News Blog for social, fiscal & national security conservatives who believe in God, family & the USA. Upholding the rights granted by God & guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, traditional family values, "republican" principles / ideals, transparent & limited "smaller" government, free markets, lower taxes, due process of law, liberty & individual freedom. Content approval rests with the ARRA News Service Editor. Opinions are those of the authors. While varied positions are reported, beliefs & principles remain fixed. No revenue is generated for or by this "Blog" - no paid ads - no payments for articles.Fair Use Doctrine is posted & used. Blogger/Editor/Founder: Bill Smith, Ph.D. [aka: OzarkGuru & 2010 AFP National Blogger of the Year] Contact: editor@arranewsservice.com (Pub. Since July, 2006)Home PageFollow @arra
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato
(429-347 BC)
History teaches us that society is always at risk of losing its freedom and descending into tyranny because there are always people who wish for and actively seek to rule over others and profit at their expense.
With the separation of powers and checks and balances, western civilization has created systems, best exemplified by the United States Constitution, designed to prevent demagogues from gaining power. However, when people think the political system no longer functions properly, they will demand change, thinking that “anything else will be better than this.” At this point, a demagogue may convince them that he will fix the nation and bring prosperity to all with relative ease. These demagogues tell the people that all they need to do is vote for him and their problems will be solved.
Demagogues seeking to take over the government create or find an enemy to attack and blame. The demagogue informs the public that it is not their fault the economy is bad, they lost in a recent war, or that they are poor. Instead, it is somebody else’s fault. Hitler’s blamed Germany’s problems on both the communists and capitalists, with the Jews supposedly supporting both groups. Julius Caesar blamed the Roman Senate. The Communists in Russia blamed both the Czar and the democrats. With the recent economic weakness and increased partisanship in the United States and Western Europe, there has been a lot of blame bandied about, especially by politicians looking to win election.
Weak economies, a wide disparity between rich and poor sparking class warfare rhetoric, and the perception of a broken political system open the door for an eloquent demagogue to trick the people into voting for him, increasing his power, and paving the way for him or his successor to become a tyrant.
So it is possible for a Nazi-type takeover in the United States or Western Europe? Most certainly. In fact, we have already seen something similar happen just recently in Venezuela, which had been a prosperous western-style nation until the late 1980s when an economic crisis and political corruption paved the way for Hugo Chavez and his Bolivarian socialism.
Fortunately, the Founding Fathers of the United States created a system specifically designed to prevent one man or faction from gaining too much power. Western Europe has largely copied that system, with some alterations. Additionally, our long tradition of liberty is not one that people will throw away lightly.
However, an eloquent demagogue promising peace and prosperity at no expense amid economic and political chaos may, at times, be able to overthrow the delicate political, economic, and social system we have. This happened in ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient Israel, Russia in the 1910s, Italy in the 1920s, Germany in the 1930s, and Venezuela in the 1990s, to name just a few of the most notable examples.
Only through eternal vigilance against demagogues, their false promises, and their scapegoating of minority groups can we prevent Nazi-type takeovers in the United States and Western Europe.
Michael E. Newton, KT3------------------ Michael E. Newton is the author of the highly acclaimed The Path to Tyranny: A History of Free Society’s Descent into Tyranny. His newest book, Angry Mobs and Founding Fathers: The Fight for Control of the American Revolution, was released by Eleftheria Publishing in July. Tags:Founding Fathers of the United States, history, Julius Caesar, Kindertransport, Nazi, Nazism, Roman Senate, United States, Western Europe, Michael E. Newton, The Path to TyrannyTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
My best friend is a German woman whose father was in the S.S. She has talked extensively to her parents and their siblings about why they didn't stop Hitler. They have all told her they didn't really know. None of them believed that anything so steeped in evil could happen. They had clever explanations for the regular German people. They were not monsters, these people. They were just in a bad economy and they were unemployed. By the time they really knew the truth, it was too late.
Well.... it wouldn't surprise me.... maobama has followed the Hitler handbook on his path of destruction of this country.... but I think there will be a hell of a lot of resistance and destruction before all is said and done too....
People did try to stop Hitler ever seen the movie Valkyrie with Tom Cruise?, and when a dictator consolidates absolute power its easier to just go along with the program. I'm sure most Germans were just held hostage. But there were some evil sons of bitches in Germany at the same too.
I liked this article that Bill Posted because at the end it mentioned the rights of minorities in times of economic peril. Like when the recession hit us bad people really became anti-immigrant more so then ever before the recession.
There was a lot of anti-Mexican sentiment. I even felt it here in liberal its ok to be gay Washington state. So I guess when shit hits the fan in terms of jobs people are not so welcoming.
Well, movies are wonderful but they are not always true to historical facts. Yes some people stood up and usually they were the ones like Oscar Schindler who were in a position to know the truth before the common people knew. A lot was kept from the common people. Even in the S.S. there were German soldiers who were in the dark for the first couple of years of the war. They divided up the duties: one troop to put the Jews and others on the trains and then a different group to round up the people from the ghettos.
Anything is possible, but in These United States I think there are enough of us who would resist and most of the Military would cross over to us too. We are awake now, we have learned our lesson, I hope, and will not sleep again. I, for one, take the oath I took upon joining the U.S. Army in 1967 and every time I reenlisted very serious and I have never been told I was relieved from the duty of that oath. I WILL defend against enemy foreign or domestic. Right now we have both. I would have no problem with spending time on the Border with Mexico armed to prevent the infiltration of anymore Aliens. Seal the border, use the old Soldiers, we are still good for a couple of more fire fights.
Yes our culture has degraded. It's not just here in America; it is all over the world. It is a terrible thing and I wish people cared like they used to, but in a free society we can't legislate morality. Whenever they do that as with Sharia law, freedom is lost anyway.
Have to disagree with you on that one Linda. We always have laws based on morality. It just depends on whose... Murder has been okay in some cultures - and is in some circumstances in ours. That is a moral issue whether you have the right to take a life. Rape - moral issue. Theft - moral issue. Even stupid things are a moral issue - they are to someone.
Seatbelt wearing some thinks it the right (moral) thing to do to make you wear one. It's not possible to have laws without morals involved . Moral just means the distinction between right and wrong. Someone thinks something is right when it becomes a law.
With Frank Turek - Legislating Morality http://youtu.be/674U9z7Ygq4
Well Leslie, I don't really think we disagree. I would love to legislate morality as a Christian. As a matter of fact, you are right that we do,but there is always another acceptable reason that can be given to cover the religious angle. Ou...r laws were built on Judeo-Christian principles which I already reiterated in another post here, so there is really less of a separation between church and state than an amalgum of it. The problem is when we face a situation such as Sharia law which is infiltrating our country already in the Muslim communities. The want to legislate their "brand" of religious law. Whom will our justice system choose? That is the dilemma and right now it seems that Christians are poised to lose this contested territory. I pray not.
@Linda can you give an example of where in the continental U.S. that Islamic Sharia has been established? and please not a blog but a credible mainstream news source
@Sonny, Although I am not responding to the comment on where Sharia Law has been established, I am commenting on your innuendo that a blog is not a credible source. The mainstream has often become the "lame-stream" pulling their content from grassroots new media bloggers. With 200k readers and as 2010 AFP blogger of the year, the ARRA News Service is a credible source. A majority of the news services pull my feed. My stories and posts have been on Fox News, CBS Financial and numerous other places. The above comments are in response to an aticle posted on -- a blog. However, I agree that we should research all sources.
@Sonny, Although I am not responding to the comment on where Sharia Law has been established, I am commenting on your innuendo that a blog is not a credible source. The mainstream has often become the "lame-stream" pulling their content from grassroots new media bloggers. However, I agree that we should research all sources.
@ Sonny, Sharia law hasn't been established yet, but it is definitely in the court systems now. CAIR is fighting for leniency for Muslims who have committed offenses on our code of law, but the same offenses are treated differently in Sharia. All of our codification come incrementally with regard to criminal justice. This can adversely affect our freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights by undermining our protections.
Sonny, I am sorry that you think that answer is not satisfactory. They will not blatantly take away our freedom. They fear the rising of the proletariat. They chip away at it and use stealth and we must not let them get away with it. We must be wise as the serpent and harmless as doves.
@Don, I had to like your post even though I want to make clear that I am not wishing for a civil war, BUT I am glad that I am not the only one that thinks this is possible.
@Linda I don't know what specific case or set of circumstances that you are referring to in of CAIR fighting for leniency to Muslims who have breached the American penal system. The law holds every man accountable and without fear or favor the justice system shall act in accordance. You made a meretricious claim that Muslims were attempting to promulgate sharia in the U.S. You are a committed christian you should not assert your thoughts in an insinuative fashion but in a veritable sense, with facts and evidences.
The Didlone case in Minnesota is one of many. Accommodations were made for 3/4 of the taxicab drivers who are Muslim to not carry passengers who are carrying alcohol. Yet they make Christian pharmacists provide the abortion pill regardless of their Christian pro-life beliefs. I don't want to argue with you about this, but when it is advocated that one religion has preferences not accorded to another religion, that is not correct under our law.
Linda, I'm familiar with that case, and the better business bureau stated that as owners of the cabs they weren't just drivers they were the owners. And as the owners they had the right to refuse service to anyone of their choosing. A pharmaci'st if he is the owner of the establishment can choose not to sell the pill, if he just an employee then he has no choice. This is not an issue of sharia encroaching in society this is an issue of personal discretion. I reiterate in the strongest possible terms there is no sharia being encroached in the U.S. there is no evidence of it....zilch..zero...nada....
Personal Tweets by the editor: Dr. Bill - OzarkGuru - @arra
#Christian Conservative; Retired USAF & Grad Professor. Constitution NRA ProLife schoolchoice fairtax - Editor ARRA NEWS SERVICE. THANKS FOR FOLLOWING!
To Exchange Links - Email: editor@arranewsservice.com!
Comments by contributing authors or other sources do not necessarily reflect the position the editor, other contributing authors, sources, readers, or commenters. No contributors, or editors are paid for articles, images, cartoons, etc. While having reported on and promoting principles & beleifs beliefs of other organizations, this blog/site is soley controlled and supported by the editor. This site/blog does not advertise for money or services nor does it solicit funding for its support.
Fair Use: This site/blog may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of political, human rights, economic, democracy, and social justice issues, etc. This constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as provided for in section Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Per said section, the material on this site/blog is distributed without profit to readers to view for the expressed purpose of viewing the included information for research, educational, or satirical purposes. Any person/entity seeking to use copyrighted material shared on this site/blog for purposes that go beyond "fair use," must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
30 Comments:
My best friend is a German woman whose father was in the S.S. She has talked extensively to her parents and their siblings about why they didn't stop Hitler. They have all told her they didn't really know. None of them believed that anything so steeped in evil could happen. They had clever explanations for the regular German people. They were not monsters, these people. They were just in a bad economy and they were unemployed. By the time they really knew the truth, it was too late.
Well.... it wouldn't surprise me.... maobama has followed the Hitler handbook on his path of destruction of this country.... but I think there will be a hell of a lot of resistance and destruction before all is said and done too....
People did try to stop Hitler ever seen the movie Valkyrie with Tom Cruise?, and when a dictator consolidates absolute power its easier to just go along with the program. I'm sure most Germans were just held hostage. But there were some evil sons of bitches in Germany at the same too.
I liked this article that Bill Posted because at the end it mentioned the rights of minorities in times of economic peril. Like when the recession hit us bad people really became anti-immigrant more so then ever before the recession.
There was a lot of anti-Mexican sentiment. I even felt it here in liberal its ok to be gay Washington state. So I guess when shit hits the fan in terms of jobs people are not so welcoming.
Well, movies are wonderful but they are not always true to historical facts. Yes some people stood up and usually they were the ones like Oscar Schindler who were in a position to know the truth before the common people knew. A lot was kept from the common people. Even in the S.S. there were German soldiers who were in the dark for the first couple of years of the war. They divided up the duties: one troop to put the Jews and others on the trains and then a different group to round up the people from the ghettos.
Anything is possible, but in These United States I think there are enough of us who would resist and most of the Military would cross over to us too. We are awake now, we have learned our lesson, I hope, and will not sleep again. I, for one, take the oath I took upon joining the U.S. Army in 1967 and every time I reenlisted very serious and I have never been told I was relieved from the duty of that oath. I WILL defend against enemy foreign or domestic. Right now we have both. I would have no problem with spending time on the Border with Mexico armed to prevent the infiltration of anymore Aliens. Seal the border, use the old Soldiers, we are still good for a couple of more fire fights.
Yes our culture has degraded. It's not just here in America; it is all over the world. It is a terrible thing and I wish people cared like they used to, but in a free society we can't legislate morality. Whenever they do that as with Sharia law, freedom is lost anyway.
Linda I agree.
Thoughtful comments! Thanks.
Would not be surprised; it's the ones who will be surprised that will let it happen.....Wake up, America.
Have to disagree with you on that one Linda. We always have laws based on morality. It just depends on whose... Murder has been okay in some cultures - and is in some circumstances in ours. That is a moral issue whether you have the right to take a life. Rape - moral issue. Theft - moral issue. Even stupid things are a moral issue - they are to someone.
Seatbelt wearing some thinks it the right (moral) thing to do to make you wear one. It's not possible to have laws without morals involved . Moral just means the distinction between right and wrong. Someone thinks something is right when it becomes a law.
With Frank Turek - Legislating Morality http://youtu.be/674U9z7Ygq4
Yours or 'theirs'? That's the real choice.
Leslie-Ann Excellent points. Liked the video, will share other places.
Well Leslie, I don't really think we disagree. I would love to legislate morality as a Christian. As a matter of fact, you are right that we do,but there is always another acceptable reason that can be given to cover the religious angle. Ou...r laws were built on Judeo-Christian principles which I already reiterated in another post here, so there is really less of a separation between church and state than an amalgum of it. The problem is when we face a situation such as Sharia law which is infiltrating our country already in the Muslim communities. The want to legislate their "brand" of religious law. Whom will our justice system choose? That is the dilemma and right now it seems that Christians are poised to lose this contested territory. I pray not.
@Linda can you give an example of where in the continental U.S. that Islamic Sharia has been established? and please not a blog but a credible mainstream news source
@Sonny, Although I am not responding to the comment on where Sharia Law has been established, I am commenting on your innuendo that a blog is not a credible source. The mainstream has often become the "lame-stream" pulling their content from grassroots new media bloggers. With 200k readers and as 2010 AFP blogger of the year, the ARRA News Service is a credible source. A majority of the news services pull my feed. My stories and posts have been on Fox News, CBS Financial and numerous other places. The above comments are in response to an aticle posted on -- a blog. However, I agree that we should research all sources.
@Sonny, Although I am not responding to the comment on where Sharia Law has been established, I am commenting on your innuendo that a blog is not a credible source. The mainstream has often become the "lame-stream" pulling their content from grassroots new media bloggers. However, I agree that we should research all sources.
@ Sonny, Sharia law hasn't been established yet, but it is definitely in the court systems now. CAIR is fighting for leniency for Muslims who have committed offenses on our code of law, but the same offenses are treated differently in Sharia. All of our codification come incrementally with regard to criminal justice. This can adversely affect our freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights by undermining our protections.
Linda that is not a satisfactory answer. Bill that's gr8 that I look forward to reading your blogs
Sonny, I am sorry that you think that answer is not satisfactory. They will not blatantly take away our freedom. They fear the rising of the proletariat. They chip away at it and use stealth and we must not let them get away with it. We must be wise as the serpent and harmless as doves.
It may come to a civil war. If you aren't willing to fight for your freedom, you don't deserve to have it.
@Don May it never be.
@Don, I had to like your post even though I want to make clear that I am not wishing for a civil war, BUT I am glad that I am not the only one that thinks this is possible.
@Linda I don't know what specific case or set of circumstances that you are referring to in of CAIR fighting for leniency to Muslims who have breached the American penal system. The law holds every man accountable and without fear or favor the justice system shall act in accordance. You made a meretricious claim that Muslims were attempting to promulgate sharia in the U.S. You are a committed christian you should not assert your thoughts in an insinuative fashion but in a veritable sense, with facts and evidences.
I have never come across anywhere here in America where this was the case.
The Didlone case in Minnesota is one of many. Accommodations were made for 3/4 of the taxicab drivers who are Muslim to not carry passengers who are carrying alcohol. Yet they make Christian pharmacists provide the abortion pill regardless of their Christian pro-life beliefs. I don't want to argue with you about this, but when it is advocated that one religion has preferences not accorded to another religion, that is not correct under our law.
Linda, I'm familiar with that case, and the better business bureau stated that as owners of the cabs they weren't just drivers they were the owners. And as the owners they had the right to refuse service to anyone of their choosing. A pharmaci'st if he is the owner of the establishment can choose not to sell the pill, if he just an employee then he has no choice. This is not an issue of sharia encroaching in society this is an issue of personal discretion. I reiterate in the strongest possible terms there is no sharia being encroached in the U.S. there is no evidence of it....zilch..zero...nada....
We must agree to differ then.
Linda with all due respect, facts are not a matter of opinion there can only be what is true and not true. God Bless
Black you are right the owner can do what ever he feel like.
The day will come where we will realize we fight or lose it all. Hope it's not too late now.
I'd like to see a reference for that law Patrick.
Post a Comment
<< Home