Category: DEMOCRACY

Trump Likes Kim Jong-un: The Singapore Summit and Hanoi Summit in Context
Trump likes dictator Kim Jong-un. It's clear after the Singapore summit last year and the Hanoi summit last week. Kim what Trump wants: dictatorship; the world's biggest military; total control over every person's life; the ability to reward loyalists and send enemies to political prison camps forever. And a cult of personality to die for! ... Read More

Michael Cohen’s Testimony Before the House Oversight Committee: 5 Thoughts
I listened to and watched Michael Cohen's testimony today before the House Oversight Committee, alternately on the radio and on my computer. Most of the information we heard only confirmed what we already knew or strongly suspected, so my thoughts are about other matters ... Read More

Does the Austin Police Department Use Quotas? If So, That’s Worrying
While working in a coffee shop recently, I overheard two men from the Austin Police Department in a job evaluation talk. Inappropriate to conduct those in public, but worse was that they were discussing productivity numbers. It seems the Austin police uses quotas. If so, that's bad news ... Read More

Religious Tests, Education, and Freedom of Religion in State Constitutions
Religion in state constitutions often puts them at odds with the U.S. Constitution: the freedom of religion and the separation of church and state as established in the First Amendment. Many have religious tests and no clear statements prohibiting the promotion of religion in public schools ... Read More

Separation of Church and State? Religion in State Constitution Preambles
First there was the U.S. Constitution. The states followed suit, or so you'd think. However, the state constitution preambles show that some of the founders' lofty ideals, like separation of church and state, were not exactly followed ... Read More

The Difference Between Slaves and Indentured Servants in Virginia Colony
In defense of his blackface, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam mentioned "indentured servants". The interviewer replied:"Aka slaves." Both were wrong. Slaves were not indentured servants and the terms are not synonyms. Some of the earliest black people in the Virginia Colony were indentured servants, yes, but 40 years later most blacks were enslaved ... Read More

The American Revolution Along the Gulf: What Was Independence and For Whom?
The American Revolution: The 13 British colonies rebelled because they resented the taxation without representation. They won the Revolutionary War -- America's new government was the envy of the world. The westward move of the pioneers and the loss of the Native Americans' way of life was inevitable. Right? Independence Lost by Kathleen DuVal sets the record straight ... Read More

Nazi Salute at Baraboo High: Freedom of Speech or History Education?
11-30-2018 Almost all the boys of the 2019 class of Baraboo High in Wisconsin posed for a picture doing the Nazi salute. Do the students have freedom of speech? Did they know what they were doing? If not, why not? ... Read More

This Is Not Who We Are: The Baraboo High Nazi Salute and American Fascism
11-29-2018 Almost the entire male half of the 2019 class of Baraboo High in Wisconsin posed doing the Nazi salute. The first reaction of many was shock and "This is not who we are." But clearly it is. What to do about it? Do the students have freedom of speech? Did they know what they were doing? What is the role of history education? ... Read More

Shaun King: Real Justice PAC Supports Honest DAs, Fights Police Brutality
Police shootings and other deadly police brutality occur too often, and often the District Attorney lets it slide. These are the DAs many police groups back in elections. The Real Justice PAC supports their opponents. Shaun King shows what we're up against ... Read More

Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi Killed by Saudis in Saudi Consulate. So?
A question on the Big No-No Facebook page: A Saudi Citizen was killed by Saudi Arabians on Saudi territory. Saudi Arabia stills cuts off hands of thieves. Why is this a big deal in America? It's a good one. ... Read More

Open Letter to Caitlyn Jenner, About Solidarity With Other Minority Groups
So, Caitlyn Jenner, you were a fervent Trump supporter because he said he would stand up for transgender rights. Now Trump wants to do away with them, and you realize you were wrong ... Read More

Trump is a Nationalist But the News Is How He Normalizes White Nationalists
Trump is a nationalist. Says the word "became sort of old-fashioned". He suggests it's one of those 'good old days' elements -- not morally repulsive at all -- like when America was great. He just normalized nationalism with fascist language. This is extremely dangerous! ... Read More

New Page: Books on Fascism, Authoritarianism, Violence and Bigotry
I have a new page, with books on fascism, authoritarianism, violence and bigotry, and more, with links to book reviews and author interviews and information about the authors ... Read More

A Screeching Mob Holding Illegal Demonstrations? Or Kavanaugh Protesters?
Senators on both sides said at the SCOTUS nomination hearing that demonstrations come with democracy. But Trump & co. portray Kavanaugh protesters as an existential threat ... Read More

Truth, Impartiality, Independence Now Dispensable for Supreme Court and FBI
Values like truth, impartiality and independence are no longer required for Supreme Court justices or for the credibility of the FBI. There's proof that Brett Kavanaugh lied under oath many times; and the president prevented an independent FBI investigation into the sexual assault accusations against him ... Read More

Fahrenheit 11/9: A Message for the Democratic Establishment From Michael Moore
(October 2, 2018) Michael Moore's new documentary Fahrenheit 11/9 begins with footage of a street rally/party for Hillary Clinton on the eve of the 2016 presidential election, interspersed with Democratic establishment politicians and pundits claiming confidently that Donald Trump is never going to be president. Moore argues that the Democratic Party establishment miscalculated and compromised too much. They paved the way for Trump ... Read More

The Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing
Some takeaways from the Supreme Court confirmation hearing of Judge Brett Kavanaugh by the Senate Judiciary Committee ... Read More

Dear Trump Voters, If This Isn’t You, Prove It!
Trump voters, if American democracy fails, you will be responsible. Some day you will be held accountable. If you don't want to associate yourself with what's happened and what will happen if Trump's allowed to continue, prove it in the midterms ... Read More

Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders’ Social Democracy vs. a Gifted Car
Is Bernie Sanders a Democratic Socialist or a Social Democrat? What is social democracy? How democratic socialists, a CEO gifting a car and universal healthcare are connected ... Read More

Black Incarceration: War on Crime, RDL, Racial Profiling, Stop and Frisk
Mass black incarceration is in large part due to racial profiling--starting with President Johnson's War on Crime, then the RDL and stop and frisk policies in NYC. ... Read More

The Racial Wealth Gap: Two Reports on Income and Asset Disparity
Two recent reports on racial income disparity and asset disparity address various reasons for the racial wealth gap. They look at black education, black housing disparity, black banking and black savings ... Read More

Segregation Policies, Redlining and the Present Racial Housing Disparity
Segregation policies, racial covenants and racially biased redlining led to the current racially divided housing situation, the racial housing disparity and the racial asset disparity ... Read More

Fake News, Real News, Custom News: Facebook Information Bubble v. Flipboard
From Facebook to Flipboard. Nowadays, everyone has a custom news feed. We live in an information bubble, many in a fake news bubble. A fake news coccoon is dangerous ... Read More

ICE and the Justice Department: Covert Government Centralization?
American fascism is likely to come via gradual government centralization. ICEÂ wants to join the intelligence community, so it can get more info to use against immigrants ... Read More

American Eugenics Programs, Hitler, Nazi Breeding Programs and Genocide
Hitler found inspiration in American eugenics programs for his Nazi breeding programs, experiments on twins, concentration camps, the Holocaust, and more ... Read More

Hitler and Trump: Propaganda for the Poorly Educated in Mein Kampf
"I could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and I wouldn't lose any voters," Trump said. He focuses on the poorly educated, who he sees as useful idiots. Hitler's thoughts exactly ... Read More

Talking Fascism With Militia and Homeless at Fake Anti-Trump Demonstration
The anti-Trump demonstration was a dud, But I did (try to) chat with a militia guy about fascism, the Constitution, the 2nd Amendment and Antifa, and with two homeless guys about racial disparity and how Nigerians should just shut up ... Read More

Conclusion: American Fascism Won’t Be Gone After Trump
Pulling American fascism out by the roots: My honey-do list for America after Trump has left the White House ... Read More

Propaganda, Censorship and Other Suppression of Dissent
Book bans are censorship, gag rules are a form of suppression of dissent, and Fox News is a propaganda outlet for Trump. American freedom of speech isn't that great ... Read More

Government Violence, Militias and Intimidation in American History
Trump's calls for aggression seen in America's long history of government violence, government-sanctioned violence and intimidation by militias, KKK and other hate groups ... Read More

American Totalitarianism: Authoritarianism and Christian Dominionism
Both authoritarianism and Christian dominionism are powerful forces in America. Theocracies are among the severest examples of totalitarianism. Will democracy prevent a Christian States of America? ... Read More

Authoritarianism: Respect for Authority — the President, Teachers, Police
The president's almost a god, you hand your kids' lives over to the schools, and you live in a police state. As a country, America has a serious case of authoritarianism. ... Read More

Dutch Police Training: From Authoritarianism to Deescalation Strategies
In World War Two, the Netherlands felt what authoritarianism does. Respect for authority declined after the war. Dutch police training adapted, and focused on social skills like deescalation techniques ... Read More

The Flag, the Pledge, The Anthem: Patriotism or Nationalism?
Patriotism or nationalism? Indoctrination with national symbols and rituals like the flag, the Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance have primed America for a fascist take-over ... Read More

Fascism and Its Language: America is the Greatest Country on Earth!
Language is a powerful tool for fascists. Propaganda and demagoguery use mythologizing language: "America is the greatest country on Earth!" and dehumanizing language: "They're all animals!" ... Read More

American Exceptionalism Is a Dangerously Naive Form of Nationalism
American exceptionalism is not a magic shield. In fact, the notion that a nation is a form of extreme nationalism. You aren't special or immune to fascism. Trump is proof ... Read More

What is Fascism and What Does American Fascism Look Like?
The coming posts will address some fascist phenomena--and how they do or don't manifest in American fascism--as well as related terms like nationalism, authoritarianism, etc ... Read More

Patriotism: NFL Players Kneeling for National Anthem Have American Values
What Is Patriotism? Do the NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem have American Values? Or are they disrespecting the troops? Are they patriots or traitors? ... Read More

Charlottesville: From Patriotism to Nationalism to Malignant Nationalism
Too many Americans can't distinguish between patriotism and nationalism, let alone malignant nationalism. Recognizing the difference is extremely important to any democracy that doesn't want to devolve into fascism ... Read More

The Blurry Lines Between White Responsibility, White Privilege and Racism
Some thoughts about my own white responsibility, my white privilege and my unconscious racism, and a few shocking peeks at living while black in Trump Country ... Read More

Recognizing Fascism: Introducing History Education in Post-Trump America
Trump, Charlottesville -- you never saw them coming. Recognizing fascism requires real history education. In post-Trump America others may have to set that up. ... Read More

Collective Stockholm Syndrome, Battered Wife Syndrome and Trump’s Base
Hostages, Battered Women, White Southerners, Working-Class Trump Supporters--could collective Stockholm Syndrome and Battered Wife Syndrome explain their cognitive dissonance? ... Read More

To Livid Boy Scouts Parents: Trump’s Speech at the 2017 National Jamboree
Open letter to the angry Boy Scouts' parents, concerning Trump's speech at the 2017 National Jamboree: it's too easy for your children to "degrade themselves" -- they have an unquestioning respect for authority ... Read More

Trump’s Muslim Ban and Hate Crimes Against Muslims by Trump Supporters
Trump's Muslim ban on refugees from majority Muslim countries that isn't a Muslim ban or any ban, and Trump Supporters' hate crimes against Muslims from the Middle East who were Hindus from India ... Read More

American Democracy Is Only As Strong As Its Separation of Powers
American democracy, the checks and balances, the separation of powers over the three branches of government only work if everyone sticks to the rules. ... Read More

Millions of Illegal Immigrants Committed Voter Fraud, Trump Insists
Trump insists that he would have won the popular vote, were it not for those millions of illegal immigrants and others who committed voter fraud. How stupid is this? Let me count the ways ... Read More

After Inauguration Day: Women’s March to Protest Trump a Huge Success
Three million people turned up nationwide for the Women's March the day after Inauguration Day -- the difference between the votes for Trump and Clinton -- to protest Trump's presidency ... Read More

The Safety Pin: My Pledge of Intolerance to Bigotry, So Bullies Beware
I pledge intolerance to bigotry. I will wear a safety pin as long as Trump is president, as a warning to any bullying Trump-supporting bullies ... Read More

Last Chance to Prevent Fascism in America: The Electoral College
Wake up, America! This is not alarmism -- the Electoral College is your last shot at preventing fascism in America ... Read More

The First Days After Donald Trump Wins the 2016 Presidential Election
Trump wins the 2016 presidential election. He is now the president-elect. Five days later I'm still reeling ... Read More

2016 Presidential Election: Trump Is the Presumptive Republican Nominee
We are halfway the 2016 presidential election campaign and Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee. When will he become presidential? ... Read More

Trump is the Republican Candidate: It’s a Bit Late to Face American Fascism
American fascism has led to this: Trump is the Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election. He shows all the signs of a wannabe fascist leader. Have we passed the point of no return? ... Read More

Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist or Social Democrat? Why It Matters
Bernie Sanders is not a democratic socialist -- he's a social democrat. What's the difference? ... Read More

Under a President Trump, Would Democracy Survive or Would Fascism Win?
(02-03-2016, updated 07-14-2018) The pundits are worried Trump might not leave peacefully if he loses in 2020. Time to repost this, in the spirit of I Told You So: What if Trump became president? Is America's democracy at risk? Would the American political system hold? Trump came in second in the Iowa caucus. Many pundits predict that this is the beginning of the end for Trump, but who knows. This is just the Iowa caucus; there's a lot more to come ... Read More

Was Trump Success in the Republican Primary a Surprise? Look at History!
Only in America and only to Americans is it a surprise that Trump is doing so well in the Republican primary. Why would he not? Everything's in place for history to repeat itself ... Read More

Trump’s Muslim Registration and Identification Plans: Why History Matters
What American kids should be learning in History class: Just because something starts off small doesn't mean it's not a big deal. Trump's Muslim registration and identification plans are definitely a big deal ... Read More

American Islamophobia: Sixteen States Plan to Refuse Syrian Refugees
France and America want to bomb ISIS in Syria. Sixteen U.S. states refuse entry to the subsequent Syrian refugees, because some of them might be terrorists. American Islamophobia is alive and kicking ... Read More

Presidential Candidate Donald Trump and his Campaign Demagoguery
Angry goldfish and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made scapegoating the main theme of his campaign demagoguery. This is when high school history education comes in handy, if you've had any ... Read More

Fans of SRO Ben Fields vs. Lawsuits for Excessive Force and Racial Profiling
SRO Ben Fields had lawsuits filed against him, for excessive force and for racial profiling. Yet the police and the school were okay with letting him loose on kids, and so are many others ... Read More

What’s the Purpose of American Public Schools, Education or Discipline?
How is it acceptable to have Officer Slam in American public schools? And why is discipline seen as the be-all, end-all in American public education? ... Read More

Spring Valley High School Student Violently Arrested by SRO Ben Fields
An SRO -- School Resources Officer -- at Spring Valley High School (S.C.) violently slammed a black female student to the floor and then threw her several feet toward the door. She was arrested for using her cell phone in class. ... Read More

Kim Davis, ISIS and the Syrian Refugees: Theocracy and Religious Freedom
ISIS is fighting for strict Muslim government everywhere. The Syrian refugees are fleeing these groups. However, Kim Davis, in fighting for her 'religious freedom', would want America to be a theocracy, too ... Read More

Don’t Blame the Koch Brothers — American Education Was Always Awful
Don't blame the Koch brothers for bad American education -- it was terrible long before they were born ... Read More

White Man Kills Nine Black People in Church Shooting in Charleston S.C.
A young white man has killed nine people in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. Several republicans, including some presidential candidates, are saying it wasn't a hate crime ... Read More

Better Firearms Training, Less Lethal Force, Fewer Lethal Police Shootings
During police firearms training, why not teach officers to aim for the shoulder or leg? There would be decidedly fewer lethal police shootings if cops didn't have the license to use lethal force every time they felt threatened ... Read More

Police Shootings, Militarization and the Absence of the NRA in Ferguson MO
Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Demonstrations against police violence have been going on since, which the police have met with tanks and army gear ... Read More

Authoritarianism: Response to Police Misconduct? A Slap on the Wrist
Authoritarianism: when police misconduct is accepted. A cop trips up students on a soccer field for kicks; a woman is thrown to the ground, handcuffed and crammed into a police car by four officers, for jaywalking. In what other profession could anyone behave that way? ... Read More

The Meridian Race Riot of 1871: The Failure of the Rickety Reconstruction
The Meridian race riot of 1871 illustrates the battles between freedmen and the KKK and other white supremacists in the South during the Reconstruction era ... Read More

The Reconstruction: Federal Army, Carpetbaggers, and Blacks in Office
Then, in 1875, federal army and the carpetbaggers leave, the KKK wins, Black Codes are put in place and the Jim Crow era begins. The Reconstruction is barely even mentioned in history textbooks ... Read More

I Pledge Allegiance — No, This Is Not the Same Post: What is Patriotism?
Two days after my last post, the daily prompt is "I Pledge Allegiance". Very funny. The question: "Are you patriotic, and what is patriotism to you" ... Read More

Battling Nationalism for Maria Montessori: I Pledge Allegiance to the Earth
The time I stood up for world citizens and battled nationalism and boycotted the Pledge of Allegiance in a Montessori school and won ... sort of, with a lot of help from my imagination ... Read More

Are You a U.S. Citizen?: Crossing Internal Checkpoints While Alien
How to deal with American authoritarianism when crossing internal checkpoints. What do you answer when asked, "Are you a U.S. Citizen?" What do you answer when you're a resident alien? ... Read More

Reese Witherspoon v. Police: America Is a Police State and Nobody Minds
Last week Reese Witherspoon's husband was arrested for driving drunk. But Reese was arrested, too. Why? She got out of the car! Reese v. the police -- guess who won? America is a police state and nobody seems to notice, or mind ... Read More

Gun Restrictions For People With Mental Health Issues, Like Alex Jones
Piers Morgan tries to chat with Alex Jones about gun rights. The guy has some serious mental health issues (Alex Jones, that is), and if there was ever a case for gun restrictions, this guy is it ... Read More