Is the US headed towards a socialist government?

[kandrathe]

Quick, panic!

No, wait. Scratch that. You're exaggerating again.

Not entirely. I'm relaying what I heard on the radio and making comments based on my observations.

10 of the 14 aspects are "fully engaged"? The US is now entirely (like, Nazi Germany entirely) enaged in selective populism? Elitism and contempt for the weak?

"You are either with us, or against us." Our leadership is elitist, and has abandoned trying to explain law or policy to the common citizen. When necessary, outright deception is used to sway popular political positions in line with our governments intended policies. Rather than our policies resulting from representing the populace, we move public opinion to fit the policies of the elites. Whether intentional, or not, our laws are often so complicated that even if they know, and are trying to be lawful, most people cannot consistently remain lawful.

The country that brought us Google has descended in a few short years to total rejection of modernism?

You misunderstand the use of the term. Rejection of modernism is not the rejection of technology, or science. It is the rejection of adapting to a modern age, and trying to force the traditional metaphor to work no matter what the cost. The idea is that with enough force, the government can make these bad ideas successful, even though they have failed for a lifetime of trying. In political terms, its the process of rejecting any radical change for traditional methods and groups.

The country of Jefferson now has "fully engaged" with the idea that disagreement is treason?

During the last administration, many dissenters against Bush policies had their loyalty to the USA questioned. Treason is a bit strong, but disagreement is often not allowed or open for debate and people are ostracized for having opinions contrary to the "popular" position. For example, "The debate on global warming is over." Decisions are being made to remove the ability for dissent or public debate from many areas of government. For example, the recent move to give power certain czar's carte blanc decision making authority overseeing policy implementation.

Or do the "various levels" include everything above zero? (How does one "fully engage" with something that is at a low level?)

Yes, it's a continuum. There is not a clear demarcation between "slave" and "free" in these areas unless we are suddenly all put into forced labor camps. The idea here is that we are like the frogs being slowly boiled to death without noticing the slow erosion of liberty. "Fully engaged" in the context of being on the stove at this point with varying degrees of water hotness.

Some of these things are troubling, but the idea that they amount to imminent fascism is no more realistic than the idea that taxation plus inflation equals Leninism.

The simple A+B=C is not the kind of black and white thinking I'm advocating. Eco gave warning signs, and in to what I see happening, I think we have reasons to be concerned. And, that is whether we have a Bush, a Clinton or an Obama in the White House.

Strangely, one of the trends that is most disturbing to me, manifested in the rise of an angry populist anti-immigrant voice, a lingering and vicious anti-gay sentiment, and of course the "Obama (pronounced like alabama) is an ay-rab" crowd, is not one of the 10 you checked off. (Fear of differences.)

Sure it is. Traditionalism as expressed by religious dogma. And, #5, while a concern (certainly visible concern for "Ay-rabs"), but xenophobia among other areas of society is not that visible to me. Anti-immigrant is not ethnically based (ok, some of it might be), but rather mostly focused on an economic concern over a diminishing amount of resource (schools, and other civic services). In that respect, it might also be considered "selective populism". "Up with US, and down with THEM". Mostly I see immigration issues as a power struggle in the middle between the D's and the R's for electorate. I don't care as long as every suckling pig at the trough of government, also pays their fair share in taxes. Our current course, (Robin Hood), will eventually result in us all living in Sherwood with no one left to rob. Next on the American scene, the exodus of wealth and capital from the USA. The best way to preserve wealth is to move it outside the USA, and make investments in places with the lowest taxation.