Is the United States a totalitarian dictatorship?

Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a concept used to describe political systems where a state regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life. (...) Totalitarian regimes or movements maintain themselves in political power by means of an official all-embracing ideology and propaganda disseminated through the state-controlled mass media, a single party that controls the state, personality cults, control over the economy, regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism, the use of mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror tactics.

en.wikipedia.org...

that's hittin' a little too close to home for my taste...

The Internal Security Act (also known as the Subversive Activities Control Act, McCarran Act or ISA) of 1950 is a United States federal law that required the registration of Communist organizations with the United States Attorney General and established the Subversive Activities Control Board to investigate persons suspected of engaging in subversive activities or otherwise promoting the establishment of a "totalitarian dictatorship," fascist or communist. Members of these groups could not become citizens, and in some cases, were prevented from entering or leaving the country. Citizen-members could be denaturalized in five years.

...The Democratic-controlled Congress overrode President Harry S. Truman's veto to pass this bill. Truman called the bill "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press, and assembly since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798."

Sections of the ISA were gradually ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Much of the Act has been repealed, but some portions remain intact. For example, violation of Section 797 of Title 50, United States Code (Section 21 of "the Internal Security Act of 1950"), which concerns security of military bases and other sensitive installations, may be punishable by a prison term of up to one year.

en.wikipedia.org...

Section 2: As a result of evidence adduced before various committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Congress hereby finds that-
...
(6) The Communist action organizations so established and utilized in various countries, acting under such control, direction, and discipline, endeavor to carry out the objectives of the world Communist movement by bringing about the overthrow of existing governments by any available means, including force if necessary, and setting up Communist totalitarian dictatorships which will be subservient to the most powerful existing Communist totalitarian dictatorship. Although such organizations usually designate themselves as political parties, they are in fact constituent elements of the world-wide Communist movement and promote the objectives of such movement by conspiratorial and coercive tactics, instead of through the democratic processes of a free elective system or through the freedom-preserving means employed by a political party which operates as an agency by which people govern themselves.
(7) In carrying on the activities referred to in paragraph (6), such Communist organizations in various countries are organized on a secret, conspiratorial basis and operate to a substantial extent through organizations, commonly known as ''Communist fronts'', which in most instances are created and maintained, or used, in such manner as to conceal the facts as to their true character and purposes and their membership. One result of this method of operation is that such affiliated organizations are able to obtain financial and other support from persons who would not extend such support if they knew the true purposes of, and the actual nature of the control and influence exerted upon, such ''Communist fronts''.

some of the stuff in here is appalling!

could that have been repealed?

didn't the "Bilderberg's" get a slap on the wrist for having secret, unannounced meetings? i guess you can't do that when you're a powerful political figure?...

it's easy to call a government "communist", but should it be this easy?

i came across this blog page and thought it was worthy of adding here for a quick read:

www.mikepellegrini.com...

i totally agree with him, but i know the treachery doesn't just stop at the president...

If you compare it to the soviet union or north korea or iran or nazi-germany, then the U.S. is certainly not a totalitarian state but enjoys many relative freedoms.

But if you compare it to the ideal state of liberty and prosperity as envisioned by some, then it most certainly is a totalitarian state.

Depends on what you compare it with. There are many examples to show that we live in a totalitarian state...you showed some. But on the other hand...there´s even worse, you´d probably agree.

reply to post by Skyfloating


yes but, do you think someone could take all parties "suspected" to court? or will simply taking them to court make you a communist, and therefore unlawful?

delete, will think of something usefull to fill in soon..

[edit on 14-10-2008 by adrenochrome]

Our government is totalitarian, but thankfully, that hasn't trickled down into my personal life yet.

Provided I have earned the money, (things not being free /=totalitarianism, I have heard it argued that because those of us in the poor and middle class can't have whatever they want, we are in a dictatorship.) I can still read, watch, listen to what I want.

I can go wherever I want within the country and, with the proper planning, almost anywhere in the world.

I can have a conscentual relationship with anyone I choose, though some "rights" may be denied if that person happens to be of the same gender.

I am not forced to serve in the military against my will.

I don't have any listening devices in my house, a tracker in my car, or a chip under my skin.

So I'm going to say no--at this point--but we're getting darned close.

[edit on 14-10-2008 by asmeone2]

Originally posted by adrenochrome
reply to post by Skyfloating

 

yes but, do you think someone could take all parties "suspected" to court? or will simply taking them to court make you a communist, and therefore unlawful?

The reason it works so well is because you cant spot ONE group of people as the culprits. And because most people are relatively happy with the state of things. Happy slaves make good slaves.

My personal optimism tells me that we´ll be moving in a direction less totalitarian in the next 500 years...if you have that much patience. But until then it has some values to realize that the freedoms we have are good but FAR from enough.

No the united states is not totalitarian,it is corporatist.The federal reserve bank
controls the corporations,the corporations control the politicians and the media.
Can you take them to court?Probably,however since they also control the courts it will do you no good.The constitution is the foundation of this country.
All elected officials swear an oath to uphold and protect it.When they vote against it they commit treason.People would up in arms if you were to take a hammer and chisel to the foundation of thier house but they ignore politicians
chiping away the constitution.If the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results why is it that you have had either a democrat or republican president,senator,representitive for so many years?

I was just discussing this the other day.

After this most recent bail out, the government has claimed ownership of financial institutions. With these current changes, it does seem that our government has indeed crossed the final line into a totalitarian dictatorship. No different than Russia.

I don't think we are, yet... BUT apparently about 50% of the McCain/Palin supporters would think that's a good idea. I don't know when public schools quit teaching Civics, but they need to bring it back. Some of our fervent conservative citizens seem to think "national security" outweighs the democratic process. Truman tried that in 1951 and the Supreme Count slapped him silly for it. The ruling still stands. In a section of the ruling, it made clear that the President serves as Commader-In-Chief of the armed forces; there is no Commander-In-Chief of the nation, and that even in time of war, the executive had to work thru congress. The new "Unitary Executive" theory is so much fascist BS.

reply to post by pooty


well Corporatism is just the advanced form of Capitalism, and Capitalism is the first step towards Communism, Socialism being the second, and...

"Fascism" itself is a term used to refer to totalitarian nationalist and corporatist movements

...
en.wikipedia.org...

...does that apply to the U.K./U.S.? ...

i've been hearing that Obama stands for Socialism now - anyone else heard anything about that? and what is McCain's, the self-proclaimed maverick's, official affiliation now as well?

we need to get this country's act straight, and i'm pretty sure it starts with Ron Paul, even though he's a freemason...

otherwise, we're gonna drive our rights into the ground....

peace & love!

reply to post by adrenochrome


America is described Below...

American Government (or American rule) is a concept used to describe political systems where a state regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life. (...) American Government regimes or movements maintain themselves in political power by means of an official all-embracing ideology and propaganda disseminated through the state-controlled mass media, a single party that controls the state, personality cults, control over the economy, regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism, the use of mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror tactics.