Tyranny Leads to Mass Murder

konchan

Tue, 03/05/2024 - 23:07

During the 20th century, we saw the rise of two primary modes of totalitarian government: communism and fascism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totalitarianism). The proponents of both claimed they were creating their governments to right certain wrongs. They claimed they were doing it for the people. They claimed they were doing it because it was right. And yet tens of millions of people were murdered or otherwise met premature deaths through forced labor or starvation.

The leaders of these movements claimed to understand the lower and middle classes. They spoke flattering words, blaming some group or another for the plight of the listeners. They promised unworkable solutions to their countries' problems. And yet, once they rose to power they immediately killed their competition, and their detractors. They eliminated the free press or pretended it was free but controlled it completely. They pushed propaganda at work and at school. In some cases, they eliminated traditional churches so as to eliminate those ideas that would naturally oppose them. They encouraged lawless killing by youth groups, then proceeded to round up and murder that group when their usefulness ended. Murder for power never ends well for the murders, only the puppet masters.

Today, totalitarianism on the Right is universally seen as evil, and yet, totalitarianism on the Left is not, with the usual excuse being, “it hasn’t been done correctly yet.” Wikipedia lists over 150 former Communist States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_state). Many of these were factions with only slightly differing views fighting for control. Others were long-lasting. Most tried to implement the basic communist doctrines. They failed and nearly all resulted in the deaths of their own people in the millions. There are only four such governments today. Or put another way, that kind of government is not sustainable. Other totalitarian regimes likewise failed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_totalitarian_regimes) except for three examples continuing today.

Authoritarianism is nearly as bad. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism)

The more a government moves toward authoritarianism, the more likely it is for that government to murder its own people. This is called Democide.

How much mass murder will the 21st century hold? Will it out-do the 20th? I believe it will. Too many people don't know about the past and will be swept up in similar events, having not inoculated themselves against taking part.

Check out the "Ways We Mass Murder" list on the left for more info.

Principles to Uplift Mankind

If you were educated by the public school system in the last 40 years or so, then you likely do not have any appreciable understanding of the principles on which this country was really founded, nor the costs involved through two wars - the Revolutionary War and the Civil War - to bring the words of our founding documents to life. I would encourage everyone to take at least the Constitution 101 class from Hillsdale College (which I did when it first came out), and any other free online courses they offer. They are excellent. Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. is perhaps the greatest nation ever created, though it has severely lost its way since being taken over by an Oligarchy. Only a population educated on what made it great can wrest control back and make it great again, and return it to a melting pot of races, creeds, ideas, and faiths, all with the American Dream as a common goal.

https://online.hillsdale.edu/

USA and Allies

Why don't I include the USA and its allies like the UK? The fact of the matter is that the Presidents, the Generals, the Admirals, and other top leaders were all in agreement that atrocities should not take place, and war should be fought using certain rules. The war crimes that were committed seem to have been done on an individual or unit level, against standing orders. That said, it seems those who broke the stated standards were usually not punished enough for what they did. Middle-leadership was too lenient and also kept many details from upper-leadership.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_war_crimes_during_World_War_II

That said, there is a group within the US that I will add at some point in the future. That group is perhaps the cause of just as much pain and misery throughout the world as any of the others I have already covered, so I shouldn't skip them.

Communism

Modern dictionaries and Wikipedia seem to want to paint Communism in a positive light. I don't know why. Communism is responsible for more human death and misery than Fascism was, and continues to ruin lives today. I can only conclude that it appeals to the power-hungry and the foolish. Take these definitions from Meriam-Webster:

"1 a: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
b: a theory advocating elimination of private property
2 a: a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Soviet Union
b: a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production
c: a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably
d: communist systems collectively" (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communism)

Notice how definitions 1a and 1b sound so nice. Wouldn't we all like "goods...available to all as needed"? At least Webster included definition 2b, which is closer to the truth. But Webster's dictionary of 1963 told it closer to how it is really is, "a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production with the professed aim of establishing a stateless society." And yet every experiment shows that without a profit incentive, mankind won't work unless at the end of a whip. But it does not reveal all that communism has done, none of it good. Further investigation, preferably from primary sources of people who lived and escaped it are best. I encourage you to do so. Communism is not a romantic notion; it is a horror in practice. There is no "if it was just done right, it would work."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_killings_under_communist_regimes

Fascism

Modern dictionaries miss the mark when defining Fascism. The definitions are too short and the words they use hide deeper meanings. Take for example this one from Meriam-Webster: "a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition" (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism)

It is better to read longer treatments from encyclopedias or sources dedicated to history - and preferably, not produced recently, but closer to the actual events, so that those who lived through events can inform us of what actually happened.

One key aspect of fascism was how it permeated every aspect of German and Italian culture in the 1930s and 1940s. From business, to social clubs, everything had to do with supporting the state. Dissent was not tolerated. If you weren't enthusiastic, you at least had to keep quiet or you could be subject to reprisals. It was forced unity.

But the number one point, which is also the number one point of communism, is the elimination of the idea of self-determination and autonomy - of freedom, of democracy, etc. Both philosophies are authoritarian. Both are in direct opposition to the principles the U.S. was founded on. Both promise outcomes of peace and prosperity which cannot result from the methods they advocate. It is impossible.