1. Planned Deficit Spending
We're about to see the debt ceiling raised, again. We don't even bother passing budgets anymore; money is just created and disseminated, seemingly at random. Interestingly, Flynn described the situation during the New Deal, when Congress wrote FDR a blank check and then rubber-stamped his every decision.
And then we had a depression that lasted 14 years!
2. The Planned Economy
Fascism is different from Socialism, in that it sees no necessity for the government to "own" the means of production. Private ownership is no obstacle, as long as the government can direct the activities of private producers.
In America, the economy is directed through a vast web of subsidies, tax credits, corporate welfare, and "stimulus packages." The Federal Government provides student loans, mortgages, medical services, food; and it invests in businesses like GM and Solyndra.
3. Militarism as an Economic Institution
The Military-Industrial Complex. It is staggering how much legislation is passed because of threats to shrink military expenditures in a holdout's district. After WW2, contrary to Keynesian expectations, there was a boom as the troops returned home and America demilitarized.
For all the ranting and raving about "strong national defense," military expenditures are nothing more than "Conservative stimulus packages."
4. Imperialism as Handmaiden to Militarism
You cannot maintain huge deficits indefinitely. Imperialism provides two vital services to those who use militarism as economic stimulus. First, we always seem to stumble into various resources. Despite our contrary pronouncements, we always take "humanitarian military action" in places with oil wells and pipelines; not poverty and real tyranny.
Second, imperialism creates national enemies. National enemies are necessary to justify out of control military spending. This was the case with Al Qaeda, and its currently the case with Iran. We have harassed them endlessly, for 60 years. When they finally strike back, feeble though they may be, we'll seize the opportunity to establish a military base on the straits of Hormuz. How convenient!
5. The Totalitarian State. Flynn adds, at some point it "becomes necessary to adopt the fifth or drop the first four." NDAA, SOPA, Patriot Act, TSA. Court decisions upholding the arbitrary revocation of the fourth and fifth amendments...An executive that can detain indefinitely and execute without trial...
Sounds like we've gone the last mile, doesn't it?
