Which Side Are You On?

The Billionaire Class is Buying Our Government

Americans need to decide which side they are on in this election. I'm not talking about Republican or Democrat. I'm talking about the billionaire class and the rest of us. Are you going to support the oligarchy of this country who manipulate our elections through the Citizens United decision where the Republican court said that money was speech? How ridiculous! And ever since that went into law, our country's politics have gotten nasty. They're using their money to elect officials who will create laws and regulations that favor their interests over the interests of the American people. They don't care about us—all they care about is lining their pockets. And they're doing it at all levels of government, from national races all the way down to local races. This has had a profound effect on our politics, and it's showing no signs of stopping. The 2016 election was a prime example of what happens when the billionaires are allowed to buy our elections. Donald Trump was able to win the Republican nomination by outspending his opponents—and he didn't even have to rely on outside support, because he was already a billionaire himself! This is not how democracy is supposed to work. How can we possibly compete with these people who have no problem throwing millions into national, state, and local elections to create regulations and laws favorable to their corporations and personal wealth? Our only play is the numbers of voters and vigilance in making sure the elections stay fair. The fascist methods being used are not new. We saw them 100 years ago. The History of Fascism

The methods being used by the billionaire class to buy our government are not new. We saw them 100 years ago in fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. These oligarchs are using their money to control the media, suppress votes, and rig the system in their favor. They are doing everything they can to amass more power and control over our lives. Fascism is a political ideology that emerged in the early 20th century in Europe. It typically combines elements of authoritarianism, nationalism, and racism. Fascists seek to promote their ideas through violence and coercion. They also seek to control all aspects of society, including the economy, education, media, and religion. In Europe, fascism gained a foothold in the aftermath of World War I when many people were disillusioned with democracy and eager for change. In Germany, Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party rose to power in 1933 after he was appointed Chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg. Hitler then assumed absolute power and established a totalitarian dictatorship. The Nazi regime led to World War II, during which Hitler and his allies sought to conquer Europe and exterminate Jews, Romani people, homosexuals, and others whom they considered "undesirable." In Italy, Benito Mussolini's fascist movement also gained traction after World War I. Mussolini was appointed Prime Minister in 1922 by King Victor Emmanuel III. Like Hitler, Mussolini established a totalitarian dictatorship and pursued aggressive foreign policies that led to war. Mussolini's regime was eventually overthrown in 1943, and he was executed in 1945. We cannot let them win. We need to fight back against this assault on our democracy. We need to make our voices heard. We need to vote in record numbers this November and demand that our government represents all of us, not just the wealthy few. Fascism in America? Some scholars have argued that fascism could take root in America if certain conditions are met. These conditions include a weak economy, an insecure middle class, an angry populace looking for someone to blame for their problems, a charismatic leader promising simple solutions to complex problems, and a compliant media . . . sound familiar?

What Can We Do? We can't compete with the billionaires dollar-for-dollar—but we can fight back in other ways. The most important thing we can do is vote in every single election, at every level of government. We need to show up in huge numbers so that we can offset their influence. Additionally, we need to be vigilant in making sure that the elections are fair and free from fraud or manipulation. Finally, we need to educate ourselves and others about what's happening so that we can build a movement to fight back against these oligarchs who are trying to buy our government. We need to continue to fight back against this assault on our democracy. We need to make our voices heard. We need to vote in record numbers this November and demand that our government represents all of us, not just the wealthy few. Americans need to wake up and realize that the Billionaire class is buying our government through legal bribery masquerading as campaign donations. They are using fascist tactics to control every aspect of our lives. We cannot let them win! We need to fight back against this assault on our democracy. We need to make our voices heard. We need to vote in record numbers this November and demand that our government represents all of us, not just the wealthy few.