Welcome to a brand new series here at the Movement Vision Lab, combining thoughtful (and correct) political education and analysis with good ol' fashion ranting and raving. In this case, I couldn't take watching one more episode of Glenn Beck's notorious show on Fox News without responding. So I have.
In this first episode, I debunk Beck's claim that communism and fascism go hand-in-hand and are the goals of the progressive movement. Instead, I explain what progressives are actually working toward.
Watch it. Share it. And post comments with your ideas for future episodes!!
As Beck prepares for his rally in Washington this weekend (on the anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington!) we can't let him drown out truth and justice.
Especially if you have Beck-loving friends and family, please spread this around!
Follow Sally Kohn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sallykohn
“Proposed imposition of firearms restrictions and weapons bans likely would attract new members into the ranks of right-wing extremist groups as well as potentially spur some of them to begin planning and training for violence against the government,†the report continues. “The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by right-wing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some parts of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement.â€
More notable:
“Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to right-wing extremists,†it says. “DHS/I&A [Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis] is concerned that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize veterans in order to boost their violent capacities.â€
Janet Napolitano is responsible for the  DHS 07APR10 report.Â
BARACK OBAMA, "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.
Ron Bloom, senior official in the Obama Administration, Manufacturing Czar, "We kind of agree with Mao that power comes largely from the barrel of a gun."
G'head, YouTube 'em.Â
Now, if only we could get everyone to understand that elections don't mean that one team leaves the field and the other just flips the game over with a new start. It seems that impatience comes with ignorance about the complex process of changing a massive government from one to the other system.
This is the true magic of the American system. Not that is has been accomplished, but that we still have the freedom to make the long term changes necessary to evolve our politics and move forward.
The video is false because Sally set up the conservative right as fascists. Her evidence, because she said so – that Hitler and Mussolini were conservative heroes. I’m gonna need a little more support on that claim. Her fraudulent claim that communism vs. fascism is a left vs. right political product ignores that they are both variants of statism based on the collectivist principal that the citizens are rightless slaves of the state. Both communism and fascism in theory, practice, and statements from their leaders, the poor are enslaved and the rich are expropriated (wealth redistributed) in favor of a ruling class. Both are variants of socialism. Is clearly not an issue of communism vs. fascism or poor vs. rich; it is citizens vs. state, freedom vs. slavery- but mostly it is Capitalism versus Socialism.
The “vs. What?†is Capitalism, Sally!
For anyone out there that wants to better understand what fascism was really like under Hitler, read the book "The Vampire Economy: Doing Business Under Fascism"
It was written in 1939 and it details how much the state controlled commerce and how those politically connected got favors while those who dissented were put out of business, or worse.
Even communist countries like China adopted a capitalistic approach for goods and services exchanges to a certain extent; most countries operate in a capitalistic economy and modulate the social inequalities created by a pure capitalistic approach.
I think it would be very safe to assert that that political systems work very closely hand in hand with their economic system. I will often say capitalism because it is too long to say, “a Constitutional Republic that promotes a free market systemâ€. You see, the lines get blurry because it was the idea of a free market system (among other good things) that perpetuated our Constitutional Republic.
I do not understand how you can bring in China with atrocious human rights records and turn around and talk about modulating *social inequalities created by a pure capitalistic approach.* Really?? The problem in America is not the capitalist free market system; it is the corruption that exists between business and government on BOTH sides of the aisle. Any economic system will eventually fail when people stop caring about each other. Capitalism is a vehicle in a sense, and we are the drivers.
The ideologies and programs similar of communism, socialism, and progressivism cannot coexist with the US Constitution and the inalienable right of individual freedom.
You may be surprised that I do realize capitalism is not a political movement; however it is just not a mere *way to manage the economy of a country and set the goods and services exchanges among producers and consumers*. I could set up a system in the economy that mandates that all citizens must purchase health care or face a fine and imprisonment if you do not purchase the insurance. So, does this resemble free market capitalism or something else? After all, it is way to set * the goods and services exchanges among producers and consumers.* Pure capitalism means government out of the free market – the government’s job is to enforce the Constitution and federal law, and run a military to protect our nation.
continued...
You seem like a real sophisticated person that can grasp fast referencing multiple concepts in less than five minutes. Now, I’m not interested in defending Beck because I believe that he needs no help from me. Using your intellectual capabilities, please tell me why so many here would rather attack Beck and/or his audience using ad homonym fallacies rather than debate his arguments. I mean, wouldn’t that be more analytical and intellectual? And if you have the time, could you please tell me about this real world you speak of? I promise that I will try and keep up with you.
Quote
"So here you have Barack Obama going in and spending the money on embryonic stem cell research. ... Eugenics. In case you don't know what Eugenics led us to: the Final Solution. A master race! A perfect person. ... The stuff that we are facing is absolutely frightening." –"The Glenn Beck Program," March 9, 2009
(Source)
Standard definitions:
Eugenics
is "the study of, or belief in, the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits - Wikipedia
Stem cell research
research on stem cells and their use in medicine - wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
from the above it can be readily seen how the beck uses disinformation to further his political agenda by redefining reality eg changing stem cell research into eugenics thereby frightening people into thinking that one of the most promising avenues of medical research, one that could improve the lives of thousands, possibly millions of sufferers throughout the world is really some sort of National Socialist (Nazi) conspiracy.
Personally I fail to see how the two things are even remotely related – perhaps you could explain.
real world
Having a practicable, verifiable quality; not imaginary, theoretical or based in a non-physical realm, such as heaven or cyberspace - en.wiktionary.org/wiki/real-world