I cannot yet fully believe that the vast majority of Americans don’t wish for actual progress in building this country, I refuse to comprehend a majority of people wanting an end of our democracy as it is, and don’t subscribe to the notion that for control of their lives, they truly want it to be turned over to only a handful of leaders, and in particular to the whims of one particular individual. Yet there is an obvious substantial number who don’t comprehend the actions of certain individuals in the last years, or who may have given up on the idea of American democracy altogether. Below is a quote stressing that trust begins only when fear of vulnerability is conquered.
“Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability."
– Patrick Lencioni (born c.1965), an American author of books on business management.
Vulnerability is perceived by a vast number of today’s leaders as only a weakness not to show. Concession is only a failure in their way of thinking. We are far from this trust building and teamwork in Washington DC and many state capitals, we are much closer to the threat of unleashed unpredictable despotism. The results of tyranny have been experienced during all of human existence, yet it seems that this very easily understood concept is discounted by those caught up within a movement. Somehow they seem in a state of denialism that it won’t apply to them individually, as they feel a unity and shared purpose, not cognitive of the actual danger they are assisting in strengthening. A danger of which the probability of future harm to themselves is discounted, or not contemplated entirely.
One must realize from history the dangers of despotism. Tyranny has been with man since our very beginnings. The 1930s and 1940s especially were a time of great loss and death, and the impetus for much of it was fascism which began in Italy under Mussolini and was adopted by Hitler and the Nazi movement which brought great cataclysms to much of the globe, touching many millions of lives.
We often think of the deaths perpetrated by the Nazi party. If one looks for the total casualties during this time, the numbers are not well defined, and work continues on what the true numbers may be. A search for the numbers themselves astounded me to understand the global calamity.
“Most likely the Nazis wiped out 5,291,000 Jews, 258,000 Gypsies, 10,547,000 Slavs, and 220,000 homosexuals. They also "euthanized" 173,500 handicapped Germans. Throughout Europe in total, they likely annihilated 20,946,000 human beings.”
But what about the Germans and Italians who may have supported these governments from their inception. Here are some numbers which I choose, which seem representative of the various estimates.
German casualties from WWII are estimated to have been up to 7.4 million, with civilian deaths of about 2 million. Germany lost in total the fourth most of all countries affected. The estimates of German civilian deaths from Allied bombing ranged from 350,000 to 500,000. German military wounded is estimated to have been 7.3 million. This is Germany of 1940 with a population of 70.7 million.
Italy had a reported 457,000 total casualties from WWII, with civilian casualties of about 155,400. This from a country in 1940 of 44.5 million.
Truly there was great damage done to human life in those years associated with fascist governments. This should be instructive to anyone who may contemplate a despotic state, in America as something desirable. The recognition of our current state of the far Right does not necessarily register to many. America has not faced such authoritarianism since the Civil War, and many are blind to the similarities in 2023 to 1860. So our collective guard is down at this time, especially to many who may choose a right wing media source for their information.
The actual danger of true socialism (perhaps a partial destruction of capitalism) or the extremism of communism (total destruction of capitalism) seem minuscule compared to far right dictatorship at this time. There is no data anywhere which can dispute this claim that I am aware of. And there is nuance between the “socialism” of Bernie Sanders, AOC, FDR and that of many European countries today and true socialism, which is misunderstood through lack of self education, or through acceptance of the conservative media organizations and political leaders they rely upon and give trust, who purposely “inform” their misthinking for political gain.
One only has to follow the news from reputable sources, not the very slanted view from some notable media companies, to note the creeping of despotism. Although traditional American journalism has been knocked off its feet by the coming tide of ferocious authoritarianism, and they perhaps haven’t directly addressed the threats as they should have in an ideal world, the despotic actions are clear to all who wish to observe, the mainstream media’s pundits input need not be relied upon to understand the dynamics as they are happening in real time.
From the Oxford Dictionary on “Despotism”, it’s defined as “b) a country or political system where the ruler holds absolute power.”
Clearly demonstrated are the following, from a political movement which has never diminished in its extreme nature, regardless of three consecutive electoral defeats in recent years. Is “Despotism” too strong a word? Can one not fear the possible results of such, and not realize the reach of such oppression expected of it?
The Trump faction of the Republican Party has continued to ostracize, cast off any party members who will not comply with the will of the “Supreme” (note quote below). This has had high approval among the faction, and its base. This should be very concerning to all, regardless of one’s ideology.
Reprisals are the primary focus as stated by the new Republican House majority, to even the score on those perceived enemies who have challenged the modus operandi, and the power of the “Supreme.” There is little policy focus apparent in the plans currently presented. At best, the next two years will result in no American progress in addressing our actual needs, at worst is chaotic upheaval, which could threaten the nation’s security.
There have been threats to American companies directly in recent years for any deviations from a certain worldview of the “Supreme” by those of the Trump faction of the Republican Party. This should be very alarming to all Americans, and certainly seems antithetical to being actually business friendly as a political organization.
The quotes below are from significant political figures from the past, the “Father of our Country,” and the conservative Edmund Burke, from which Russell Kirk based much of his book “The Conservative Mind” published in 1953, and the basis for the modern American conservative movement. Please compare recent political actions listed above to these quotes.
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.”
— George Washington's Farewell Address published September 19, 1796.
“The simplest form of government is despotism, where all the inferior orbs of power are moved merely by the will of the Supreme, and all that are subjected to them directed in the same manner, merely by the occasional will of the magistrate; this form, as it is the most simple, so it is infinitely the most general; scarcely any part of the world is exempted from its power; and in those few places where men enjoy what they call liberty, it is continually in a tottering situation, and makes greater and greater strides to that gulf of despotism which at last swallows up every species of government.”
— Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Irish-British statesman of the Whig (conservative) Party.
We all must become aware and confront the potential loss which may occur if we don’t face our American political reality in 2022. The fear which comes from true realization of our plight serves no purpose as America today is vastly different politically from that at the end of the 20th Century. I see no data to dispute this statement. We must adapt to the changes in which we now exist.
No amount of sand will be useful in which to bury our heads. The clearness of our individual vision of the true trajectory of today’s America is important, to shirk our responsibilities is no longer acceptable.
“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness.”
James Thurber (1894 – 1961), an American cartoonist, writer, humorist, journalist and playwright.
END
8th Posting, February 11, 2023