787-1980 America. Their goal”. theocratic plutocracy
The plutocratic part has already largely been created. The top 1% and corporations [they own] control the economy; since 1980, a hugely disproportionate share of national income goes to them. Major problems, like the cost and failures of American “health care” are maintained. Fossil fuel powers prevented meaningful action on global warming. There are two sets of”justice:” one for the rich, one for the bottom 95%.
The theocratic part – the voters the plutocrats need – might get their wishes fulfilled by the 2021 Supreme Court. Then far right wing legal “conveyor belt”shoveled Constitution altering cases for decision. Your health choices could be controlled by a church YOU. DON’T. attend. “Sincerely held religious beliefs” getting close to total “get out of jail free” cards for anything. We may have guns for all with little restraint.
One major party supports this – the Republicans. their own people admitted the crazies have taken over; once fringe fantasies now gospel. their 50 year attack on government legitimacy accepted by most Republican voters.
If “Buzz” Windrip II, or III, wins a future election, death of the American democratic republic will be complete – and final. A death allowed to occur; victims watched it happen, did little; some even cheered.
When everybody has “rights,” but no “responsibilities;” when everybody can march to their own drummer because of “rights”. – we have anarchy. When we have anarchy, ground is ripe for “Buzz” Windrip, II or III.
Then, government of the people, by the people, for the people – SHALL have perished from the earth – in the name of “rights.” The American democracy. SHALL. have ended – resulting in a royalty of the rich, a state church, a corporate economy – EVERYTHING the Founders tried to prevent. Madison, Lincoln, Lewis proved very, very, wrong.
With Justice For All 