[lbo-talk] USA 2003

[Jon Johanning]

Everyone of course would have her or his own personal response, but 
mine is that (as I tirelessly repeat) the US is not now (or ever has 
been) a "neo-fascist regime." Yes, Ashcroft is an obviously certifiable 
paranoid schizophrenic, and is making things rather dangerous for 
people who look to him like Muslim terrorists, and as Justin pointed 
out, the "Patriot Act" is a very loose cannon on the deck of the Ship 
of State. But if everyone plays their cards right, we should be able to 
effect a regime change next year, and none of the prospective 
Democratic candidates look anywhere near as dangerous as this gang.

I think it's safe for any Canadian to cross the border, provided she or 
he does not resemble Ashcroft's terrorist profile too closely.

As for where the signs of dissent are, I think the "protest songs and 
marches of yore" are a bit out of fashion right now, but we had some 
good ones before the war started. At the moment I think most of us are 
watching W's poll numbers steadily sink and congratulating ourselves 
for enlightening the public enough so that most Americans not 
mindlessly in love with W are beginning to see the light. His last big 
TV appearance fell absolutely flat, if not depressing his poll numbers 
further. Questioning  is increasing in the minds of lots of ordinary, 
"apolitical" folks who aren't in the habit of staging protest marches.

My impression is that the public is questioning this administration 
more than they ever did during the Vietnam War period. As I say, if 
current trends continue, and everyone plays their hands reasonably 
well, that light is probably the light at the end of the tunnel.

Doesn't sound much like Germany in 1932, does it?

On Monday, September 15, 2003, at 12:52  AM, David wrote:


> I haven't been to the states for over five yrs and would love to see my
> sister who lives in Long Island. My brother in love saw one of the 
> towers
> fall while he was driving into manhattan. I just don't know what with 
> Bush
> and what's been going down there - it's chillier than Canada in Feb. 
> What's
> it like living for a progressive person living  in the land of the 
> so-called
> free under a neo-facist regime ... how do you put up with all the 
> bullsh%t
> ... where are the protest songs and marches of yore and people 
> speaking out
> and voices heard ...has everyone retreated to bin ladan like cave of 
> their
> own making??

Jon Johanning // jjohanning at igc.org
__________________________________
When I was a little boy, I had but a little wit,
'Tis a long time ago, and I have no more yet;
Nor ever ever shall, until that I die,
For the longer I live the more fool am I.
-- Wit and Mirth, an Antidote against Melancholy (1684)