So I got brave and sent this LTTE.

[trof]

Local bi-weekly in rural, coastal Alabama
I may regret it when the death threats start.

Could it happen here?

Hermann Goering was Commander-in-Chief of Hitler's air force, the Luftwaffe.
He was also officially designated as Hitler's successor, should anything happen to the fuehrer.

In April of 1946, Herr Goering was cooling his heels in an allied military prison in Nuremberg, Germany.
He had been found guilty of conspiracy to wage war, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Later sentenced to hang, he escaped the noose by taking a cyanide pill he'd somehow smuggled in.

He was interviewed by Gustave Gilbert, a German speaking U. S. intelligence officer.
Gilbert recorded Goering's observations that the common people can always be manipulated into supporting and fighting wars by their political leaders:

"We got around to the subject of war again, and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction."

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

What do you think? Could it happen here? Has it?

XXXX XXXXXX
XXXXXX, AL

[BillZBubb]

1. Great letter, I hope they publish it.

[trof]

3. Thanks. I have mixed feelings.

They've published everything I've sent them.
I really wanted to say this, but I'm a bit apprehensive about our local right-wingers reaction.

[Neocondriac]

2. Well....

That ain't gonna go over real well in Bayou Labatre'.lol

[trof]

5. TOO TRUE! Welcome to DU.

:hi:

[gratuitous]

4. Okay, let's see . . .

Yeah, death threats aren't an easy thing to live with Han Solo. But let's have a little fun anyway, and imagine what your fellow Alabamians will say about your letter. I'll go first:

"You're calling the president a Nazi! How dare you!"

This reaction, of course, doesn't address the substance of your letter, but it's a tried and true tactic, predicted by Herr Goering himself.

[trof]

6. "You're calling the president a Nazi!" Egg-Zackly

And that's not really the point at all.
The point is that were were led/duped/lied to by our "leadership", if I dare dignify what's going on in the administration with that term.

[GoneOffShore]

7. Oh, can I use it here?

That is so good.
and so fucking true.

[trof]

8. You bet! With my compliments.