> Dan> Trying to force ones view on everyone else is fascism. > "Godwin's Law is an adage in > Internet culture that was originated by Mike Godwin in 1990. The law > states that: > As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a > comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one. > Fascism killed tens of millions in death camps, on battlefields, under > bombs, and in cities under siege, throughout the world. > This kind of accusation is baseless and on the far side of courtesy, > civility, and good taste.
Fascism is a political philosophy. It is not an action, which necessarily results in millions being murdered. Though it has, and well may again. It's a dangerous philosophy, which many now simply equate with racism, nazism, genocide, and ambitions of world domination. >From Encyclopedia.com: "Fascism: Totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life." Smoking bans are only one small example of how our city council and other levels of government are incrementally moving us closer and closer to a fascist state. It is an issue on which it can be demonstrated how willing the citizens of this city are to be complicit with fascism. So many of our fellow citizens are perfectly willing to sacrifice freedom for comfort, handing more and more of their individual responsibilities over to the nanny state. The meaning of fascism has been forgotten, as only the most overt and terrible consequences of the political movement are typically put forth to define it. Because the underlying philosophy is largely forgotten, many are unable to see fascism for what it is when it's right in front of them in the guise of "for the public good." In it's early stages as a political movement, fascism tends not to put forth specific philosophic goals, and attempts to appeal to as many diverse groups as possible. Central to fascism is the importance of the state, and subordination of the individual to it, for the good of the individual, and of the state. The state is all powerful, and unlimited in it's control and direction of it's citizens. Order out-strips liberty, or rights. Order is imposed by an elitist class which knows what is best for the state, without respect for the individual. The individual is unimportant in fascist philosophy. The individual is incapable of making decisions. To me, the connection between smoking bans and fascism is quite clear. Perhaps totalitarianism would suit my point just as well. The two philosophies are quite similar, and the results identical. Whenever anyone uses the phrases "for the public good," or "for your own good" (even scarier)there's a fighting chance that some aspect of fascist thinking is behind the words. To sum up fascism, it is elitists dictating to everyone else what is best for them. Dan McGrath Longfellow http://www.smokeoutgary.org REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
