Let's Kill Godwin's Law
You know, I've always thought Godwin's Law was really, really apocalyptically stupid. Or at least the way it's used in modern online conversation as some kind of obnoxious red hanky people hold up to halt and invalidate a line of discussion should Nazis be mentioned.
There's an increasing number of instances where comparisons to jack-booted sociopaths of old are valid and necessary in order to properly marginalize some people as utterly batshit insane. Unless we as a country really do think that constant war, oppression of free speech, genocide and nationalistic propaganda are truly the cornerstones of our Democracy.
A great read from a British reporter who spent some time on a recent annual New Republic cruise with members of the Neo-Conservative 'movement' (bowel in nature at this point):
"I lie on the beach with Hillary-Ann, a chatty, scatty 35-year-old Californian designer. As she explains the perils of Republican dating, my mind drifts, watching the gentle tide. When I hear her say, " Of course, we need to execute some of these people," I wake up. Who do we need to execute? She runs her fingers through the sand lazily. "A few of these prominent liberals who are trying to demoralise the country," she says. "Just take a couple of these anti-war people off to the gas chamber for treason to show, if you try to bring down America at a time of war, that's what you'll get." She squints at the sun and smiles. " Then things'll change."
and
"A red-faced man who looks like an egg with a moustache glued on grumbles, " If the Germans think they can take responsibility for the world, I don't care about German courts. Bomb them." I begin to witter on about the Pinochet precedent, and Kate snaps, "Treating Don Rumsfeld like Pinochet is disgusting." Egg Man pounds his fist on the table: " Treating Pinochet like that is disgusting. Pinochet is a hero. He saved Chile.""Exactly," adds Jim. "And he privatised social security."
The table nods solemnly and then they march into the conversation - the billion-strong swarm of swarthy Muslims who are poised to take over the world. Jim leans forward and says, "When I see these football supporters from England, I think - these guys aren't going to be told by PC elites to be nice to Muslims. You're going to get fascists rising up, aren't you? Why isn't that happening already?" Before I can answer, he is conquering the Middle East from his table, from behind a crème brûlée.
"The civilised countries should invade all the oil-owning places in the Middle East and run them properly. We won't take the money ourselves, but we'll manage it so the money isn't going to terrorists."