Bear with me on this one, it’s a bit odd.
Do you think that Bush is using Iraq as a test bed for his experiments in anti-democracy? Think he’s testing out fascist policies there before Karl Rove figures out how to translate them to America?
Now the U.S. is banning all members of the Baath party from holding any government jobs in Iraq. Granted, the Baath party is the group that kept Iraq in a strangle hold for decades through it’s leader, Hussein, and probably a majority of its members were involved in the horrors that were perpetrated on the Iraqi people. But set that aside for a moment and think of this: can you imagine such a ban happening in America? Well, you don’t have to – the Republicans have enacted such a ban already. Republicans in Congress will not allow meetings with any lobbyists who are Democrats or have not contributed to the Republican party. The process of democracy has stopped completely – only those with the same ideology are allowed in to speak to Republican congressmen. Old news, but important, and it’s rarely been reported. I think it could be a first step toward what they’re doing in Iraq, where they have no pesky constitution to get in the way. Imagine a time when the neoconservatives have completely rid the government of anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
Look at the “faith-based” legislation they’re pushing through, that allows religious groups to receive federal money but not follow federal law on hiring. The Republicans want to give them tax dollars, then allow them to discriminate in hiring people to fill those jobs on the basis of their religion and ideology. We’re worried about such things as being discriminated against because of skin color or sexual orientation; they’re more interested in discrimination on ideology, which is going to be impossible to fight constitutionally.
The neos have been waging the “no dissent” campaign since the wonder of September 11 was dropped into their laps, giving them the perfect excuse for waging this war on ideology. They’ve so masterfully marketed their version of “patriotism” that a huge segment of the American people, like sheep, follow blindly whatever Bush utters in one of his infrequent bouts of stage-managed, glazed-eye addresses to his people. They stand idly by while the constitution-bending attorney general detains American citizens without charge, without access to lawyers, media, or family, then take his word for it when he insists it’s for their own safety. Don’t question. Be like us. Don’t dissent. Be like us.
Does any of this sound like the first glimmerings of a fascist state?
