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SyndicateThe Coming Dictatorship
By Robert Ringer - Tuesday, March 30, 2010
By Robert Ringer
In my article “Saying Yes to the Party of No,” I commented on how pleased I’ve been to see Glenn Beck talking about a subject I’ve been writing about since the late seventies: a government-declared state of emergency leading to a “temporary” dictatorship.
I have long believed that the mathematics of an insatiable entitlement society in the U.S. guarantees a runaway inflation, which likely would be followed by anarchy and chaos – a perfect excuse for government to resort to strong-armed totalitarian measures to “restore order.” My model has always been Germany’s Weimar Republic in the 1920s, where runaway inflation brought Adolf Hitler to power.
I originally believed that the runaway-inflation scenario in the U.S. would play out in the early 1980s, but a combination of Ronald Reagan and an explosion in computers and electronic technology made possible by the remnants of our capitalist system headed it off.
Nevertheless, the threat of a runaway inflation has continued to increase over the years, even while our false-prosperity economy was booming. That’s because the underlying causes (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, insane union and government-employee wages and benefits, Social Security, Medicare, etc.) of our sick economy have never been addressed.
Unemployment is just a symptom; the disease is entitlements. Throughout the false-prosperity years, Social Security did not go away. It got bigger. Medicare did not go away. It got bigger. Virtually no other benefits went away. They only got bigger. So the underlying problem of entitlements not only has remained, but continued to grow.
The big news now is that Social Security may “go broke” this year instead of in 2017, which was originally projected. Really? And here I thought it’s been broke for decades. Ditto with Medicare. These programs were long ago Madoffized. Almost from the start, government has simply taken in new money from “investors” (read, taxpayers) and handed it over to those on the entitlements side of the fence – with a large chunk of the largesse being skimmed off the top for government employees who administer these programs (and vote for those whom they believe are most likely to safeguard their jobs).
All it took to bring things to a head was a shameful spending spree by a progressive Republican president and a Republican Congress, followed by the ascent of a committed Marxist to the presidency (along with a cooperative majority in Congress).
Now, throw on top of all that a huge new tax-and-spending bill (euphemistically referred to as “health-care legislation”), and the end result seems assured. However, with the government’s power to tax, print, and borrow, no one knows how long it will be before the inevitable runaway inflation sets in.
But if BHO truly has his mind set on establishing a dictatorship – and it is my personal belief that he does – it’s too risky for him to wait for a runaway inflation as an excuse to call a state of emergency. He knows that as long as there is a semblance of a free market in place, producers will continue to push back against the economy-killing effects of his policies.
Thus, he needs another excuse to declare a state of emergency, and over the past year I’ve given a lot of thought to what that excuse might be. In previous articles, I’ve mentioned a nuke exchange between Iran and Israel as one possibility. Another is civil unrest due to unemployment rates that could reach 25 percent or more in the not-too-distant future.
These and others still remain possibilities, but last week Glenn Beck came up with one that may be even more likely. Beck believes that Obama will continue to keep the accelerator pressed to the floor – amnesty for illegal immigrants, a cap-and-trade bill that will eliminate the U.S. as a global business competitor, and more – thus enraging an already angry public to the point of revolution.
In other words, purposely foment “civil unrest” rather than wait for something like unemployment or runaway inflation to make it happen. As Beck puts it, just continue to poke people in the eye, then use their predictable and justifiable backlash as an excuse to establish dictatorial powers.
I thought about this issue while attending the recent tea party outside the Capitol Building in Washington. As I crossed Independence Avenue, I noted a somber-looking guard holding a Rambo-style weapon in his hands. I have no idea what it was, but there’s no question in my mind that just one pull of the trigger could have rearranged the body parts of a large number of tea-party people.
The totally peaceful gathering – repeat, totally peaceful – was infested with heavily armed police, but one, in particular, was especially ominous. As the tea partiers chanted “Kill the Bill” on the east side of the Capitol Building, a uniformed, lone figure stood at the top of the steep flight of stairs on the House side of the structure, automatic weapon at the ready, gazing down over the crowd. Sun glasses and all, he reminded me of the “boss man” of Cool Hand Luke’s chain gang.
It gave me the eerie feeling that I was in a banana republic. Had anyone dared to take things beyond mere chanting, there’s no doubt in my mind that it would have become a scene right out of Caracas. All that was missing was Sean Penn.
Yep, I believe Glenn Beck might be on to something. But if the American public refuses to take the bait and doesn’t resort to violence, BHO will have to go to Plan B to have an excuse to declare a state of emergency.
Having said all this, don’t despair. No one, including myself, can predict the future with certainty. In a rapidly changing world, nothing is certain. Which is why I don’t make predictions; I just lay odds. And here’s my odds based on what I know and see today:
The chances of a declared state of emergency and ensuing dictatorship prior to the 2010 elections: 25%
The chances of a declared state of emergency and ensuing dictatorship prior to the 2012 elections: 50%
The chances of the U.S. dollar becoming worthless within three years: 25%
The chances of the U.S. dollar becoming worthless within ten years: 90%
The chances of the Republicans cutting back on major entitlements if they regain power in the 2010 elections: Zero
The chances of the Republicans cutting back on major entitlements if they win the presidency and an overwhelming majority in Congress in 2012: 5%
The chances of the so-called tea-party people (i.e., everyday Americans who believe in liberty) winning out over the long haul: Hmm … let me procrastinate on that one a bit before I lay odds.
Of course, I could be wrong about all this … but what if I’m right?
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Copyright © 2012 Robert Ringer
ROBERT RINGER is a New York Times #1 bestselling author and host of the highly acclaimed Liberty Education Interview Series, which features interviews with top political, economic, and social leaders. He has appeared on Fox News, Fox Business, The Tonight Show, Today, The Dennis Miller Show, Good Morning America, The Lars Larson Show, ABC Nightline, and The Charlie Rose Show, and has been the subject of feature articles in such major publications as Time, People, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Barron's, and The New York Times.
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17 Responses to “The Coming Dictatorship”
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What you are saying is borne out too significantly by the reactions of the mainstream media. Any perception of something they can report as negative from the non-left is overblown, while similar activities by the left are almost totally ignored. Unfortunately, this was all predicted by Ayn Rand in a book published back in 1957, “Atlas Shrugged”. If enough productive people decide to take similar action to that in the book, the results again are very predictable. When they run out of Other People’s Money, as big as this country is, there is nothing they can do. It is not like Zimbabwe, where they can continue on the largess of their neighbors and other large countries.
Well, Mr. Ringer, I’m not sure what to do about it all. I’m thinking of making all the money I can during the next 7 years or so, depositing it in a foreign bank in gold, and getting out of the US prior to Armageddon (hopefully). Do you think that might work for me? What will *you* be doing? I mean, will you be living in a gated estate with armed guards all around the place, and your money in silver and gold, much of it overseas?
I think you’re correct in procrastinating on the effects of the Tea Party people. This represents the largest change in voter behavior since the beginning of the 20th century. Also don’t underestimate the effects of groups that are affiliated with the 9/12 project. Much like the Freemasons before them, the 9/12 groups are getting people interested in personal enlightenment. Aided and abetted by a free communications medium, old dictatorial style news like TV and radio are losing out.
I wonder if you’ve ever come across “Liberation by Internet” by Gennady Stolyarov II.
http://mises.org/daily/3060
I suppose his example of Frederich Hayek was really one of “conventional wisdom”. Hayek bought into the 1984 idea and did not see the need for nor the significance of something like the ARPANET.
Likewise, today, it is hard to see sometimes with any clarity what with all the shouting and chanting going on. Which is why reason is so much more important than rhetoric when it comes to understanding the world and what decisions we need to make in response to what goes on in the world.
PS I doubt we will really see a dictatorship in this nation. We’re not Russian serfs or Third World peasants. Nor are we really ideologically like the Germans who embraced Hitler’s version of Nietzsche. The deeds of our Founders, for good or ill, still echo down the ages and speak to us today. Things like the 9/12 movement and the Tea Party show that there are still those listening today.
From Bob Segers “Live Bullet Album”
“Dig you a foxhole, a place to hide
Cause when the war comes, the cops’ll be on their side.”?
I cannot fathom how this country could sink to where it’s possible that this is what we may be looking at relativly soon. Or has it started years ago with the right wing militia “kooks”? Heaven help us if they have been even close to predicting the future. But as unpalatible as that may be…………..
Mr Ringer I have a question what do you think of Kevin Trudeau?
I have a Solution too are two biggest problems which you NEVER cover. but i’m still a fan.
so I will list those too first.
Http://www.GOOH.com
Second is this Http://www.TVPNC.org
Those two things will fix USA.
also check out KTRADIONETWORK.com
all of them are good.
take care and NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!!
I wish I could add something to this blog, but it’s difficult to criticize perfection…..
As an aside, Bob Chapman is a man who has a very interesting theory about the future of inflation/stagflation/hyperinflation. He makes an excellent case that shorty after the 2010 elections( if they occur) deflation will be part of a lethal, financial crisis. His theory is that countries—such as the U.S.A, U.K. E.U.—know they are on the verge of collapse, and the plutocracy plans to simultaneously employ paper currency devaluation, sovereign debt defaults, and a fundamental restructuring of the world financial system as an emergency response to the coming crisis; Consequently, according to Mr. Chapman, deflation will hit first, then, in a dramatic reversal, inflation/stagflation/hyperinflation will follow…..I’ve scrutinized the details of Mr. Chapman’s theory, including his time frame, and I find it to be plausible.
Robert,
I agree with your conclusions and extrapolations of current trends. What makes me even more suspicious that there are unannounced plans now being laid for your predictions are the numerous stories appearing throughout the news media that Tea Party members are violent, racists, and overall dangerous to the status quo. Mike Lupica of the N.Y. Daily news has been on a consistent journalistic rant against the Tea Party as has Yahoo news. The recent news media coverage and thus high profile raids against the extreme fringe militias is another harbinger of the beginning of the propaganda war. As we all know, trying to tie in the racists and militant extremists in our nation with the Tea Party, is ridiculous but this seems to be the current tactic being used by those who wish to maintain the current course of the increasingly socialistic status quo. If a crisis is not presented that would allow the present power holders to maintain their power, I would venture to agree that a crisis would be created by agents provocateurs posing as Tea Party members.
Many people in America believe that your scenarios “can’t happen here” because they’re ignorant of the lessons of history and they’re complacent in their own little myopic worlds of meaningless distractions and obsessions. After all “We’re the United States!” they declare as they’re living in the dreams of past glories and quickly evaporating freedoms and economic stability. In other words, they’re living in denial.
At this point, I’m not even sure that the oncoming disaster can be averted and I’m sincerely concerned and fearful for my family and nation.
Just after posting my last comment, this news story came out…..
Obama: Tea Party features ‘core group’ against him
Mar 30 02:41 PM US/Eastern
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says he believes the Tea Party is built around a “core group” of people who question whether he is a U.S. citizen and believe he is a socialist.
But beyond that, Obama tells NBC he recognizes the movement involves “folks who have legitimate concerns” about the national debt and whether the government is taking on too many difficult issues simultaneously.
In an interview broadcast Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show, Obama said he feels “there’s still going to be a group at their core that question my legitimacy.” But he said he didn’t want to paint Tea Party activists “in broad brushes” and he hopes to win over members who have “mainstream, legitimate concerns.”
Is this the cop on the Capitol Building stairs?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasonevines/4449098303/
Well, there you go, his model is wrong! We are in rapid deflation, and totally cooked books!
The Fed again announced 1Q10 GDP ‘up +6%’, that’s +6% back to back, or +26.2%YOY!!
Yet all the big restaurant chains are giving away free meal days to bring in customers, and
WalMart’s just drastically cut it’s food prices. The only prices going up are with monopolies,
all that’s going to happen there is they’ll slough customers, then be forced to re-cut prices.
So tell your buddy Robert to break his Weimar crystal ball, and buy a new one. Get happy!
Defense is taking down $159,000,000,000 next year for UNDISCLOSED ‘national security’!
With interest on that unfunded debt, that’s a year of groceries for every US taxpayer family!
Abracadabra … poof!
A direct symptom of Obama happened to me yesterday. I glanced at my bookshelf and saw the book spine for Robert Ringer’s HOW YOU CAN FIND HAPPINESS DURING THE COLLAPSE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, and thought, “I have to read that book again.” A book I haven’t cracked open in about three years. (I do have it on my main shelf as a reference book, it’s filled with such rare and important stuff.)
Excellent Article!
This is off-subject, but a suggested article would be on lawyers as politicians.
I submit that THAT is one of our BIGGEST problems.
Lawyers (usually unless they are that rare breed with some entrepreneurial foundation) don’t produce ANYTHING! They have NO understanding of business OR the economy.
BUSINESS people do! And we have lawyers that work FOR us to keep us in compliance with the “game”. I submit that can USUALLY work OK, but even with that situation, you KNOW what a bunch of deal-breaking SOB’s they are!
AND….keeping electing the is allowing the “fox to guard the henhouse”! You think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell we’ll see any tort reform as long as elected officials are lawyers, and always being in the pocket of the Trial Lawyers Assn? NO WAY!
So…..if you haven’t….would you please write addressing this problem? And if you have, please re-print it (recommended WEEKLY between now and election time!) soon?
Thanks and best,
John
“By PATRICK GAVIN | 4/1/10 4:04 PM EDT
Obama addresses harsh criticism
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1004/obama_addresses_harsh_criticism.html
CBS News spent the day at the White House, interviewing and playing basketball with President Barack Obama for segments on Friday’s Early Show and Saturday’s NCAA pre-game show. POLITICO obtained a partial transcript of the broadcasts, and one of the more provocative questions posed by CBS’s Harry Smith involved some of the harsh criticism Obama has endured from the edges of the political spectrum.
CBS News spent the day at the White House, interviewing and playing basketball with President Barack Obama for segments on Friday’s Early Show and Saturday’s NCAA pre-game show. POLITICO obtained a partial transcript of the broadcasts, and one of the more provocative questions posed by CBS’s Harry Smith involved some of the harsh criticism Obama has endured from the edges of the political spectrum.
“I’ve been listening to talk radio, the kindest of terms is a socialist, worst of which I’ve heard is you called a Nazi, are you aware of the level of enmity that crosses the airwaves about you?” asked Smith.
……………………………………..
“Well I think that when you listen to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck, it’s pretty apparent, but keep in mind that there have been periods in American history where this kind of vitriol comes out,” said Obama. “It happens often when you’ve got an economy that is making people more anxious, but that’s not the vast majority of Americans. I think vast majority of Americans know that we’re trying hard. I want what’s best for the country.”…………………………………………..
“Harsh criticism”…….”edges if the political spectrum.”
The article left out but implied the word “FRINGE” when referring to “edges of the political spectrum”. Now Americans apparently believing that the Constitution is our guiding document for our political system and stability are labeled “edges of the political spectrum”?
I think it’s true that one could say that the American people are in fact “anxious” and that much of it is due to the economy. What is ignored and omitted as always when spinning and lying in media propaganda is that the economy is being virtually destroyed and undermined by politicians who have unconstitutionally inserted government influence and control into virtually every aspect of formerly sacrosanct American individual liberties and freedoms as well as the natural cycle of capitalistic business dynamics where weak and inefficient private corporate organizations fail and are liquidated instead of being artificially propped up with American citizen’s ballooning massive debt so that these private business corporations can continue being a drain on the entire economic system as the government inserts it’s unconstitutional influence and control over these private business corporations.
Doesn’t every dictator (Chavez, Castro, ad infinitum.) ultimately state that they are doing what they personally believe is “best for the country” as they trampled over the already established laws and rights of the countries in which they usurped power?
I think you’ve got it nailed again, Mr. Ringer. And the recent and rising hooplah over “extreme right-wing terrorism” could be more proof of what Glen and you are saying. Since dear leader got elected, we’ve been hearing about that and it can’t just be for shits and giggles. Every dictatorship needs a scapegoat and we’re seeing a repeat of what the likes of Hitler, Lenin, Stalin and all the others did before they seized power.
However, I’d like to point out that Obama, unlike those guys, doesn’t have a military-style goon squad outside of the military, and frankly I don’t see them stooping to become that for him. Even if they did, here’s the odds: 80 million gun owners and counting vs. a little under 3 million soldiers in all the services combined.
Mr Ringer,
I have been a fan of your work for many years and am glad to see you write about this, BUT…
It’s not a left thing – W created the Patriot Act, Military Order 1 and Military Commissions Act.
W created TARP
W unlocked the Gate of Fascism
Obama is simply driving through it
Follow the money – for real!
Why did all the Bankers get 100 cents on the dollar in the AIG deal? Goldman, Deutche, Societe Gen and on?
The event was 9/11 the answer has been DHS and Fed looting.
Check out http://www.endofamericamovie.com/
And http://www.ae911truth.org/
I cannot believe how most well educated and for the most part, financially astute people (U.S. and Canada) can be blind to what is really happening.
It’s not about the money folks!
The powers that be already have it ALL! We have no money. Only credit.
We’ve been coasting on credit for decades.
We may have stuff like cars and boats and, yes, the latest I-thing. But it’s stuff. In a month when the fridge is empty, we starve – amid all our things.
But, what have we lost?(or traded away)(our freedom)
Them that has the money – has the power.
And we are slaves! It’s just that simple.
Well, if you are going on the notion of knowing what leadership with mental illness looks like, you got it with Lyndon LaRouche. Who, by the way, can’t run for public office anymore, getting convicted of felony offenses. Your use of history as illustration is totally wrong, the vast unseen conspiracies only exist in your own paranoid delusions (speaking of mental illness)and not a single LaRouchite rant that has been uttered in my lifetime has ever borne fruit. You lunatics want to stand around on corners in 110 degree heat looking like racist pinheads, be my guest. You have the right to make a public fool of yourself.