Fascism watch thread/news and discussions

[Powers]

Seems Vance is an order of magnitude more dangerous than Trump is, in ways even Steve Bannon might blush. Cyberpunk was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

The third civil war would be legendary.

[firestar464]

YIKES! Perhaps, it'll be best if I retract my prior statement regarding preferring him as AI Czar. I mean, this guy is quite unapologetically Cyberpunk brought into reality by every possible metric.

Where J.D. Vance Gets His Weird, Terrifying Techno-Authoritarian Ideas
Yes, Peter Thiel was the senator’s benefactor. But they’re both inspired by an obscure software developer who has some truly frightening thoughts about reordering society.

NewRepublic

In 2008, a software developer in San Francisco named Curtis Yarvin, writing under a pseudonym, proposed a horrific solution for people he deemed “not productive”: “convert them into biodiesel, which can help power the Muni buses.”

Yarvin, a self-described reactionary and extremist who was 35 years old at the time, clarified that he was “just kidding.” But then he continued, “The trouble with the biodiesel solution is that no one would want to live in a city whose public transportation was fueled, even just partly, by the distilled remains of its late underclass. However, it helps us describe the problem we are trying to solve. Our goal, in short, is a humane alternative to genocide.”

Both Thiel and Vance are friends of Yarvin. In The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley’s Pursuit of Power, reporter Max Chafkin describes Yarvin as the “house political philosopher” of the “Thielverse,” a term for the people in Thiel’s orbit. In 2013, Thiel invested in Tlön, a software startup co-founded by Yarvin. In 2016, Yarvin attended Thiel’s election night party in San Francisco where, according to Chafkin, champagne flowed once it became clear that Thiel’s investment in Donald Trump would pay off.

Since entering politics, Vance has publicly praised—and parroted—Yarvin’s ideas.

Patchworks - Each patchwork would be ruled by a “realm”: a corporation with absolute power. Citizens would be free to move, but every other realm would also be ruled by corporate governments with chilling impunity. For example, Yarvin says the tech overlords of the San Francisco realm could arbitrarily decide to cut off its citizens’ hands with no fear of legal consequences—because they’re a sovereign power, beholden to no federal government or laws.

In “Friscorp,” as Yarvin calls the San Francisco realm, an all-seeing Orwellian surveillance system would enforce public safety: “All residents, even temporary visitors, carry an ID card with RFID response. All are genotyped and iris-scanned. Public places and transportation systems track everyone. Security cameras are ubiquitous. Every car knows where it is, and who is sitting in it, and tells the authorities both.”

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Seems Vance is an order of magnitude more dangerous than Trump is, in ways even Steve Bannon might blush. Cyberpunk was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

certain people will consume dystopian media and find it cool, thinking that they will be the video game protagonist instead of a suffering pleb

[Vakanai]

YIKES! Perhaps, it'll be best if I retract my prior statement regarding preferring him as AI Czar. I mean, this guy is quite unapologetically Cyberpunk brought into reality by every possible metric.

Where J.D. Vance Gets His Weird, Terrifying Techno-Authoritarian Ideas
Yes, Peter Thiel was the senator’s benefactor. But they’re both inspired by an obscure software developer who has some truly frightening thoughts about reordering society.

NewRepublic

In 2008, a software developer in San Francisco named Curtis Yarvin, writing under a pseudonym, proposed a horrific solution for people he deemed “not productive”: “convert them into biodiesel, which can help power the Muni buses.”

Yarvin, a self-described reactionary and extremist who was 35 years old at the time, clarified that he was “just kidding.” But then he continued, “The trouble with the biodiesel solution is that no one would want to live in a city whose public transportation was fueled, even just partly, by the distilled remains of its late underclass. However, it helps us describe the problem we are trying to solve. Our goal, in short, is a humane alternative to genocide.”

Both Thiel and Vance are friends of Yarvin. In The Contrarian: Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley’s Pursuit of Power, reporter Max Chafkin describes Yarvin as the “house political philosopher” of the “Thielverse,” a term for the people in Thiel’s orbit. In 2013, Thiel invested in Tlön, a software startup co-founded by Yarvin. In 2016, Yarvin attended Thiel’s election night party in San Francisco where, according to Chafkin, champagne flowed once it became clear that Thiel’s investment in Donald Trump would pay off.

Since entering politics, Vance has publicly praised—and parroted—Yarvin’s ideas.

Patchworks - Each patchwork would be ruled by a “realm”: a corporation with absolute power. Citizens would be free to move, but every other realm would also be ruled by corporate governments with chilling impunity. For example, Yarvin says the tech overlords of the San Francisco realm could arbitrarily decide to cut off its citizens’ hands with no fear of legal consequences—because they’re a sovereign power, beholden to no federal government or laws.

In “Friscorp,” as Yarvin calls the San Francisco realm, an all-seeing Orwellian surveillance system would enforce public safety: “All residents, even temporary visitors, carry an ID card with RFID response. All are genotyped and iris-scanned. Public places and transportation systems track everyone. Security cameras are ubiquitous. Every car knows where it is, and who is sitting in it, and tells the authorities both.”

----------------------------------------------------------------

Seems Vance is an order of magnitude more dangerous than Trump is, in ways even Steve Bannon might blush. Cyberpunk was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

certain people will consume dystopian media and find it cool, thinking that they will be the video game protagonist instead of a suffering pleb

In this specific case, it's less likely they think of themselves as the video game protagonist, and more they view the villains of Cyberpunk as the real heroes and want to be that instead...

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

YIKES! Perhaps, it'll be best if I retract my prior statement regarding preferring him as AI Czar. I mean, this guy is quite unapologetically Cyberpunk brought into reality by every possible metric.

Where J.D. Vance Gets His Weird, Terrifying Techno-Authoritarian Ideas
Yes, Peter Thiel was the senator’s benefactor. But they’re both inspired by an obscure software developer who has some truly frightening thoughts about reordering society.

NewRepublic


----------------------------------------------------------------

Seems Vance is an order of magnitude more dangerous than Trump is, in ways even Steve Bannon might blush. Cyberpunk was meant as a warning, not an instruction manual.

certain people will consume dystopian media and find it cool, thinking that they will be the video game protagonist instead of a suffering pleb

In this specific case, it's less likely they think of themselves as the video game protagonist, and more they view the villains of Cyberpunk as the real heroes and want to be that instead...

I'm referring to edgy techbros who don't think it's that bad

[Vakanai]

certain people will consume dystopian media and find it cool, thinking that they will be the video game protagonist instead of a suffering pleb

In this specific case, it's less likely they think of themselves as the video game protagonist, and more they view the villains of Cyberpunk as the real heroes and want to be that instead...

I'm referring to edgy techbros who don't think it's that bad

Again, I truly think they don't care for the videogame protagonists - they see how the villains live, how they control things, and they want the same for themselves.

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

More on that by CNN:

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/17/poli ... index.html

This isn't a leak; he said this openly on a podcast.

[Cyber_Rebel]

Well, that's a relief, now I'll be able to focus on other more important matters.

[Time_Traveller]

Two men arrested for attack on anti-racism activist at Tommy Robinson rally

Saturday 27 July 2024 16:28, UK



Two men were arrested at Tommy Robinson's London rally on Saturday after an anti-racism campaigner was attacked, police said.

The Stand Up To Racism activist was taking part in a counter-demonstration when he "sustained a head injury" at the Victoria Embankment Gardens, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of "grievous bodily harm-level assault", they added.

He was given first aid by officers and will be taken to hospital to be checked," a force spokesman said.

"We are aware of some suggestions on social media that the arrests were related to the carrying of a flag, which is not the case."

Thousands of people attended the 'unity' march from the Royal Courts of Justice to Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

https://news.sky.com/story/crowds-gathe ... n-13185754

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

Tommy Robinson ‘could face jail’ over film screening at London protest

Sat 27 Jul 2024 23.34 BST

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson “could face jail” after screening a documentary against high court orders at a demonstration in central London on Saturday, according to the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate.

The film, Silenced, repeated false claims he made about a Syrian refugee that led to him losing a libel case in 2021. Robinson is due to appear at a high court hearing on Monday accused of contempt of court for making the documentary.

Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate wrote on X: “Tommy Robinson is currently screening the film Silenced in Trafalgar Square, just 48 hours before he appears in the High Court accused of breaking an injunction preventing him from releasing the film.. He’s heading to jail.

“The Attorney General’s office have been made aware of Tommy Robinson screening a film he was banned from showing. Such a flagrant disregard for the law could well see him facing the maximum two-year sentence. Only himself to blame.”

The Metropolitan police said: “We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/art ... ral-london

I hope he does go to jail for good this time, this is where he belongs.

[caltrek]

Trump Tells Christian Supporters: “You Won’t Have to Vote Anymore”
by Arianna Coghill
July 27, 2024

Introduction:

(Mother Jones) In more dystopian news, Donald Trump just implied that if he’s elected in November, there will be no need to vote in the future.

On Friday night at the conservative political nonprofit Turning Points Action’s “Believer Summit” in Florida, the former president told his Christian supporters that if they cast their ballot for him in the upcoming presidential election, they wouldn’t have to vote anymore.

“Christians, get out and vote. Just this time,” he said to thunderous applause. “You won’t have to do it anymore, four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine, you won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.”

As my colleague David Corn reported last year, Trump and his political allies have been sowing the seeds for a far-right autocracy for several years. Corn writes:

Trump’s desire to be a strongman ruler are no secret. He has repeatedly uttered statements that reveal a craving to be in total control of the US government. As he mounts a second campaign for the White House, his team has openly discussed his plans to consolidate government power in the White House should he win.

Read more here: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2 ... anymore/

caltrek's comment: There you have it. Will we continue as (an admittedly imperfect) democracy, or will we vote for Trump as dictator and an end to democracy?

If the latter, and Trump otherwise gets his way, there will be no going back, no changing of your mind, no modifying of the right's worst extremes. Two hundred and fifty years of carefully constructed checks and balances power arrangements down the drain. Here, he is not even bothering to disguise it. Democratic elections will be a thing of the past.

Imagine that. Christian nationalists voting for someone, who admits that he is not even a Christian (see video available in linked article), who says they will not have the right to vote again if he wins. Unbelievable what suspension of critical thinking processes are involved here.

[caltrek]

With Project 2025 and Agenda 47, the USA’s Coups Come Home to Roost
by C.J. Polychroniou
July 28, 2024

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) Since the rise of the United States into a global power, U.S. policymakers have been keen on halting the spread of popular government abroad by undermining democratic institutions; overthrowing or assassinating elected leaders; and installing brutal, vicious military dictatorships. Indeed, the fact of the matter is that the United States has invaded more countries, organized more coups, and installed more military dictatorships than any other imperialist power in the course of history. During the Cold War alone, Washington staged dozens of invasions, orchestrated or sponsored numerous coups that installed subservient governments, and engaged in total in over 70 attempts at regime change.

U.S. involvement in foreign coups was so widespread that a common joke was that there has never been a coup d’état in the United States because there is no U.S. Embassy there. Of course, the joke was before the political era of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and thus has lost some of its sting. Because what happened at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was a coup attempt incited by the rhetoric of an outgoing president as part of his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Moreover, Trump has warned voters of a “bloodbath” for the country if he is not elected in November 2024.

The roosters have come home to roost. The U.S. is sleepwalking toward democratic collapse and into a Trump proto-fascist dictatorship. If Donald Trump gets elected in November, “the gloves are off… its four years of scorched earth,” as Republican National Committee boss Lara Trump proudly announced to an audience a few months ago.

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/p ... genda-47

[Time_Traveller]

With Project 2025 and Agenda 47, the USA’s Coups Come Home to Roost
by C.J. Polychroniou
July 28, 2024

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) Since the rise of the United States into a global power, U.S. policymakers have been keen on halting the spread of popular government abroad by undermining democratic institutions; overthrowing or assassinating elected leaders; and installing brutal, vicious military dictatorships. Indeed, the fact of the matter is that the United States has invaded more countries, organized more coups, and installed more military dictatorships than any other imperialist power in the course of history. During the Cold War alone, Washington staged dozens of invasions, orchestrated or sponsored numerous coups that installed subservient governments, and engaged in total in over 70 attempts at regime change.

U.S. involvement in foreign coups was so widespread that a common joke was that there has never been a coup d’état in the United States because there is no U.S. Embassy there. Of course, the joke was before the political era of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump and thus has lost some of its sting. Because what happened at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was a coup attempt incited by the rhetoric of an outgoing president as part of his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Moreover, Trump has warned voters of a “bloodbath” for the country if he is not elected in November 2024.

The roosters have come home to roost. The U.S. is sleepwalking toward democratic collapse and into a Trump proto-fascist dictatorship. If Donald Trump gets elected in November, “the gloves are off… its four years of scorched earth,” as Republican National Committee boss Lara Trump proudly announced to an audience a few months ago.

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/p ... genda-47

Will he go as far as the other dictators around the world like Jong Un, Lukashenko and Putin.

[caltrek]

With Project 2025 and Agenda 47, the USA’s Coups Come Home to Roost
by C.J. Polychroniou
July 28, 2024

...

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/p ... genda-47

Will he go as far as the other dictators around the world like Jong Un, Lukashenko and Putin.

I think the description bandied about by Trump of late is that he is a very "transactional" politician. Meaning, he will basically put his power and influence up for sale or rent to the highest bidder.

So, no more effort to deal with restraining carbon-based fuels because of the support received from the carbon-based fuel industry. No more democratic processes so that local economic elites can operate free of concern of regulation restrict their pollution of the environment. Providing they continue their support of Trump. Buyer beware in virtually every consumer decision you make. In no small part because many in industry will find it easier to appeal to Trump to shelter them from unwanted laws. Taxation laws that are skewed toward those who are the most ardent supporters of Trump. An autocratic dictatorship that doubles as a kleptocracy.

Will he go "as far"?

Who knows, but what will there be to stop him?

Mind you, I continue to feel that if Trump is elected, the struggle will continue. Countervailing forces will still exist. It is really a matter of which side do you want the federal government to be on?

[Time_Traveller]

Tommy Robinson leaves UK on eve of court case

26 minutes ago

A senior judge has issued an arrest warrant for far-right campaigner Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - better known by his alias Tommy Robinson - after learning he has left the country on the eve of a major legal case against him.

Yaxley-Lennon left the UK by a Eurotunnel train on Sunday night, despite having been arrested by Kent Police under counter-terrorism powers.

The 41-year-old had been due in court on Monday for allegedly breaching an order not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee.

His departure from the UK comes after thousands of his followers gathered in central London on Saturday in his support.

In July 2021, Syrian teenager Jamal Hijazi won £100,000 in damages in a major defamation battle against Yaxley-Lennon, who had falsely accused him of being a violent thug, claims that spread across social media.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjerxd00rlxo

[weatheriscool]

[wjfox]