The comparison of the current US to NAZI Germany is *not* too far off

[flexy]

There is almost no day where I don't see some Conservatives on some forums stating things similar as "Only Trump-voters are real Americans".

There is certainly a sentiment across many Conservatives that to be a "real American" you have to be Conservative.

Liberals, Socialists "are not 'real Americans'"

I really believe that many DO think like this. (It goes further even, like the assumption that the current prez which was elected wouldn't be 'legit', by trying to pick some reasons why this would be so..such as that Obama was elected mainly due to the help of many Mexicans etc..etc.. or just making up stuff like w/ the Muslim or birth certificate stuff.)

The NAZIs too considered only certain people, the Arians, "real Germans". Anyone else, either based on race, religion or thinking was not "a real German"...in fact considered a sub-human. We know where that lead to..

The idea that only Right wingers/Conservatives are "real Americans" would lead (as a logical consequence) to a despotic regime (term here broadly used) just like NAZI Germany, China, former Eastern Block, whatever. To belong and to be "legit", you have to adapt a certain political view and any other is not permitted...or adapting a different view would give you severe disadvantages.

A society where you need one, particular political view to to be "genuine and legit" would be as ANTI AMERICAN as it could even get. It violates the most basic principles of freedom.

And some folks REALLY think like this, daring to say that liberals, socialists etc. are not "real" Americans.

If someone can not see parallels to NAZI Germany I cannot help them. Pair this with the current racist sentiment and you have a "brilliant" (SARCASM) combination....history repeats itself...the ones who once liberated Europe from NAZIsm are slowly turning into them..and they don't realize it.

This is not just theory. "Anchor babies" etc. comes to mind. They're already labeling people who are not supposed to "belong", alongside of course with socialists, liberals, progressives etc. From the idea that those folks "don't belong" (because they're not "real Americans") to actual ACTIONS, deportations...and of course worse...would be a very small step.

 

[Blackjack200]

Projection

 

[IronWing]

Lacking a handy a-bomb, I'll go with this...

 

[cbrunny]

OP is a goddamned moron of extreme quality.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2444260&highlight=hitler+nazi

 

[allisolm]

If someone can not see parallels to NAZI Germany I cannot help them.

If someone can see parallels to Nazi Germany no one can help them.

 

[sm625]

Most americans do not even understand how Nazism took root. What was it based on? They dont know, and will probably never care enough to know. Well, here's the shocker. It is precisely that level of ignorance that led to the rise of the Nazi party. At their core they believed something so outrageously absurd.... they believed they could have won the war if only... if only... if only. There was no way they were winning that war when they signed the armistice. It was over. But these people wallowed in their ignorance and denial and a movement grew out of it.

As an American, you pledge allegiance to the flag. Most Americans do it a thousand times or more in their lifetime. You could argue that "A Real American" upholds his pledge of allegiance to the constitution. But if you're a liberal, you represent an ideology that believes in expanding the size and scope of the federal government far FAR beyond that which was laid out in the constitution. Therefore there is some basis in truth to say that liberals are NOT real americans. The problem is that conservative republicans are also not "real Americans" by that same standard, since their party has also supported the unending expansion of the federal government.

The things people believe about their government are so ignorant, so completely wrong, that it does indeed parallel greatly with Nazism. The Nazis thought they could have won the war, and their anger and bitterness provided moral justification for growing levels of atrocity. In today's America, too many American believe the constant stream of garbage that is excremented by the corporate media. Saddam has WMDs. Fluoride is good for you. Ukraine was not a coup. The adventures in Afghanistan have nothing to do with the poppy. Your diet should consist of more than 50% carbs. X country had to be liberated and is better off today. Making the world safe for democracy. Believing this endless stream of garbage leads people to make the wrong decisions, and it is every bit as ignorant, and every bit as dangerous as Nazism was in the late 1920's.

 

[HTFOff]

drivel

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Apart from socioeconomics, politics, culture, ethnic and religious diversity, recent history and the overall global political climate, America is indeed just like Nazi Germany.

 

[cubby1223]

There is almost no day where I don't see some Conservatives on some forums stating things similar as "Only Trump-voters are real Americans".

There is certainly a sentiment across many Conservatives that to be a "real American" you have to be Conservative.

Liberals, Socialists "are not 'real Americans'"

I really believe that many DO think like this. (It goes further even, like the assumption that the current prez which was elected wouldn't be 'legit', by trying to pick some reasons why this would be so..such as that Obama was elected mainly due to the help of many Mexicans etc..etc.. or just making up stuff like w/ the Muslim or birth certificate stuff.)

The NAZIs too considered only certain people, the Arians, "real Germans". Anyone else, either based on race, religion or thinking was not "a real German"...in fact considered a sub-human. We know where that lead to..

The idea that only Right wingers/Conservatives are "real Americans" would lead (as a logical consequence) to a despotic regime (term here broadly used) just like NAZI Germany, China, former Eastern Block, whatever. To belong and to be "legit", you have to adapt a certain political view and any other is not permitted...or adapting a different view would give you severe disadvantages.

A society where you need one, particular political view to to be "genuine and legit" would be as ANTI AMERICAN as it could even get. It violates the most basic principles of freedom.

And some folks REALLY think like this, daring to say that liberals, socialists etc. are not "real" Americans.

If someone can not see parallels to NAZI Germany I cannot help them. Pair this with the current racist sentiment and you have a "brilliant" (SARCASM) combination....history repeats itself...the ones who once liberated Europe from NAZIsm are slowly turning into them..and they don't realize it.

This is not just theory. "Anchor babies" etc. comes to mind. They're already labeling people who are not supposed to "belong", alongside of course with socialists, liberals, progressives etc. From the idea that those folks "don't belong" (because they're not "real Americans") to actual ACTIONS, deportations...and of course worse...would be a very small step.

Just about everyone has some form of "get out" mentality. I know a helluva lot of liberals who have a "get out, you don't belong here" attitude based on various factors of their own choosing.

But to make the leap that you're doing, modern conservatism is comparable to the formation of the Nazi party, seriously, you need to take several steps backwards away from the internet. Shut it off for a while. Go out and experience life, get to know people beyond what a few internet posts say

 

[IronWing]

But to make the leap that you're doing, modern conservatism is comparable to the formation of the Nazi party, seriously, you need to take several steps backwards away from the internet. Shut it off for a while. Go out and experience life, get to know people beyond what a few internet posts say

The modern American conservative movement shares much with South American style fascism but they ain't Nazis.

 

[trenchfoot]

There are similarities just as there are differences. The effects and visibility thereof depends on the magnitude. Take the White Supremacist "Movement" for example. It exists here in the USA, but not on the same magnitude or effect that it did in Nazi Germany.

Here's another example: Hitler used racial/cultural/religious differences within Germany for political gain. Our own politicians do the exact same thing for the exact same reasons, only much more discretely, utilizing subtleties, nuance and commonly understood code words. The more localized, the less discretion needed.

 

[BoberFett]

LOL, Democrats.

 

[master_shake_]

afaik the only real american.

he had a theme song saying it, ffs.

but even he defected.

Spoiler

 

[woolfe9998]

There are similarities just as there are differences. The effects and visibility thereof depends on the magnitude. Take the White Supremacist "Movement" for example. It exists here in the USA, but not on the same magnitude or effect that it did in Nazi Germany.

Yeah, the underlined portion is putting it rather mildly. Total membership in these white nationalist groups is probably in the 10's of thousands in a nation of over 300 million. It's actually a bit bigger in Europe than here, in spite of the fact that in Europe much of what these groups do is illegal.

Here's another example: Hitler used racial/cultural/religious differences within Germany for political gain. Our own politicians do the exact same thing for the exact same reasons, only much more discretely, utilizing subtleties, nuance and commonly understood code words. The more localized, the less discretion needed.

Yeah, using ethnic differences for "political gain" is/has been done in many if not most cultures now and historically. However, there is a massive difference between using those differences to get into power, and persecuting then slaughtering those ethnic groups once you get there. Donald Trump may be using the racist dog whistle to curry favor with right wing voters, but I doubt he'll be putting Mexicans in concentration camps if he gets elected.

 

[cubby1223]

Donald Trump may be using the racist dog whistle to curry favor with right wing voters, but I doubt he'll be putting Mexicans in concentration camps if he gets elected.

That also has to be further clarified:

Mexican citizens in the U.S. without a valid visa... deported back to Mexico.
American citizens of Mexican descent in the U.S.... no problems at all.
Mexican citizen who wants to become a U.S. citizen via the legal process... no problems at all.
Mexican citizen in Mexico... no problems at all.

That's the difference. Trump is not excluding anyone based on race or on country of origin. The exclusion is based on the legality of crossing borders.

 

[dank69]

Most americans do not even understand how Nazism took root. What was it based on? They dont know, and will probably never care enough to know. Well, here's the shocker. It is precisely that level of ignorance that led to the rise of the Nazi party. At their core they believed something so outrageously absurd.... they believed they could have won the war if only... if only... if only. There was no way they were winning that war when they signed the armistice. It was over. But these people wallowed in their ignorance and denial and a movement grew out of it.

As an American, you pledge allegiance to the flag. Most Americans do it a thousand times or more in their lifetime. You could argue that "A Real American" upholds his pledge of allegiance to the constitution. But if you're a liberal, you represent an ideology that believes in expanding the size and scope of the federal government far FAR beyond that which was laid out in the constitution. Therefore there is some basis in truth to say that liberals are NOT real americans. The problem is that conservative republicans are also not "real Americans" by that same standard, since their party has also supported the unending expansion of the federal government.

The things people believe about their government are so ignorant, so completely wrong, that it does indeed parallel greatly with Nazism. The Nazis thought they could have won the war, and their anger and bitterness provided moral justification for growing levels of atrocity. In today's America, too many American believe the constant stream of garbage that is excremented by the corporate media. Saddam has WMDs. Fluoride is good for you. Ukraine was not a coup. The adventures in Afghanistan have nothing to do with the poppy. Your diet should consist of more than 50% carbs. X country had to be liberated and is better off today. Making the world safe for democracy. Believing this endless stream of garbage leads people to make the wrong decisions, and it is every bit as ignorant, and every bit as dangerous as Nazism was in the late 1920's.

 

[Vic]

It always amazes me that people argue over what Nazism is when Hitler wrote a book about exactly that.
Nazism is the ideology that certain people are entitled to certain privileges and protections from government, on the basis of both a particular race and ideological affiliation, at the expense of all the other people who fall outside that criteria.
Simple as that.

 

[OverVolt]

..

 

[JEDIYoda]

There is almost no day where I don't see some Conservatives on some forums stating things similar as "Only Trump-voters are real Americans".

There is certainly a sentiment across many Conservatives that to be a "real American" you have to be Conservative.

Liberals, Socialists "are not 'real Americans'"

I really believe that many DO think like this. (It goes further even, like the assumption that the current prez which was elected wouldn't be 'legit', by trying to pick some reasons why this would be so..such as that Obama was elected mainly due to the help of many Mexicans etc..etc.. or just making up stuff like w/ the Muslim or birth certificate stuff.)

The NAZIs too considered only certain people, the Arians, "real Germans". Anyone else, either based on race, religion or thinking was not "a real German"...in fact considered a sub-human. We know where that lead to..

The idea that only Right wingers/Conservatives are "real Americans" would lead (as a logical consequence) to a despotic regime (term here broadly used) just like NAZI Germany, China, former Eastern Block, whatever. To belong and to be "legit", you have to adapt a certain political view and any other is not permitted...or adapting a different view would give you severe disadvantages.

A society where you need one, particular political view to to be "genuine and legit" would be as ANTI AMERICAN as it could even get. It violates the most basic principles of freedom.

And some folks REALLY think like this, daring to say that liberals, socialists etc. are not "real" Americans.

If someone can not see parallels to NAZI Germany I cannot help them. Pair this with the current racist sentiment and you have a "brilliant" (SARCASM) combination....history repeats itself...the ones who once liberated Europe from NAZIsm are slowly turning into them..and they don't realize it.

This is not just theory. "Anchor babies" etc. comes to mind. They're already labeling people who are not supposed to "belong", alongside of course with socialists, liberals, progressives etc. From the idea that those folks "don't belong" (because they're not "real Americans") to actual ACTIONS, deportations...and of course worse...would be a very small step.
__________________

You must live in Colorado!! I want some of what you are smoking.......

 

[trenchfoot]

Yeah, the underlined portion is putting it rather mildly. Total membership in these white nationalist groups is probably in the 10's of thousands in a nation of over 300 million. It's actually a bit bigger in Europe than here, in spite of the fact that in Europe much of what these groups do is illegal.

So then we agree in principle but not in the way you feel I overstated the circumstance? If that's the case, I can easily agree with you that I could have phrased that passage to note how insignificant their numbers are, but that's not the point I was trying to make. In my mind, when I posted that phrase my intention was to note that they do exist, as opposed to their not existing at all. However, in light of you sharing with me your point of view, I'll keep in mind to be more specific in that regard.

Yeah, using ethnic differences for "political gain" is/has been done in many if not most cultures now and historically. However, there is a massive difference between using those differences to get into power, and persecuting then slaughtering those ethnic groups once you get there. Donald Trump may be using the racist dog whistle to curry favor with right wing voters, but I doubt he'll be putting Mexicans in concentration camps if he gets elected.

Ergo my mentioning the existence of a difference in magnitude between those examples. I erred in thinking that mentioning that would make clear the context of my commentary and that the magnitude of difference between the two was self-evident. I won't assume such in the future and will make an effort to avoid such future incidents.

Thanks for pointing those issues out.

 

[brycejones]

lol, democrats.

no

lol op.

 

[Greenman]

Apart from socioeconomics, politics, culture, ethnic and religious diversity, recent history and the overall global political climate, America is indeed just like Nazi Germany.

It's like they're twins!


OP fell way to far from the turnip truck.

 

[Sulaco]

This is not just theory.

You're right. Please do us all a favor and research what exactly a "theory" is, apologize for wasting everyone here's 2 minutes reading that drivel, and perhaps find a history book or two that an adult can read to you and explain what all the big words mean that you don't grasp yet.

 

[Spungo]

Apart from socioeconomics, politics, culture, ethnic and religious diversity, recent history and the overall global political climate, America is indeed just like Nazi Germany.

And people often forget that the National Socialist German Worker's Party was extremely socialist (duh). The Nazi party put the needs of Germans first and the needs of everyone else second. This would be in sharp contrast to the US where Americans are considered proles who only exist to serve the interests of corporations.

America's policy:
H-1B visas. Fire all of your American employees and replace them with people you found in Malaysia. Pay them half as much with no pension and no health insurance.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand that the state be charged first with providing the opportunity for a livelihood and way of life for the citizens. If it is impossible to sustain the total population of the State, then the members of foreign nations (non-citizens) are to be expelled from the Reich."
Keep in mind the Nazi party said only Aryans can be German citizens, and only if you lived in Germany prior to August 2, 1914. Kicking out foreigners meant kicking out Jews as well as people who moved to Germany after 1914. If you were Jewish, you had the option of being relocated to Palestine. This was called the Transfer Agreement. It's basically the exact opposite of the H-1B visa.


America:
There was a time when we had equal rights. Bankers actually went to jail. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true! We actually threw people in jail when they broke laws! Now? Not so much. It seems like we're in the later stages of a crumbling empire, when corruption has no legal consequence.

Nazi Germany:
Nazi Germany was moving in the opposite direction, but only for Aryans. Germany was a dictatorship during the war and before the war, so people were enthusiastic to try this whole equal treatment under the law (not including Jews) idea. People were thrilled to throw criminals in jail. This tends to be true any time there is a drastic change of government. If America had a revolution tomorrow, one could expect tons of powerful people to be thrown in jail or executed. It's just how human nature works. The mass executions after the French revolution were called the Reign of Terror. The Soviets had the Great Purges after the civil war; everyone affiliated with the white army was executed.


America:
"Workfare" is racist. We should just give welfare to anyone and everyone, with no limitations, no restrictions, no strings attached.

Nazi Germany:
"The first obligation of every citizen must be to work both spiritually and physically. The activity of individuals is not to counteract the interests of the universality, but must have its result within the framework of the whole for the benefit of all. "


America:
Student loans follow you for life, you stupid proles! Also, we're going to raise minimum wage but still have unpaid internships, thus assuring all interns will be paid nothing.

Nazi Germany:
"Abolition of unearned (work and labour) incomes. Breaking of debt (interest)-slavery."


America:
Anandtech member Spungo owns shares of Lockheed Martin and profits from the blood of young Americans who died in Iraq. Also, the Iraq war was entirely about profiteering.

Nazi Germany:
"In consideration of the monstrous sacrifice in property and blood that each war demands of the people, personal enrichment through a war must be designated as a crime against the people. Therefore we demand the total confiscation of all war profits."


America:
Privatize everything. Privatize the military, police, prisons, rain water, air, etc. Allow private prisons to bribe judges so they give out harsher sentences.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand the nationalisation of all [war] associated industries (trusts)."


America:
lol fuck poor people.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand a division of profits of all heavy industries."


America:
Social security is doomed and we have no intention of fixing it.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare."


America:
We need to shrink the middle class as quickly as possible. Outsource as much as possible. For the things that can't be outsourced (construction, warehousing), insource everything.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand the creation of a healthy middle class and its conservation, immediate communalization of the great warehouses and their being leased at low cost to small firms, the utmost consideration of all small firms in contracts with the State, county or municipality."


America:
The federal reserve's official policy is that interest rates should be lowered so we can go back to flipping houses to each other and once again leave people with debt loads they can't handle. The government does its best to destroy the middle class by having absurdly high taxes on land. If you can't afford $10,000 in property taxes, the state steals your land.

Nazi Germany:
"We demand a land reform suitable to our needs, provision of a law for the free expropriation of land for the purposes of public utility, abolition of taxes on land and prevention of all speculation in land."


America:
We enslave young people with debt that cannot be discharged through bankruptcy while providing education that has absolutely no value in the real world.

Nazi Germany:
"The state is to be responsible for a fundamental reconstruction of our whole national education program, to enable every capable and industrious German to obtain higher education and subsequently introduction into leading positions. The plans of instruction of all educational institutions are to conform with the experiences of practical life. The comprehension of the concept of the State must be striven for by the school [Staatsbürgerkunde] as early as the beginning of understanding. We demand the education at the expense of the State of outstanding intellectually gifted children of poor parents without consideration of position or profession."


America:
Fattest nation ever, and we would like to keep it that way.

Nazi Germany:
"The State is to care for the elevating national health by protecting the mother and child, by outlawing child-labor, by the encouragement of physical fitness, by means of the legal establishment of a gymnastic and sport obligation, by the utmost support of all organizations concerned with the physical instruction of the young."


America:
Blackwater?

Nazi Germany:
"We demand abolition of the mercenary troops and formation of a national army."



Next week I'll compare Canada and the Soviet Union

 

[werepossum]

While I agree that the National Socialists were socialists, that largely went away after Hitler consolidated power. After that, it was largely the party of Hitler, as much Fascist as socialist. War resource owners who weren't Jews, joined the Party, and did as Hitler wished usually remained in control of their companies and in fact were often allotted slave labor. Even for socialist parties based on ethnic identity, by that point Germany was far more a dictatorship than a socialist Republic, with far more in common with right wing Italy and Spain and communist USSR.