General Discussion

BobTheSubgenius

(12,249 posts)

72. I agree with the idea that the circumstances are different.

Thu Feb 11, 2021, 01:19 PM

Feb 2021

The modern USA is considerably better off, socially and economically (despite the massive inequities) and is not suffering the grave national indignities and hardships of the Versaille Treaty.

One could go on and on about the tremendous advantages present-day America holds over Germany in the interregnum. So...given all that....it is hugely impressive - in a dire and terrible way - that the force of will of one man was essentially all it took to run a superpower into the ditch.

The parallels to the rise of the Reich are both amazing and spine-chilling. We look back at that time and go "HOW could this have happened? Then watch it unfold yet again. Fortunately, some institutions held, thus averting that ultimate catastrophe. But just barely.

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John Meacham finally goes there on Morning Joe. [View all] catbyte Feb 2021 OP

Read that book more than 45 years ago and pulled it out to read again about 6 months ago. Solomon Feb 2021 #1

I did the same. I've been reading now Dmitry Volkogonov's Stalin, less well known, but... NNadir Feb 2021 #10

I'll have to look that one up. thucythucy Feb 2021 #55

Volkgonakov is an interesting guy. He was a Soviet Col. General charged with psychological warfare. NNadir Feb 2021 #61

Wow! Now I have to look him up! thucythucy Feb 2021 #63

"In The Court Of The Red Tsar" is also fascinating (can't remember the author) . . .. hatrack Feb 2021 #97

It sounds like an interesting read from the reviews. NNadir Feb 2021 #99

I have to tip my hat to The Death Of Stalin as the ultimate in black comedy . . . . hatrack Feb 2021 #100

Apparently Stalin introduced Beria to Roosevelt and Churchill... NNadir Feb 2021 #101

Incidentally, if you're never read "Dark Sun" by Richard Rhodes, it's well worth your time hatrack Feb 2021 #102

I read the first, but not the second. NNadir Feb 2021 #103

And as applied to your last sentence . . . . hatrack Feb 2021 #104

Trump is a lot like Hitler Turbineguy Feb 2021 #58

For which fact we are most thankful. niyad Feb 2021 #62

+1 live love laugh Feb 2021 #65

Indeed! Turbineguy Feb 2021 #69

in both cases radio played a huge part both times but RW talk radio will croak w/limbaugh before certainot Feb 2021 #68

Limbaugh may be hard to replace Turbineguy Feb 2021 #70

Wow dianaredwing Feb 2021 #79

school system will be a lot easier to fix, like all major issues, when rw radio dies certainot Feb 2021 #96

RW propaganda radio will be replaced by Incel Neckbeards with podcasts. The Next Generation. nt Progressive Jones Feb 2021 #91

not same. unlike radio, social media, podcasts etc are like TV - part of the free speech spectrum certainot Feb 2021 #95

Hitler failed in his first coup attempt, too. wnylib Feb 2021 #85

Hitler was pretty incompetent too Joelteply Feb 2021 #89

Me too for the same reason, also Berlin Diary, fascinating reads Hortensis Feb 2021 #81

Conspiracy... the movie HBO 2001 ... about the ' final solution ' meeting SayitAintSo Feb 2021 #84

Conspiracy was excellently done AdamGG Feb 2021 #88

Check out Mank... SayitAintSo Feb 2021 #98

People need to listen. North Shore Chicago Feb 2021 #2

We are not out of the woods yet.... HUAJIAO Feb 2021 #27

True. The 74 million who voted for Trump are still with us. CaptainTruth Feb 2021 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author HUAJIAO Feb 2021 #30

DUers have been writing that for years malaise Feb 2021 #3

Great DUers stood up to warn us. Kid Berwyn Feb 2021 #9

+1 Celerity Feb 2021 #11

Most excellent malaise Feb 2021 #18

There is also a movie based on the book. I used to show it to my students. 3Hotdogs Feb 2021 #19

Thank you for posting this n/t solara Feb 2021 #51

YEP !! uponit7771 Feb 2021 #53

Good summary burrowowl Feb 2021 #59

Would you please post this as its own OP for visibility, and so we can rec it? Thanks. niyad Feb 2021 #66

Here's the thing, though. cilla4progress Feb 2021 #92

Thank you, Malaise! Mike 03 Feb 2021 #12

I don't deserve another heart malaise Feb 2021 #20

I'm so glad you supported this view from early on. Mike 03 Feb 2021 #29

Well people are finally waking up malaise Feb 2021 #32

It's not rocket science soldierant Feb 2021 #93

Excellent point malaise Feb 2021 #94

I've not thought of that book for many years, but at 4AM, hearing him merely say the author's name hlthe2b Feb 2021 #4

I've posted that here for five years PCIntern Feb 2021 #5

He said he's resisted using the parallel for 5 years, but after yesterday, can't any longer. catbyte Feb 2021 #6

Thinking people always resist being blunt PCIntern Feb 2021 #7

Politeness is the face of a threat can be lethal. SallyHemmings Feb 2021 #13

Meachem feels the need Springerjjhicka Feb 2021 #15

Oh, I've thought of the parallels the past five years, for sure. Just not that specific book hlthe2b Feb 2021 #31

I started listening to it in 2016 genxlib Feb 2021 #8

The cult will never believe the danger they inflicted. Boomerproud Feb 2021 #14

That's because their not human. Butterflylady Feb 2021 #48

Oh but they do! Their intent was to bring about eternal Trump rule. Blaukraut Feb 2021 #60

Almost happened, definitely will Eid Ma Clack Shaw Feb 2021 #16

Steve Schmidt said it bluntly Tom Rinaldo Feb 2021 #28

PBS's The Rise of The Nazis HootieMcBoob Feb 2021 #17

+1 llmart Feb 2021 #37

The importance of TRAFOTTR localroger Feb 2021 #21

This is another excellent book by Shirer: catbyte Feb 2021 #25

Excellent context. Mike 03 Feb 2021 #26

Kicking Mike 03 Feb 2021 #22

All authoritarians follow pretty much the same playbook... Wounded Bear Feb 2021 #54

Brits do WWII right, there is also Alan Bullock's Hitler A Study In Tyranny bucolic_frolic Feb 2021 #23

Totally agree Mike 03 Feb 2021 #40

Read it the summer after graduating high school. lastlib Feb 2021 #24

"Democracy is not important" said Mike Lee 1cheapbeemr Feb 2021 #33

Is this the quote? 58Sunliner Feb 2021 #42

To me, the most disturbing are those who ignored what was happening around them. BarbD Feb 2021 #34

This quote has resonated with me since 2016: catbyte Feb 2021 #36

It is chilling, but very true. BarbD Feb 2021 #41

+1 llmart Feb 2021 #43

+1 dalton99a Feb 2021 #47

Bookmarking liberalla Feb 2021 #35

Read it in the 9th grade. I always wondered what it would be like kairos12 Feb 2021 #38

But, a Republican that actually wants to read a book mrsadm Feb 2021 #39

I read it twice. rickford66 Feb 2021 #44

Yep. I listened to that audiobook 6 months ago. Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2021 #45

You could make a case for every bogeyman available. gordianot Feb 2021 #46

The Big Lie Desert_Leslie Feb 2021 #49

We may think that the origin of the phrase is common knowledge, Oldem Feb 2021 #78

It seems to me that republicans in the Senate realize that if they vote to convict DJT, Mr. Evil Feb 2021 #50

History doesn't repeat, but it does rhyme... Wounded Bear Feb 2021 #52

The problem is... johnnyfins Feb 2021 #56

knr triron Feb 2021 #57

I struggled through it VA_Jill Feb 2021 #64

Agree 100% Joinfortmill Feb 2021 #67

K&R Roisin Ni Fiachra Feb 2021 #71

I agree with the idea that the circumstances are different. BobTheSubgenius Feb 2021 #72

I've referred people to this for several years. I'm on my third reading (read it every 25 yrs) SharonAnn Feb 2021 #73

Also, read "The Authoritarians". It's free on the Internet. Good explanation of MAGA thinking. SharonAnn Feb 2021 #75

Learning from history Oscarthegreat Feb 2021 #76

I'm reading "The Rise and Fall" right now PlanetBev Feb 2021 #77

The reason people are loathe to go there is that the standard argument is . . . peggysue2 Feb 2021 #80

Read it many years ago. moondust Feb 2021 #82

My biggest fear is that if Trump is acquitted a much smarter and cagier president in the future Nitram Feb 2021 #83

I've said several time the path to understanding Trump Dan Feb 2021 #86

And Willie Geist called them cowards. Lunabell Feb 2021 #87

Trump and his acolytes were itching for their own Reichstag. summer_in_TX Feb 2021 #90