Mick Hall @ Organized Rage writes:

When a USA dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.
   





After Donald Trump's random attack on Muslims when he barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries - Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen - from entering the United States, he's been compared with a dictator like Adolf Hitler. Were those who did so mistaken? The BBC seems to think so as it keeps justifying the groper in chief's behavior by parroting that old chestnut well he was democratically elected. They seem to have over looked the simple fact Hitler also came to power in a democratic election.

Other media outlet have all but said no worries: he doesn’t have the experience yet to make nuance decisions but he will soon be up to speed as he is learning on the job. Which ignores the reality of what Trump's promised the electorate on the campaign trail - here we see real similarities with Hitler's campaigns in 1932-33. 

Both men acted like demigods which should have set warning lights glowing but instead of regarding them as unsavory, large sections of the middle classes and the working class lapped it up.

When Hitler came to power few adult German's could honestly claim they were unaware of what he intended to do. Perhaps they couldn't see the scale of his wickedness but during those two campaigns he clearly laid down the bare bones of the policies he intended to implement if he gained power. In the 2016 US presidential election Trump did the same. 

It is worth comparing what the two mens priorities were during those campaigns .

Hitler’s stated intentions:
To Reduce unemployment ( Trump said "I’m going to be the greatest jobs creating president God ever created") 
Create jobs through rearmament. (Trump suggested he would boost U.S. Military Spending By $500 Billion To $1 Trillion
 Take Germany out of international Treaties, especially the Treaty of Versailles. 
Expand Germany's geographic area and make Germany a major power again. 
Create an economically self-sufficient Germany. (Trump is on the same page with "bring manufacturing backhome:)
Used racism to gain power. (Trump did the same)
Build a network of motorways (Autobahn)

During the 2016 presidential campaign Trump also promised the US people a version of Work and Bread although unlike Hitlers he also abolished healthcare free at the point of use for millions of US citizens.

Trump's stated intentions:

Make America great again. (Hitler said, make Germany a major power again.) 
Cut taxes for big business and millionaires. (Hitler also called for tax cuts for big business and the most wealthy as they financed his party. On these matters he was on the same page as Trump.)
Fight terrorists at home and abroad.(Like Trump, Hitler looked for the terrorist within in a specific group, in Hitler's case the Jews whereas Trump targeted Muslims)
Create an economically self-sufficient US economy. (Need I say more the similarity is striking)
Remove the US from treaties like TTIP. (Again the same page as Adolf)
Build a wall’ — and make Mexico pay for it. (Hitler was also all for making his victims pay for his stupidity and crimes.)
Rebuild America's infrastructure, highways, bridges, etc (same page again) 
Both men made the the same point during their campaign that "Everything is negotiable."

Both were elected leaders of their nations in democratic elections and then as soon as they came into power they tore up the rulebook on how things were previously done. 

Hitler spoke to the German people in long speeches to handpicked audiences, Trump uses Twitter to sidestep the mainstream media. Both men used these tools to avoid being questioned on the fine detail of their policies.

Both appointed sycophants to senior positions, Hitler left them to fight amongst themselves as long as they looked to him as the ultimate authority. We will have to see how Trump behaves towards his cabinet, but there are rumours circulating the first time senior ministers new about recent policy announcements was when they read Trump's twitter feed.

It's become increasingly clear both men have a great deal in common. So, no, it is not unreasonable to compare Trump, with Hitler in his early years. Like the German his politics have a whiff of national fascism about them. Up until know he has stayed above the fray signing decrees and then leaving his henchmen and women to put them into practise. 

What both men undoubtedly have in spades is demagoguery. They rouse the people to their cause while in reality working against their best interests. This is especially true of their working class supporters. The best example of this, -they both claimed to be on the side of the working classes yet cut taxes for the most wealthy and big business which in turn financed their hate campaigns. 

They both gained popularity by exploiting peoples emotions, fears, prejudices, and ignorance. Hitler blamed the Jews, trade unions, and communists for all Germany's ills. Trump blames Muslims, immigrants, and a US liberal elite.

The both talked up threats which in reality didn't exist, Trump with Muslim infiltration into the US and the desperate need for a wall between Mexico and the USA to keep out 'swarms' of immigrants: Hitler used the threat of Jewish people controlling the economy and communists and trade unions causing mayhem. 

Both lied through their teeth when campaigning. 

Both accused their opponents of weakness and disloyalty to the nation. Both men promised the impossible,:Hitler with his thousand year Reich, Trump by making America great again and controlling immigration in a country which was built by immigrants. 

They both express these empty promises simply and theatrically but remain extremely hazy about how they will achieve them.

Both men ridiculed and insulted opponents on the campaign trail in an attempt to shut down reasoned debate with those they had political differences with. 

They both claimed to be on the side of the masses by thumbing their noses at the established order when in reality they are/were part of the established order, the business and political elite.

Remember, the devil's finest trick is to persuade you he doesn't exist, Hazlitt once said: the greater the lie the more enthusiastically it is believed and greedily swallowed.” 

As Dorothy Thompson said no people ever recognise their dictator in advance …


When our dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American. And nobody will ever say Heil to him, nor will they call him Führer or Duce. But they will greet him with one great big, universal, democratic, sheeplike bleat of “OK Chief! Fix it like you wanna, Chief! Oh Kaaaay!

I will conclude with HL Mencken:
As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Lets hope Trump is that man and not something far, far worse.

Trump And Hitler

Mick Hall @ Organized Rage writes:

When a USA dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.
   





After Donald Trump's random attack on Muslims when he barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries - Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen - from entering the United States, he's been compared with a dictator like Adolf Hitler. Were those who did so mistaken? The BBC seems to think so as it keeps justifying the groper in chief's behavior by parroting that old chestnut well he was democratically elected. They seem to have over looked the simple fact Hitler also came to power in a democratic election.

Other media outlet have all but said no worries: he doesn’t have the experience yet to make nuance decisions but he will soon be up to speed as he is learning on the job. Which ignores the reality of what Trump's promised the electorate on the campaign trail - here we see real similarities with Hitler's campaigns in 1932-33. 

Both men acted like demigods which should have set warning lights glowing but instead of regarding them as unsavory, large sections of the middle classes and the working class lapped it up.

When Hitler came to power few adult German's could honestly claim they were unaware of what he intended to do. Perhaps they couldn't see the scale of his wickedness but during those two campaigns he clearly laid down the bare bones of the policies he intended to implement if he gained power. In the 2016 US presidential election Trump did the same. 

It is worth comparing what the two mens priorities were during those campaigns .

Hitler’s stated intentions:
To Reduce unemployment ( Trump said "I’m going to be the greatest jobs creating president God ever created") 
Create jobs through rearmament. (Trump suggested he would boost U.S. Military Spending By $500 Billion To $1 Trillion
 Take Germany out of international Treaties, especially the Treaty of Versailles. 
Expand Germany's geographic area and make Germany a major power again. 
Create an economically self-sufficient Germany. (Trump is on the same page with "bring manufacturing backhome:)
Used racism to gain power. (Trump did the same)
Build a network of motorways (Autobahn)

During the 2016 presidential campaign Trump also promised the US people a version of Work and Bread although unlike Hitlers he also abolished healthcare free at the point of use for millions of US citizens.

Trump's stated intentions:

Make America great again. (Hitler said, make Germany a major power again.) 
Cut taxes for big business and millionaires. (Hitler also called for tax cuts for big business and the most wealthy as they financed his party. On these matters he was on the same page as Trump.)
Fight terrorists at home and abroad.(Like Trump, Hitler looked for the terrorist within in a specific group, in Hitler's case the Jews whereas Trump targeted Muslims)
Create an economically self-sufficient US economy. (Need I say more the similarity is striking)
Remove the US from treaties like TTIP. (Again the same page as Adolf)
Build a wall’ — and make Mexico pay for it. (Hitler was also all for making his victims pay for his stupidity and crimes.)
Rebuild America's infrastructure, highways, bridges, etc (same page again) 
Both men made the the same point during their campaign that "Everything is negotiable."

Both were elected leaders of their nations in democratic elections and then as soon as they came into power they tore up the rulebook on how things were previously done. 

Hitler spoke to the German people in long speeches to handpicked audiences, Trump uses Twitter to sidestep the mainstream media. Both men used these tools to avoid being questioned on the fine detail of their policies.

Both appointed sycophants to senior positions, Hitler left them to fight amongst themselves as long as they looked to him as the ultimate authority. We will have to see how Trump behaves towards his cabinet, but there are rumours circulating the first time senior ministers new about recent policy announcements was when they read Trump's twitter feed.

It's become increasingly clear both men have a great deal in common. So, no, it is not unreasonable to compare Trump, with Hitler in his early years. Like the German his politics have a whiff of national fascism about them. Up until know he has stayed above the fray signing decrees and then leaving his henchmen and women to put them into practise. 

What both men undoubtedly have in spades is demagoguery. They rouse the people to their cause while in reality working against their best interests. This is especially true of their working class supporters. The best example of this, -they both claimed to be on the side of the working classes yet cut taxes for the most wealthy and big business which in turn financed their hate campaigns. 

They both gained popularity by exploiting peoples emotions, fears, prejudices, and ignorance. Hitler blamed the Jews, trade unions, and communists for all Germany's ills. Trump blames Muslims, immigrants, and a US liberal elite.

The both talked up threats which in reality didn't exist, Trump with Muslim infiltration into the US and the desperate need for a wall between Mexico and the USA to keep out 'swarms' of immigrants: Hitler used the threat of Jewish people controlling the economy and communists and trade unions causing mayhem. 

Both lied through their teeth when campaigning. 

Both accused their opponents of weakness and disloyalty to the nation. Both men promised the impossible,:Hitler with his thousand year Reich, Trump by making America great again and controlling immigration in a country which was built by immigrants. 

They both express these empty promises simply and theatrically but remain extremely hazy about how they will achieve them.

Both men ridiculed and insulted opponents on the campaign trail in an attempt to shut down reasoned debate with those they had political differences with. 

They both claimed to be on the side of the masses by thumbing their noses at the established order when in reality they are/were part of the established order, the business and political elite.

Remember, the devil's finest trick is to persuade you he doesn't exist, Hazlitt once said: the greater the lie the more enthusiastically it is believed and greedily swallowed.” 

As Dorothy Thompson said no people ever recognise their dictator in advance …


When our dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American. And nobody will ever say Heil to him, nor will they call him Führer or Duce. But they will greet him with one great big, universal, democratic, sheeplike bleat of “OK Chief! Fix it like you wanna, Chief! Oh Kaaaay!

I will conclude with HL Mencken:
As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Lets hope Trump is that man and not something far, far worse.

9 comments:

  1. You could take the vast majority of politicians and find similarities with their statements and Hitler. Mainly because people the world over have the same worries therefore politicians tell them the same lies. Comparing the two at this stage is ridiculous and tiring. Out of curiosity do you think the executive order against tpp was a bad thing? Americans should deal with Trumps many faults and find an alternative that resonates with their working class without the hysteria

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  2. Maybe he will also lead his country into an insane WW(3) and total ruination and historical shame too. Who could doubt it?

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  3. Agree with David about the TPP, nothing more than a corporate wet dream.

    Still, I remain very troubled by Trump's antics.

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  4. I agree - this is offensive to those who suffered under Hitler - and btw the more hysterical & ridiculous the comments, the more people switch off - by crying wolf (or in this case genocidal maniac) you actually make your opponent seem more reasonable - own goal in other words.

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  5. Why Hitler? Why compare Trump to Hitler?
    Why not compare him to Clinton, Obama and Bush or Blair, Cameron and Thatcher for that matter. Why not compare him to the vile racist Churchill?
    All those above have blood on their hands and made all sorts of empire/third Reich promises and they have committed these crimes with the will of the people behind them.
    Churchill was responsible for genocide when his policies lead to the starvation of 4 million Bengali's between 1943 and 1944/45. When offered hundreds of thousands of dollars of humanitarian aid from USA and Canada he rejected it out of hand and blamed the famine on the ghastly people having bred like rabbits.
    Hitler is too easy to use and I can’t imagine a Night of the Long Knives occurring during his tenure as President. We should be comparing him to the current bunch of bastards who have deftly swatted away their crimes and bloodshed and adorned themselves with self-awarded honours....Trump's nothing like Hitler, he's every bit like the bunch above!

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  6. It makes no sense until you see what is happening on US campuses, and the violence meted out those who are "Nazi" supporters.It makes no sense when some sections of the community can burn synagogues (in Wuppertal) down but this isnt anti-semitism to German courts, its criticism of Israel.

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  7. Comrades

    It is not offensive to those who suffered under Hitler nor it it hysterical & ridiculous to compare the behavior and policies of the two men before they came to power, it's a sane and rational thing to do. I never said Trump was another Hitler not did I imply he would commit mass genocide, indeed in my last sentence I made it clear when I wrote, lets hope Trump is that man (a moron) and not something far, far worse.

    Yes I could have compared him with the rest of the murdering scum Niall mentioned but that was not the point of this piece. Trump has one similarity with Hitler which I find very worrying, it's the way he dehumanises muslims, now who does that remind you off? I believe in this day and age that is a very dangerous thing for a political leader to do.

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  8. Mick - my point is that you diminish your argument when you make comparisons with Hitler - it is far too easy a label to through out and to be honest most people probably don't read past the headline when they see that so your caveat at the end is never seen. Just friendly advice if you want to reach a broader audience tone down the hysterics - otherwise you are just shouting in an echo chamber.

    And I do mean this respectfully, I enjoy reading your posts even if I don't agree with some of them.

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  9. Mick,

    "Trump has one similarity with Hitler which I find very worrying, it's the way he dehumanises muslims, now who does that remind you off?"

    Except Hitler didn't dehuminise Muslims, he joint forces with them to have a go at the Jews.

    I assume you mean dehumanise a people? In that case yes, its a very dangerous thing and one as Niall points out that many so called heroes of history are guilty of.

    ReplyDelete