Invoking the specter of Nazi Germany, Obama warns against complacency

[DonViejo]

Source: ChicagoBusiness.com.

December 06, 2017

GREG HINZ

American democracy is fragile, and unless care is taken it could follow the path of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Mixed in with many softer comments, that was the somewhat jaw-dropping bottom line of Barack Obama last night as, in a Q&A session before the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicagoan who used to be president dropped a bit of red meat to a hometown crowd that likely is a lot closer to him than the man whose name never was mentioned: President Donald Trump.

Obama's comments came after a series of playful questions from moderator and Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson—in the great Batman vs. Superman debate, for instance, we learned Obama sides with Batman—before she eventually asked him what he's learned as a world citizen of sorts.

One thing he's learned is that "things don't happen internationally if we don't put our shoulder to the wheel," Obama said, speaking of the U.S. "No other country has the experience and bandwith and ideals. . . .If the U.S. doesn't do it, it's not going to happen."

Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171206/BLOGS02/171209933/barack-obama-invokes-nazi-germany-in-economic-club-remarks

[cilla4progress]

1. Fascism rising

Here. If he called it, he called it right!

[RandomAccess]

2. It's sobering to learn that he spoke up about this

[Kimchijeon]

3. LOL too late

But thanks for stating the obvious. We're already there, pretty much glaringly obvious.

[Hortensis]

4. The great weakness of Democracy -- the voters.

Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”

“A Republic, if you can keep it.” .
ATTRIBUTION: The response is attributed to BENJAMIN FRANKLIN—at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation—in the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Convention.

Note that it will not be democracy that fails us. If we vote to do away with government of, by and for the people, it will happen.