I saw protests against imperialist, capitalist evil and unfair distribution of wealth. I saw groups of malleable young men and women - usually mostly women - scream out at any voice of dissent, shouting them down and threatening them, not online but at school meetings, work "collectives", streets. I saw the term "fascist" being used as synonymous with "not one of us". I saw youngsters molded from the crib like Pavlovian dogs. I saw praises of equality being shouted out by people whose contact with those they "protected" consisted of seeing their portrayals in state-approved media.
I see that stage now in USA. If it continues to be embraced, America will see everything that I saw come in later stages.
And here is something that I found rarely mentioned in then-Western sources: it was not a monolithic society of robots. All was brought by an initially small but fanatically determined group - the "true believers". To the very end, the vast majority of people were not its part. They simply conformed. Opportunism was the key, closing your eyes, your ears and your mouths brought you state appreciation and rewards. Being against did not have to bring you any repressions and punishment. There was no need for terror - it was enough that you were simply cut off from the resources that the state distributed. You were made a non-person - you were, as those I see today are so fond of saying, cancelled.
I saw protests against imperialist, capitalist evil and unfair distribution of wealth. I saw groups of malleable young men and women - usually mostly women - scream out at any voice of dissent, shouting them down and threatening them, not online but at school meetings, work "collectives", streets. I saw the term "fascist" being used as synonymous with "not one of us". I saw youngsters molded from the crib like Pavlovian dogs. I saw praises of equality being shouted out by people whose contact with those they "protected" consisted of seeing their portrayals in state-approved media.
I see that stage now in USA. If it continues to be embraced, America will see everything that I saw come in later stages.
And here is something that I found rarely mentioned in then-Western sources: it was not a monolithic society of robots. All was brought by an initially small but fanatically determined group - the "true believers". To the very end, the vast majority of people were not its part. They simply conformed. Opportunism was the key, closing your eyes, your ears and your mouths brought you state appreciation and rewards. Being against did not have to bring you any repressions and punishment. There was no need for terror - it was enough that you were simply cut off from the resources that the state distributed. You were made a non-person - you were, as those I see today are so fond of saying, cancelled.