ACHTUNG!

 1. Attention!

2. Beware!

Anybody who lived through WWII who is still alive today will remember that “ACHTUNG!” was the Nazi call to attention. They recognize the classic signs and symbols of a systematic takeover by a totalitarian dictator. Do not forget that it was the people of Germany who voted Hitler into power, and that is what We The People of the United States are facing today.

A democratic society is complicated, confusing, and difficult. A dictatorship dismisses societal protections (whether they be for the environment, education, healthcare, or the arts) as complications and simply eliminates anything or anybody who gets in the way of simple, direct action and total control.

Unfortunately what this country needs at this time is complicated. It is made even more complicated by the social progress that has been made over the last 90 years. Probably the advent of computers and cell phones has exacerbated the problems and simultaneously shed more light on the divisions within the country, whether they be race, creed, religion, gender or financial inequality. This is a time in our history where leadership is as crucial as it has ever been. This nation, this democracy, is being torn apart and is in dire need of a healer who brings people together instead of what we now have, a divisive and destructive egocentric dictator.

The last Republican administration was that of George W. Bush and it was on his watch that we became involved in the total destruction of Iraq and the endless wars in the Middle East. It was on his watch that the banks were failing and the country was heading towards a serious financial depression. It was also George W. Bush who at last recognized the situation; late, but at least in time to start the turn around.

Obama ran his campaign on the need for a National Health Program, but even as he took office as President, he became caught up in the desperate need to stop and reverse the downward tide of the financial crisis facing the nation. He supported the banks for which he has received endless criticism. However, in the 1930’s, it was also the Republicans who caused the financial collapse. The banks were not saved, and a financial crisis plunged our country into a deep depression that swept the globe. There were no jobs, there was no money, and people starved. The truth is, we didn’t recover from the depression until after WWII.

So here we were in 2008 facing the same dilemma. Obama took action to put the country back on the path to recovery. It was not speedy but at least it was constant. Jobs were being created. The banks were secured. The stock market was on an upward trend. However, a certain portion of the population was still left behind, and their jobs disappeared. Numbers of people slipped from the middle class into poverty. Trump seized upon their vulnerability. He was subsequently elected and immediately claimed credit for all that Obama had accomplished.

Instead of addressing the ongoing problems and divisions in the country, he has exacerbated them, causing irreparable damage to the fabric of our society and to the very core of our Democracy.

This is a time in history where this country needs creative, enlightened leadership to help solve the many problems facing and endangering our society. This is a time to address the social, racial, and financial issues that separate the poor and the middle classes from the 1%. This is not the time to cut taxes for the wealthiest people in the world, nor for many wealthy corporations.

The country is split by serious problems of job displacement. Due to the advancement of technology, our economy today relies less on manufacturing, and more on technology. Therefore, the requirements of the workforce are different and more demanding than they ever were before.

We need to have a high level of education in order to prepare people for today’s job market. It takes an educated public to make demands of their government and hold them accountable. Education in this country is at a lower standard than it has ever been and we have never ranked higher than in the middle worldwide. Now we have a woman in office, chosen and backed by the President, neither of whom understands the value of a high quality public education, nor do they want it. They do not want an educated public. They do not want free speech. They are not open to accountability or criticism. A democracy cannot survive with an uneducated public. A dictatorship cannot survive with an educated public.

The congress, which constitutionally should be the nation’s check and balance system, has become an exclusive club to which members swear allegiance. Instead of representing their constituencies, the members are representing their party and drumming out anyone who disagrees with the party line. Our check and balance system is broken, and has played right into the hands of a demagogue.

Only someone incapable of dealing with the complications of a Democracy, someone looking to line his own pockets and to have the power to do so, chooses to be a dictator and thus rids himself of the problems or blame. Instead of governing he rules by edict. And further to save his own skin, he forces the appointment of his sycophant to denigrate the Supreme Court. Only someone incapable, incompetent and ignorant wants and needs to get rid of Free Press and Free Speech and any possible criticism. Are we as a nation really willing to give all of our freedoms and rights away to an ignorant and corrupt President and this sycophant’s followers in the Congress? Hit the streets folks: Rebel. Vote! Vote the despots out!

Today there are more displaced people in the world than there have ever been at any time in history. According to the United Nations, 67 million people are desperately seeking refuge somewhere. This vast displacement of people has caused a major crisis, and a growing crisis, to every nation in the developed world. 

Huge numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers are being forced to live under unacceptable conditions while they desperately try to gain legal admission to any country that will accept them. The current systems are not solving the problem of massive immigration. It is incumbent upon the governments of all nations, the United Nations, the European community, and even the World Economic Forum to redefine immigration programs. It is also imperative that all of us, worldwide, find ways to aid refugees facing extraordinary challenges.

There is a sense of destabilization that occurs when a large population of different races, religions, and customs overwhelm an existing culture. As The United States does not have any viable immigration plan, these fears have empowered this administration and its tyrannical zero immigration policy. This policy has lead to cruel and inhumane treatment of desperate people.

The present anti-immigration policies of The United States, such as the deportation of people who have lived here for many years and the separation of children from their parents at the border, is absolutely not acceptable. It is not in any way a plan or solution to the massive refugee problem, nor is it a solution to immigration. It is tyrannical, unacceptable and totally short-sided for The United States.

America should welcome immigrants. We have almost full employment and we are an aging population with an historically low birth-rate. This confluence of circumstances can bring development and growth to a halt in The United States. Immigration is an important way of reversing the tide. In order to grow the economy we will need skilled workers to fill future jobs in farming, building infrastructure, and other trades.

It is often costly and usually takes an inordinately long time for people to apply and gain legal entry into The United States. There should be more entry ports and consulates so that this process could be shortened, and so that asylum-seekers could be dealt with more quickly and humanely.

Legal entry into The United States should have certain requirements. Obviously no criminal record, but also English should be required. Instead of having internment camps at the border, there should be English language schools. 

No one should be allowed a green-card until they have a working knowledge of English. After all, English is the language of the country and it is what binds Americans together along with the social contract, the laws of the land, and the culture. English must be the primary language. Without it we lose the ability to take on jobs, assimilate, or feel a sense of patriotic love of country. 

We as a nation have lost our moral compass. We must re-establish our own social and moral values in order to be able to impart them with impunity to the new arrivals. This should be done even as they are learning to speak English. 

Another problem facing host countries receiving an overwhelmingly large number of refugees is that these people tend to seek their own kind. In turn they set up their own enclaves within the existing communities. Unless immigrants have families to go to, it would make sense to spread them out and direct them to areas of the country where they are needed and would be welcomed. For a period of years, their choice of settlement should be restricted. This would prevent them from forming separate communities.

Most communities have activities for all age-groups in which everybody can participate regardless of race, creed, or religion. It is simply easier and less threatening for communities to accept newcomers if they arrive as individuals.

It is abundantly clear that The United States nor other nations of the world can any longer run immigration systems with antiquated methodologies and concepts. This seems to be a time when America has to redefine itself just as we did at the time of the American Revolution and again during the Civil War. 

White supremacists and religious fanatics cannot be allowed to shape the world in their own image. We, as Americans, must not allow it. These extremists are only a small part of our country. Our values are not, and should not, be so narrowly defined as they would have them be. People are and continue to be on the move. The genie is out of the box.

This list was created by Laurence W. Britt who wrote about the common signs of fascism in April, 2003, after researching seven fascist regimes: Hitler’s Nazi Germany; Mussolini’s Italy; Franco’s Spain; Salazar’s Portugal; Papadopoulos’ Greece; Pinochet’s Chile; Suharto’s Indonesia. A poster version of this was even sold in the United States National Holocaust Museum.

Does this sound familiar? Is this the road we’ll travel?

Text:
Early Warning Signs of Fascism
Powerful and Continuing
Nationalism
Disdain For Human Rights
Identification of Enemies
As a unifying cause
Supremacy of the military
Rampant Sexism
Controlled Mass Media
Obsession With National Security
Religion and Government Intertwined
Corporate Power Protected
Labor Power Suppressed
Disdain For Intellectuals & and the Arts
Obsession With Crime & Punishment
Rampant Cronyism & Corruption
Fraudulent Elections

I have always wondered what is the benefit of being a dictator. I have never heard of a dictator under whom a country flourished. The possible exception being Singapore, under the benevolent dictatorship of Lee Kuan Yew. I’m not sure that I really understand the rational of having total power over a country whose economy is foundering and a regime that is basically shunned by the rest of the world.

In order to have control in America the President needs to have the support of the Congress. To that end Mr. Trump was more than willing and has continued to be more than willing to support rapists, child molesters, crooks and criminals. This was certainly evidenced by his support of Roy Moore a known child molester. Trump said “I don’t care, I want that seat in the Senate filled by a Republican”. Whether it was good or bad for the country was of no consequence to Mr. Trump.

It is interesting to note that the support Trump requires is no different from that of any other dictator. He needs and has gained the support of the right wing of the Republican party whose interest seem to be the same as Mr. Trump’s, personal gain and not for the benefit of the American people.

He is systematically destroying the fabric of our society, along with the support systems, and the underpinnings that have helped the poorest and the eldest members. He has also lowered the standards of morality, mores, decency and respect. His staff appointments so far indicate that this is what he wants to accomplish .

The members of the Republican party who disagree with him resign. I have to assume that this is out of sheer frustration at finding oneself, a person of principle and ethics to be constantly outvoted by the members of ones own party who seem to be unprincipled and dedicated to the destruction of the American society as we have known it.

The fact that there are sex offenders in the Congress and amongst Mr. Trump’s staff appointments is almost a distraction from the fact that this country continues to support a President who is himself a known sex offender, a liar and a possible criminal tax evader. It is no secret that he and his family are gaining financial benefit from the position that he holds.

Our democracy is proving to be a frail vessel for an individual who wants absolute control over the destruction of the society. Beware my friends. He is a total Dictator.

Trump administration deprecates women worldwide

If the increase in worldwide population is the issue that many people believe it is, then we should look closely at our own Congress and our own government for the irresponsible role that they play. Among the very first actions taken by this administration was to institute a worldwide gag order which was wildly supported by the born again Christian right wing of the Republican Party. The gag order means that organizations anywhere in the world receiving government money would be cut off from funding if they so much as mention abortion, birth control or any other issues that effect women’s reproductive health.

It is obvious that these people in this administration are so ignorant and so abusive of women that they do not even understand the relationship between women’s ability to take control of their reproductive lives and the subsequent decrease in the rates of both the population and the number of abortions. The distribution of contraceptives  and information provided by the UN Population Fund prevented 3.7 million abortions last year, so obviously if you are against both population increase and abortion then you should logically support the UN Population Fund instead of destroying it.

The ignorant men in this administration should actually be forced to go out and visit some of the countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Sierra Leon and others, to see for themselves how both their cruelty and ignorance are forcing women to suffer from the consequences of poor care and lack of information during difficult pregnancies. By a simple pen stroke instituting the worldwide gag order, millions of women are condemned to suffering fistula, prolapses and agonizing deaths from childbirths and even cervical cancer. Much of this is avoidable through education, proper healthcare, family planning, birth control and sometimes even abortion.

Some of these conditions, such as an obstetric fistula, cause incredible pain and furthermore humiliation by the failure of their flesh to heal while their bodies rot away. An obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labor, leaving a woman incontinent of urine or feces or both. This disease causes a foul body odor as well, creating a condition that seemingly justifies and empowers the community to shame and shun these women, leaving them to rot away, alone and uncared for.

The real shame belongs to the sanctimonious, ignorant misogynists who think that they represent God’s will on earth and claim themselves to be pro-life. So much suffering can hardly be called pro-life. It is making birth control medication and information available to these women that is pro life. Why don’t the sanctimonious misogynists with God on their side do something constructive to help women avoid abortions and reduce the rate of increase of the population? Instead the religious right is ravaging the health programs that might help decrease the disastrous plight of women. The worldwide gag order itself is a product of mean minded, selfish, cruel misogynists who are basically ignorant of the world and the problems that abound in it.

Do these misogynists really represent the United States? Do they really believe that their daughters, wives, sisters, nieces, granddaughters, cousins are not using birth control? Is it only because their wives and children can afford to buy it that they are allowed to have it and use it? Does that mean that the poorer people of the world or working class of America are not to be allowed to have access to family planning? Does that mean it should be removed from corporate insurance policies because it saves them money? Is this America? Is this why we can’t have a health plan affordable to everybody in the United States supported by the Insurance Companies and Pharmaceutical Companies? Is it really the job of the Congress to deny these rights to everybody in need in the world? Is that what America has come to?

The answer is hit the streets. Vote. Run these people out of office.

I find it so incredibly disturbing that, aside from Trump’s total inadequacy, unpreparedness, egocentricity and everything else that should disqualify him as a human being let alone, as President of the United States, he has  been allowed to put together a cabinet of people who are basically unqualified for the jobs to which they have been appointed. It is hard to believe that he is supported by a Congress of religious fanatics who instead of serving the less fortunate, are bent on destroying all of the support systems that have been set up in the last 84 years since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. All of these people are wealthy basically and I suppose that if any of them had to pay for their own healthcare out of their pockets they probably could do so. Certainly the Trump family who seem to be making money everyday that their father is the President of this country, I suppose they could afford it. However for most people in this country who are not crooks and who do not play the system, who just work as hard as they can to survive and to pay their rent and put food on the table, those people and most Americans depend on their health insurance plan to save them and their families if they are struck by some long term illness or sudden emergency.

I simply am unable to understand why anyone would not want to support affordable care for everyone, a bill that took generations to finally achieve. We are the only nation in the developed world that did not have a national health program. Finally Obama managed to squeeze through an imperfect one. Okay Mr. wheel and deal Trump, go deal with the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies and fix the Affordable Care Act so that it makes medical insurance available at the same price for everybody across the country. It should be affordable for everyone, young and old, rich and poor. Even young people can have emergencies, they too may need the coverage even though they may think that youth is on their side. As far as the insurance companies are concerned, with that many people on the insurance plan they will be making plenty of money anyway but it should not be a source of profiteering. And they will anyway be making more by insuring cars, homes etc. But health insurance should be set at an affordable price for everyone. I really don’t understand the selfish, mean mindedness of Trump and this Congress. I fail to understand why these religious fanatics, the right wing of the Republican party are so bent on destroying the health and lives of their own constituence. Where does the Bible teach them to serve themselves? Where does their religion teach them to profit from sickness and desperation?

The public needs to be knowledgable enough to force Trump and the Congress and the Senate and his cabinet to IMPROVE the Affordable Care Act but NOT to destroy it. These people, this administration care more about money in their own pockets, than they do about the welfare the nation.

Rise up America! Take action before it is too late. Vote to improve the level of leadership and education, before we end up with an ignorant public voting for the destruction of America and American values.

Just to give some perspective to what it would have meant if this administration’s original proposal of cuts to the arts had been approved by the Congress and Senate. Fortunately for this country even this conservative Congress recognized that it is only through the arts that people of all persuasions, of all ethnicities, of all cultures can reach out to each other and share values. Art speaks to people regardless of what language they may speak because art is basically non-verbal. No spoken common language is required nor is it necessary to be a Republican nor Democrat, neither to be rich bascially poor, or black or white to enjoy and understand the artwork that hangs in great museums all over the world. Music is an international language, whether it is the Beatles or a Philharmonic Orchestra or the musical stage. Through music and the visual arts, people can communicate with each other. The arts have something to do with the shared humanity of people all over the world regardless of language or economic status.

Of the many organizations working in America to provide children with some form of art. I happen to be serving on the board of two organizations that by themselves are living proof of how effective for instance, music is in the lives of children of all ages. Some years back, we founded the Special Music School. Children from all the boroughs come to the Special Music School to audition. All they need to have is some unrecognized but testable musical talent. They come to school at the age of six and over time they try different instrument and eventually settle on the instrument of their choice. THIS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL! This is not a charter school. Our children get a regular 1-12 public school education plus a quality music education. They do exceptionally well in their academics, and they also work individually and together in ensemble groups to play music together and to reach out to each other sharing a major life experience. Another organization providing children with a life changing experience is the Interschool Orchestras of New York City. This is an after school activity, founded 45 years ago by Annabelle Prager. For many years we did not charge a child to attend or to play in an orchestra, all the child needed to do was to be able to play an instrument at any level to get into the appropriate orchestra. The children are placed not by age but rather by ability. Over time, unfortunately we have had to initiate a fee for participation in the orchestras. However we still fund any child who’s family cannot afford to pay for their child’s participation. This would have changed radically with reduced funding to the arts.

These children come from all the boroughs. They could be out joining gangs and fighting on the streets. They could be doing a lot of harmful things instead of their constructive participation in the world of music. Their lives, their futures would be directly effected by any selfish and narrow-minded defunding of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The arts and humanities in the United States could have fallen victim to budget cuts.

The NEH, NEA and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), only received a total of 0.05% all together of the Federal budget, the cost per individual citizen is only $1.35 dollars a year. CPB strives to support diverse programs and services that inform, educate, enlighten and enrich the public through grants. It encourages the development of content that addresses the needs of underserved audiences, especially children and minorities . Compared to other countries it is a pittance. Recently France increased the budget of its Ministry of Culture to $3.2 BILLION, and we are talking about more or less $750 million spent on the arts and humanities in the U.S. The truth of the matter is that taking this money away from the arts and humanities would not have contribute anything towards reducing the national debt nor balancing the budget.

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter is being built at a cost of $132 million per plane. With all the problems accompanying the development of the F-35 program, it will end up costing the taxpayers $1.5 Trillion.
It is perfectly clear that if Trump is as rich as he claims he is, then he could pay the entire NEH , CPB, and NEA budget out of his own pocket and still be a multi millionaire. Certainly any number of members out of Trump’s cabinet could afford out of their own pockets to fund the NEH, NEA and CPB by themselves and remain perfectly solvent.

It is mind boggling as to why these incredibly wealthy people would even have thought to take money away from the arts and culture thus depriving the majority of the public from access to spiritual, intellectual and humanizing experiences. How is it possible to understand how these people thought to cut a program which helps to unify people, which helps people understand each other, which communicates our common humanity, which cost so little compared to the ugly mean programs of war and hatred and violence?

Even as iIam writing this I realize that these CUTS TO THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES WOULD HAVE BEEN A FORM OF CENSORSHIP. This administration does not want to reach out to help the poor and brutalized people of the world. It is after all, through the arts that we are able to bring information and communications to change behavior in order to help them rise out of poverty. Through music, arts, and story telling, we are able to enrich and change lives. It would seem clear that this administrations does not want an informed public on any level.

Remember that the Nazis burned all the books and all of the art. Stalin did the same. Depriving people of experiencing art in its many forms is a way of shutting people up and out. Censorship of the arts is a way of controlling people’s freedom.

WHEN ART SUFFERS HUMANITY SUFFERS

As I look around at the United States today, it seems to me that all the progress that has been made in a multitude of areas is suddenly being eroded. Starting with the subjects of religion and education, this country which was founded on the principle of religious freedom had over time become more tolerant of religious differences, rather than less tolerant. It has always been my understanding that religion was not to factor into Government policy and certainly not into public education. There was always to be a separation of Church and State.

As I look around these days, I see more and more encroachment of religion on the Government of the United States. And like so much else that is happening in this country since Mr. Trump’s presidency, religion is creeping into the schools, religion is even affecting NGO’s working in underserved, underfed, underdeveloped communities around the world. Suddenly Federal money is being taken away from NGO’s for even mentioning the idea of abortion. Obviously this a Government policy based on religious bias.

Religious schools and public schools are the basis of education in the United States. And ultimately may therefore effect policies made by the Government of the United Sates. The education of the public ultimately becomes a Governmental issue. There should be no Government money paid out to any religious institution. All religious institutions, Churches, Synagogues and Mosques and any other religious institutions should pay taxes the way any other corporation does. Anybody has the right to practice his/her religion and to support their Churches, their Mosques, their Synagogues, their whatever. It is the province of the Government to ensure freedom of religion, but it should not be within the province of the Government to financially support or institutionalize any individual religion, religious concept or religious institution. I believe that public schools financed by the Government and charged with education of the public should teach the history and meaning of every religion in depth as well as in its historical context. Religion has played a huge part in the rise of capitalism and nationalism around the world and it should be taught in that historical context.

Recently a woman was fired from a Muslim school receiving public financial support. She was teaching the children that the story of Adam and Eve was a myth. Well what is it if it is not a myth? What proof is there anywhere, that anything in the Bible whether it is the New or the Old Testament is based on fact? After all, the Old Testament was handed down story by story over hundreds of years, and the New Testament was written four hundred years after the death of Christ. Taxpayer money should not be supporting religious private schools which are often narrow minded and belief driven. No individual religion should be permitted to be taught in Government funded schools. I believe that no religious doctrine should be supported in any public school. The point is that tax payer money, should not be supporting these private religious institutions. These religious institutions should all only be supported by private money. Taxpayer money should only be used to educate the public in accordance with tested and proven levels of education. Keep religion out of public education and out of policies made by the Government.

There are NGO’s all over the United States working in war-torn countries, where poverty, starvation, rape and death are everyday occurrences. Yet Mr. Trump is refusing to fund those very organizations that are helping women by providing healthcare, safe abortion or even for mentioning the possibility thereof. I believe that this is an insinuation of religious prejudice into both education and Government policy.

I seriously question whether the Government of the United States should be depriving organizations of funding because they support the rights of women to make personal decisions about their own lives. This is a clear example of religious bias determining Government policy, a clear violation of the separation of Church and State. Mr. Trump and his religious horse whisperer are guilty as charged.

Even as i am writing this I feel my blood pressure and my anger rising. I am ready to hit the streets again. I hope you’ll join me.