Let us begin this post by recognizing the devastation of the mass killing in San Jose, California. Besides deep sadness for those killed, we grieve with their families who are left with the results of this attack. Let us hope they are well-cared for by others in a position to do so, including government representatives.
It is unnerving that there is a context surrounding this and
other incidents of violence and non-violence with the same overall
purpose. Let us explore that context. It starts, not with Jan.6th, but
with the announcement by “entrepreneur” and real estate “developer” (and TV
show host), Donald Trump, that he is running for President of the U.S. What he said in that announcement should have
provided clues to the context of this present moment. He said (and I have interpreted)some
revealing words and phrases:
·
“We don’t have victories anymore. When was the last time anybody saw us
beating, let’s say, China in a trade deal? They kill us. I beat China all the
time.” (Winning is everything; might
is its intimate companion)
·
“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for
everybody else’s problems.” (Blame on others is rampant in Trump land and
global issues are swept aside)
·
“When Mexico sends its people, they're not
sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and
they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're
bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” (Fear
is primary in human activity; play to their fears to control their responses)
(scapegoats are important to blaming others for one’s failures)
·
“It's coming from more than Mexico. It's coming
from all over South and Latin America, and it's coming probably -- probably --
from the Middle East. But we don't know. Because we have no protection and we
have no competence, we don't know what's happening. And it's got to stop, and
it's got to stop fast.” (more fear; more prejudice; more religious
intolerance to identify our enemies)
·
“I love the military, and I want to have the
strongest military that we've ever had, and we need it more now than ever.”
(might and power are essential for a strong man image)
·
“Last quarter, it was just announced our gross
domestic product -- a sign of strength, right? But not for us. It was below
zero. Whoever heard of this? It's never below zero.” (using non-measures
of might to measure strength)
·
“And our real unemployment is anywhere from 18
to 20 percent. Don't believe the 5.6. Don't believe it” (cast doubt on
the press, the government and government workers)
·
“A lot of people up there can't get jobs. They
can't get jobs, because there are no jobs, because China has our jobs and
Mexico has our jobs. They all have jobs.”
(divide and conquer)
·
“Our enemies are getting stronger and stronger
by the way, and we as a country are getting weaker. Even our nuclear arsenal
doesn't work” (blame previous administration for failures; equate with
‘enemies’)
·
“We have a disaster called the big lie:
Obamacare” (attack all liberal policies as lies)
·
“Now, our country needs… a truly great leader,
and we need a truly great leader now. We need a leader that wrote "The Art
of the Deal." We need -- we need somebody…-that
literally will take this country and make it great again” (the one
strong Leader is of highest import not the People)
·
“We don’t need nice.” (violence and denigration
are of great importance in takeover process)
·
“They're tired of spending more money on
education than any nation in the world per capita, than any nation in the world…
25 countries are better than us in education.” (destroy education that
is public-oriented)
·
“I would build a great wall, and nobody builds
walls better than me, believe me, and I'll build them very inexpensively, I
will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico
pay for that wall.” (take
belligerent action to keep others on the outside)
·
“Fully support and back up the Second Amendment” (violence wins again!)
·
“…education has to be local.”
·
“Rebuild infrastructure. Nobody can do that like me.
Believe me. It will be done on time, on budget, way below cost, way below what
anyone ever thought” (the great Leader is the source of all matters
related to the State)
His small audience then and his base now missed the context;
they missed the hidden meanings; they missed the fascist elements lurking and
ready to pounce. They simply missed or
dismissed the lies, the emphasis on military might, the scapegoating, the blame
placed on everyone else especially politicians and rivals; the racism; the
dependence on him alone; the nationalistic bombast; the emphasis on private
education called ‘local’. The need to be
the Winner; the Leader and the Mighty is his motivation. The most important
element perhaps was his opposition to public programs like healthcare and
education. This was the message of a man
in search of autocratic power based on his knowledge, his agenda, his decisions
– never mind the people except for the rich cronies he mentions
throughout. He basically told us who he
was and what he was after – absolute power – and we missed it!
Let me now approach this topic of absolute power and might
from another direction, demurring somewhat from the direction of leading
Democrats. I am afraid that Democrats,
including Biden and Harris, are losing sight of what is happening and what
needs to happen. Our Democratic
Party is -- as it does so often -- dealing
with policy issues when process issues, concentrated on government takeover,
are what is happening, and exactly what must be urgently addressed.
In other words, what is going on in Arizona (and soon in
other states like Georgia, Michigan, maybe Pennsylvania) is what is important,
not how the COVID virus got started or where.
What is happening in Arizona with the fake “audit” of votes by 3rd
party contractors loyal to Trump is not unlike what is happening with the rise
of gun violence and mass shootings, the attack on our Capitol on January 6th
and the attempts to unseat certain electoral officials in Georgia, Michigan,
etc.
The Trump
Republican Party is out to overturn the Biden government, and other
Democrat-led governments at state and local levels. They are all about process; policies are
irrelevant. They are all about
overthrowing the existing government. Very
recently we heard from that ethically challenged congressman from Florida, Matt
Gaetz, who made it entirely clear that the 2nd amendment is there to
make sure the people have the ability to overthrow their government if
necessary. Gaetz thus put his finger on the pulse of the
context – it is all about the overthrow of not just the Biden administration,
but of the very nature of democratic governing.
Meanwhile,
Democrats are mired in ridiculous thoughts of bipartisanship, attempting to
bring at least ten Republicans aboard their agenda train, to attempt to rid us
of the Senate Rule about filibuster and cloture that requires 60 votes The Republicans
are secretly cheering their lack of action on the real issues of power and
takeover.
Republicans are
winning that battle with their attacks on Democrats as socialists and commies,
and by characterizing them as the source of electoral abuse and corruption while
they go free of any such charges. And
that is all because the Democrats are reluctant to fight, to use government to
stop the overtaking of government; to call the people and the situations
exactly what they are, instead of what they wish them to be.
We are, as a nation, in dire straits with anti-democratic
behaviors and actions seizing control everywhere. And, Democrats have yet to figure out what
they are fighting, and how to stop it in its tracks.
Today, the Republicans in the Senate put an end to bipartisanship
as a viable principle and strategy. By a
procedural vote which required 60 votes to pass, they killed the bill that would
have led to the formation of a bi-partisan Commission to investigate and report
on the underlying causes and factors that led to the Jan. 6th attack
on our Congress and the legislative symbol known as the Capitol. Senator Schumer as Majority Leader seemed to
understand the import of the blocking of this Commission. He spoke clearly about the danger to our democracy
and to the Senate’s Purpose by means of this negative vote.
Well, let me be even clearer: we are all in danger of a
fascist takeover of our democratic government and no one, including Biden and
Harris, is leading a movement to stop that fascism from gaining control. That vote today is one more attempt to
overthrow this government, and we must put it in that context. In fact, everything undertaken by the Democratic
Party from here on must take into account the context of destruction and overthrow
that exists at the very CORE of the Trump Republican Party.
Here are the steps that make up a PATTERN of authoritarian
takeover of democratic or non-despotic governments. It works in all areas of our world, even in
the United States of America. Compare
them to what Trump told us in his announcement of his run for the Presidency
and recall all he has done since to continue the big lies on which his
ascendancy is based.
1)
Powerful and continuing nationalism. “America
First”; make America Great Again; “stand up” to other countries; withdraw from
Agreements and pacts that are ‘unfair’ to America
2)
Disdain for human rights.
eroding citizen trust and their confidence in freedom of press; denigrate
people who disagree ; deport whole groups (DACA); restrict voting by certain
groups and deny vote to others
3)
Identifying scapegoats. ban
immigration from Muslim countries; make Mexicans and other Latinos into criminals;
question law and order violations by protesters especially in Black Lives
Matter
4)
Military supremacy. ludicrous
increases in spending on troops and weapons; making threats against other
countries; wars continued in Iraq and Afghanistan
5)
Rampant Sexism. nine women
have come forward to make charges against the president; the Access Hollywood
tapes and signed Orders removing protections for women in relation to sexual
harassment, access to healthcare coverage and to special preventative measures;
restrictions on service in the military of persons who happen to be lesbian or
transgender; assault upon abortion choice as a right;
6)
Control of mass media. exclude
certain media representatives; limit press attendance at important events;
trash particular media people; threaten to disapprove owner licenses; do not
hold press conferences; use an alternative method such as Twitter for most
communication; attempt to stop stories from being published or aired; use media
to own advantage – plant stories; mislead and lie, lie, lie
7)
Obsession with national security.
and with crimes by immigrants once they arrive in this country, strangely
obviated by his non-obsession with Russian interference in the 2016 election
process; the building of a Wall on our Mexican border; his military build-up
8)
Religion and government intertwined. executive
order opening religious communities to greater ability to be involved in
political issues and to receive government grants; pushing private schools
receiving public funds (many of them associated with a particular denomination
or religion);
9)
Business interests protected.
the Business Tax lowered; there is always regulatory reduction and the removal
of healthcare mandates
10) Labor
power suppressed. support of right-to-work states; attacks on
bargaining rights; opposition to minimum wage increase; and laws that prevent
unions from striking; appointment of Labor Department head who was anti-union
11) Disdain
for the arts. cuts in public radio; first of modern presidents to not
attend Kennedy Center Honors presentations; no state dinners; presidential
medal of honor for loyalists;
12) Obsession
with crime and punishment. "Task Force on Crime Reduction and
Public Safety" -- Signed:
Feb. 9, 2017, highlighting drug trafficking, illegal immigration and
violent crime. Throughout his campaign,
Trump promised voters a return to "law and order" in the United
States and said minorities from inner cities are "living
in hell" because of violent crime
13) Rabid
cronyism and corruption . Wall-Streeters and millionaires in his
cabinet; his family ensconced in WH operation; corruption by department heads
and other members of this administration
14) Fraudulent
Elections. from requiring photo IDs to claiming rampant voter
fraud, Trump makes the point himself that election system is broken, Trump
himself has turned Trump Towers and Mar-A-Lago into money-making machines
dependent on his celebrity
Although Trump himself may not have been capable of instituting
a well-thought-out Plan to make us over into a Fascist country, he has acted
upon his internalized values, beliefs and experiences that drive his actions,
as they have always done. And, he has been guided by two white
nationalists acting as special White House advisors: Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller. Both have
long-held fascist racist, nationalistic views.
So here is the raw deal:
while Democrats are involved in legislation about voting rights,
infrastructure, COVID Relief and global climate change – all good and worthy
goals -- the Republican Right is bent upon using false narratives and violent
actions to overturn the Biden-Harris victory and to render it invalid making
Trump their rightful President. Until
Democrats get their act together and focus on stopping this takeover, we are in
danger of losing our democracy.
Sorry, but
that is the one concern/issue/policy/program that matters right now. We need leaders who will keep our focus and
theirs on that target.
What needs to
–and must—happen right now? Democrats
and progressive independents must get to the core of what is happening and
fight back with unapologetic vigor and use of power. They must:
1)
Use existing laws to sue, fine, remove, damage,
and find legitimate ways to hold the insurrectionists accountable. There should be legal actions brought against
them everywhere.
2)
Begin painting all Trampers for what they are –
fascists, Nazis, insurrectionists, racists, and liars before they stick every
liberal with those titles.
3)
Someone else suggested that Dems make Marjorie Greene
the prototype of every Republican instead of accepting her harassment of
staffers and legislators
4)
Take action to point obstructionists out and
call them out on every action
5)
Use Executive Orders to hinder their operations
6)
Get to the essence of their support which is
online contributions; disrupt that process in every way possible: get all online social media vendors to
prevent use of their platforms; use executive orders to threaten withdrawal or
suspension of licenses
7)
Threaten to withhold federal funds of all kinds
from states that suppress voting rights, allow third party contracts for fake
‘audits’, that violate the secrecy of voter ballots
8)
Order every department of federal government to
produce ads, papers, flyers etc. that emphasize the threat of Fascism and the
steps in a formula that threaten
democracy. Get information to the public
on a regular basis. Schumer should be upfront doing just that every day!
9)
Time to abandon bipartisanship and to show what
Republicans have done to destroy that value and principle. For example, use the vote against the
Commission as the motivation for saying that bipartisanship is dead and its all
the fault of the Republicans. Biden
shouldn’t just pull list of NO voting Republicans
out of his pocket – he needs to advertise those names over and over.
10) Exclude
Republicans from the White House – no access – and say bi-partisan issue is dead because of Republican intransigence
as are all negotiations on 1/6 Commission, voting rights, and any other
legislation proposed by Dems. That
action must be used to get at issues that undermine Trump’s Far Right: no
federal education and reform money to recalcitrant states. We must take the time and unfortunate
strategy to ‘upset the apple cart.’
11) Appoint
Special Committees in the House to undercut Republican efforts by investigating
and holding hearings on 1/6, infrastructure, etc.
12) Start
right in the Congress: limit Republican
access to staff; to special benefits like healthcare and transportation; limit
office space, use Ethics committees to bring charges; emphasize congressional
vacations – cut them down in terms of fewer adjournments; go after member
privilege and holds on appointments
13) Go
after Republican supporters by using infrastructure legislation as a carrot
then bring out big stick of denial to their states
14) Pass
sections of infrastructure without Republican help then hold funds hostage or
as quid pro quo – i.e., you’ll get funds
when state declares support for results of 2020 elections, for 1/6 commission;
and rejects voter suppression measures
15) Enlist
large corporations to fight Fascism on same basis –help or lose funds
16) Get
creative about opposing and undermining the Trump Far Right keeping in mind the
awful truth dispensed in a decision by that federal Judge Jackson in D.C. – the threats of insurrection,
violence and obstruction are not over, and probable defendants cannot be
allowed to go free because they are a threat to society! It is true of defendants and it is also true
about Trump’s politicians; THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF FAIR GOVERNANCE and must be
held accountable for that.
17) Finally,
in this context of destruction of our form of government by takeover of its
functions, WE MUST COME TO THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT BI-PARTISANSHIP HAS NOW
REACHED THE UNFORTUNTE END OF BEING A STRATEGY BY WHICH THE REPUBLICAN FASCISTS
ARE ABETTED IN THEIR OVERTHROW BY ANY FORM OF COOPERATION WITH THEM! In other words, bipartisanship has become a
tool of the Trump GOP and Democrat cooperation on that basis is equivalent to
joining their destructive movement away from democracy and into the abyss of
despotism.
Sorry – but we have got to
realize we are at war and must attack the enemy immediately and continuously. And
we must stay focused on this war not on mere policy but on strategies that will
win the war . We have no choice left –
it’s either democracy or fascism. We are
at war, and the Nazis are winning. We
wouldn’t allow that in the 1940s – why allow it now?
BUT here is the difficulty
that stares us in our faces: we cannot war against these people because that makes
us the fomenters of anti-democracy. We must
find ways to fight against the biases, the myths, and the lies on which those fascists
base their violence and their destructiveness.
I have a suggestion:
Let us start by realizing the
1/6 bi-partisan Commission is dead. Let
the House Democrats instead establish Select Committees for finding the truth
and facts behind not only 1/6 but those behind at least the following:
·
Russian Cyber and other attacks
·
The effects of lies and conspiracies on our
democratic functioning
·
The state of violence as an accepted means of
political functioning
·
Were Black Lives Matter protestors treated
differently than Far Right insurrectionists?
·
What is behind the child abuse of separating
children from parents at the southern border?
·
What is needed to stop the overthrow of the
Biden government and what legislation is required to prevent a fascist takeover
of our government?
·
What substantive changes are critically
needed in government to return power to the People?
Let us be clear that the process
of input undertaken by these Committees
must include input from ordinary citizens.
