The new ‘N’ word
There’s been a lot of free use of the word “Nazi” lately. Do people even know what the word means and the philosophy behind it?
According to something called Godwin’s Law, arguments have gotten old and stale by the time the Nazi or Hitler comparisons are dragged out.
German Nazis themselves did not always agree on what Nazism encompassed, but there are some definitive statements that can be made. American Nazis have their “25 Points” posted on their National Socialism Movement Web site for anyone who cares to look.
A Nazi must be either white or Germanic or both and a non-Jew. By that definition, Mr. Obama cannot possibly be a Nazi. Neither can Representative Barney Frank. The question then becomes, would they embrace a Nazi agenda?
That depends on which parts of National Socialism they might like. American Nazis do indeed want a complete renovation of our system of health care. They demand an end to people dying and a lack of proper treatment due to the failure of their insurance policy, HMO, or due to insufficient coverage. However, to be more specific, they demand all of this for white, non-Jewish citizens. Blacks, Hispanics, homosexuals, Jews, communists, atheists, and others would not be covered under a National Socialist (Nazi) health care plan.
Does that seem like something our self-proclaimed “mongrel” president would like to see enacted? Or something a Jewish homosexual representative might like to be put in place?
The German Nazis proposed something like Medicare/Medicaid in 1920. The quote from their platform was “We demand an expansion on a large scale of old age welfare.” That is great! Taking care of old people is laudable. There is nothing about putting them to death. There didn’t seem to be any plug pulling planned for the Nazi state. That is, as long as you were German and white gentile.
Nazism gets a lot of bad press and always has. If they had stuck to their platform and not pursued war and genocide, it might have survived and prospered. What’s enlightening is that when one investigates the entirety of the movement, a few interesting comparisons can be made. What follows is a gleaning of some concepts from both the German and American branches of the Nazi Party.
1. Nazis don’t just want to cut taxes, they want to eliminate them. They call for an end to taxes on land, food, clothing, shelter, and medicine.
2. Nazis believe in government-financed public education.
3. Nazis are opposed to child labor, abortion, euthanasia, child abuse, alcoholism, drug addition, and pornography.
4. American Nazis demand the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund.
5. Nazis oppose all non-white immigration and would require all non-white immigrants to leave the country, either peacefully or by force.
6. Nazis oppose all current American union organizations.
7. Nazis favor a livable minimum wage.
8. Nazis would junk the current tax law in favor of a flat tax system based on income.
9. Nazis favor the nuclear family concept of a working father and a stay-at-home, child-rearing mother. Same-sex couples are not mentioned.
10. American Nazis advocate setting aside land for national wildlife refuges, and legislation mandating stopping pollution, reducing greenhouse gases, and finding clean alternative energy sources for the nation.
11. Nazis would pursue the ruthless prosecution of murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug dealers, and others, meting out severe punishment.
12. Nazis believe in the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
13. Nazi America would be a Christian nation with no other religions tolerated.
14. Print media, movies, television, radio, or any other cultural event which were “not conducive” to the national welfare would be prohibited.
I’m sure all of us might find something about the Nazi program that we like. Just remember, you must be white and Christian to enjoy any of their benefits.
The Democratic agenda for health care reform might accurately be termed socialist, and it would be national, but it would not be Nazi. It also cannot be accurately compared to the British system, or the French system, or the Canadian system. It will be the American system of government health care, and hopefully it will work as well as our present government health care systems, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Veteran’s Administration.
Make this comparison to the present American health care system. The Nazi government and German industry worked together for profit and power, no matter what the consequences to the general population. Certain members of the populace, mainly socio-economic minorities, were denied health care and drugs. Is the American government too cozy with the drug and insurance industries? Are certain members of the American population denied medical care because of their paychecks or lack thereof?
It would be wise if those in the current debates, whether health-care reform, cap-and-trade, or illegal immigrants, research a little before making illogical accusations. We should all remember that Nazi is a four-letter word.
Gerald Jones
Louin
MDOT hero
Dear Editor,
Unfortunately the ill conceived actions of a small handful of Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) employees recently made headline news. The same day that headline appeared there was a terrible accident on Highway 49 in Yazoo County.
According to an eye witness an MDOT employee by the name of Jimmy Lee Freeman “…drove up from behind all the traffic, grabbed his fire extinguisher and ran toward the burning truck through thick smoke and flames shooting at least 10’ in the air to try to extinguish the truck fire. Seemingly, with no regard to his own safety but trying to save someone who was still alive burning up in the truck. He was there before any fire department or rescue vehicle arrived. When they finally arrived, they were able to retrieve the man from the truck. [Jimmy Lee] no doubt saved this man’s life with no regard for his own”.
Jimmy Lee Freeman didn’t make the evening news on TV or the headline in the next morning’s newspaper. He just thought he was doing his job.
I give thanks everyday that 99% of the folks at MDOT are a lot like Jimmy Lee.
Sincerely,
Dick Hall
Central District
Transportation Commissioner
Thank you VFDs
On Sunday Aug. 16 we were made acutely aware of the importance of the Lauderdale county volunteer fire department.
We want to say a special "THANK YOU " to Clarence Butler and the volunteers of the Squalena, Bailey and Martin fire departments for responding to our call during your lunch time.
Your willingness to come prevented a possible disaster from occurring on our property. The professionalism which you exhibited while doing your job and the courtesy that you extended to us was remarkable. Thanks to all of you and may God bless each of you.
Raymond and Peggy McKinion
Meridian
Support our troops
In these times of great economic need, it is critical that we all step up to address the issues that are directly affecting our communities. For this reason, the President has launched the “United We Serve” initiative to provide us with tools to volunteer efficiently and effectively in our communities, whether we donate a few hours of our vacation to a soup kitchen or a few hours each week to mentoring a child.
Government can only do so much, and non-profits have been hit with a double-whammy of increased demand for services and decreases in charitable giving. It is up to all Americans to work together to tackle challenges from helping the homelessness to supporting and encouraging our troops deployed overseas.
Here in Meridian, Janis Galatas, wife of wounded warrior Norris Galatas has launched her “Web Of Support Meridian” to support our local Army National Guard Unit, the HHC 155th BSTB. These heroes are beginning a second year-long tour in Iraq. Once again, they landed very much in harm’s way. These soldiers are your friends and neighbors, you work with them, you attend church with them, your kids go to the same schools with their kids and play on the same sports teams. Why are they forgotten and their families ignored when they deploy? Janis with WOSM is connecting these precious troops in Iraq with supportive families in the USA. Several have been “adopted” by organizations in Ohio, Texas, Maryland, and Indiana. Meridian, why not get involved? Contact WOSM at 601-480-3800 and tell Janis you wish to send cards, letters or e-mails to encourage and support our local troops. Ask to adopt a soldier and send him/her a goodie box once a month. Seal-Laird Vet Hospital, Ryan’s Family Steakhouse, and Chunky River Harley Davidson are already on board.
If you are unable to adopt or write a soldier, please watch for the big WEB OF SUPPORT MERIDIAN banner around town in parking lots and businesses. Stop by and give Janis a donation. She has very unique magnets, coloring books and raffle tickets to sell as fundraisers to send 150 Christmas boxes to our local soldiers in Iraq. Watch for details of the raffle of a “Dallas Cowboys Fan Collectible” basket to be awarded on Sept. 5 during the 4th Annual Dixie Thunder Run at the Chunky River Harley Davidson dealership. All proceeds go to the HHC 155th BSTB and the FRG.
I read Janis’s book A SOLDIER’S COURAGE . It was really quite good, even though the writer isn’t a “professional.” The story is at its most riveting when the author is detailing the day-by-day and sometimes hour-by-hour journey of her husband’s recovery and his travels through our military medical establishment. It was truly an eye-opening experience, and frightening to know that without the constant vigilant attention of his wife, his medical care could have gone very wrong at several times. Our soldiers deserve the best care, on and off the battlefield, and since this is a worthwhile read, and since all proceeds are going to support our local troops in Iraq, why not give it a look. It’s available on Amazon.com. This is your opportunity as a community to live up to the “Community Commitment” agreement signed by the City of Meridian. Get involved. Support our Troops! I have!
Carol Roberts
Alabama
A few things We the People should consider.
With all claims being hurled around about Health Care. We should take a look at a few things.
1. I know of no government social program that has ever come in at or under budget. The Medicare program in the 90's came in at ten times over the original proposed budget projections.
2.Each time the government has proposed a voluntary system, it somehow ends up mandatory. Case in point, filing tax returns is supposedly based on voluntary compliance, what happens if you don't volunteer?
3.We are told that the evil insurance companies are the reason the government needs to take control, yet as I recall when insurance giant AIG got in trouble the government ran to their aid with a bailout. How many times did they come to our aid when they passed legislation that pushed jobs overseas to cheaper wage and environmental standard countries?
4.Politicians say what they think people want to hear. Case in point, The President says that he is not in favor of the government taking over the health industry, yet just a short time back he was saying that he wanted to move America to a single payer system.
5.The government whined about all those corporations that were to big to fail, so what did they do? They bailed out some of the bigger ones and made it possible for them to buy their competition, making the remaining giants in the economy even bigger. Perhaps when we get down to just one, it can't fail. Will also be run probably by the government to keep it honest?
6.We continually get bombarded with sympathetic stories that tug at the heart, yet where were these politicians when the ones they are now whining about were lobbying them for more tax breaks and easier rules? How did these evil companies get in the position of taking advantage of us in the first place? Could it be that the very ones talking about the problem are the ones that caused it?
7.Last let us consider the possible real motives behind the rhetoric. The President has said that the legislation would force all Americans to obtain insurance. No wonder so many like the AMA, AARP, Insurance companies , Hospitals and many others are drooling over the possibilities of guaranteed profits. Is it just for the government to assure corporations a profit by forcing the citizens to contract with them? Do we not then become the sheep owned by the government, servant to the government instead of the politicians being our servants?
Before we run down the road to the destruction of America, perhaps we should stop and consider the consequences. When the government becomes master, who will stop them from pulling the plug on grandma? Think about it. Ezekiel Emanuele, confidant to Obama has laid out a plan for rationing health care which provides less care for the very young and the old. Seeking to cover those deemed productive over all others. The plans exist.
One thing the President and his followers ignored is the fact that the old people he wished to give a pain pill instead of a hip replacement to, are the ones who not only supported their own families but also the nation. They were forced into paying Social Security and Medicare throughout their lives, and now they are to be told they are no longer useful die quietly and quickly. Perhaps the ones we should evaluate as to being useful are the politicians. Perhaps they need a pay cut similar to what regular people ended up with.
Donald Dunnam
Quitman
