Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

orangecrush

(26,942 posts)
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 09:32 AM Sunday

Rock Star predicts fascist theocracy back in Reagan years


Frank Zappa.

And here we are.

Damn.


?si=pzxNUk98UUpIrY7w



31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Rock Star predicts fascist theocracy back in Reagan years (Original Post) orangecrush Sunday OP
And we've been talking about this right here... ananda Sunday #1
Yes orangecrush Sunday #3
And many people thought we were being alarmist PatSeg Sunday #8
I hear you. ananda Sunday #14
Yes PatSeg Sunday #16
Sci fi and futurist works have been my favorites. ananda Sunday #18
Oh yes, me too PatSeg Sunday #19
I know, right? Also, remember these? ananda Sunday #23
Absolutely PatSeg Sunday #24
Gore Vidal called them Coincidence Theories. ananda Sunday #25
I'd never heard that one! PatSeg Sunday #26
He was smarter than most. Very much so. twodogsbarking Sunday #2
Much more intelligent and dignified orangecrush Sunday #4
Zappa and Carlin, they who spoke truth Clouds Passing Sunday #5
Yes they did Dave says Sunday #7
He nailed it malaise Sunday #6
Thanks orangecrush Sunday #20
Holy shit, was Novak ever not an asshole? Orrex Sunday #9
Nope. He was ever the asshole. It was his schtick. JoetheShow Sunday #13
The instant I saw the headline I knew it was Zappa. He was brillant in every sense of the word. flashman13 Sunday #10
He was an exceptionally intelligent man. orangecrush Sunday #21
That's nothing. Google James Whitmore's portrayal of Harry Truman Gimpyknee Sunday #11
"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. spike jones Sunday #12
Looks that way right now orangecrush Sunday #22
Queensryche operation mindcrime predicted a lot of this bedazzled Sunday #15
republicans were lying about it back then Champp Sunday #17
Porn Wars MrWowWow Sunday #27
Why Frank Zappa is the Most Important Musician of Our Time PufPuf23 Sunday #28
Thank you orangecrush Sunday #30
... orangecrush Sunday #31
14 Characteristics of Fascism MrWowWow Sunday #29

PatSeg

(51,075 posts)
8. And many people thought we were being alarmist
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 10:51 AM
Sunday

The warnings have been out there for decades. Not all have heeded the warnings.

ananda

(33,494 posts)
14. I hear you.
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 02:12 PM
Sunday

It has been very frustrating, but I think
we're all on the same page now.

PatSeg

(51,075 posts)
16. Yes
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 02:43 PM
Sunday

So many warnings came in the form of fiction, but clearly they were prophecy written by people who understood history and human nature. Still there are many who are in denial even as it unfolds right before their very eyes.

It is no wonder that we've become such a divided nation and it isn't about politics, religion, or opinions, it is about right versus wrong.

ananda

(33,494 posts)
18. Sci fi and futurist works have been my favorites.
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 02:53 PM
Sunday

I once wrote an essay on Philip K Dick and fascism
and posted it as a blog.

His ex-wife came on there and told me that's
exactly how he thought.

People thought he was paranoid, and maybe he was,
but his works were right on.

PatSeg

(51,075 posts)
19. Oh yes, me too
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 03:00 PM
Sunday

That is so cool that Philip K. Dick's ex-wife responded to your blog.

Sometimes being "paranoid" can be justifiable and even healthy.

ananda

(33,494 posts)
23. I know, right? Also, remember these?
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 03:27 PM
Sunday

I started thinking about those funny jokes about
paranoia from my hippie days.

It isn't paranoia if they're really after you.

You call me paranoid. I call you uninformed.

JoetheShow

(137 posts)
13. Nope. He was ever the asshole. It was his schtick.
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 12:24 PM
Sunday

Sorry, I was going to do "Never NOT the asshole", but the double negative made it too confusing.

flashman13

(1,585 posts)
10. The instant I saw the headline I knew it was Zappa. He was brillant in every sense of the word.
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 11:38 AM
Sunday

Good morning DU. (Don't worry. If you are not familiar, it's not the Mothers being wild and crazy)

&list=RDFoYdeEDdtK4&start_radio=1

Gimpyknee

(827 posts)
11. That's nothing. Google James Whitmore's portrayal of Harry Truman
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 11:54 AM
Sunday

The entire fifty year old one man stage event is broadcast in its entirety on YouTube. Towards the end he says our democracy would never fall unless we elected a liar as president and his followers believed his lies.

spike jones

(1,966 posts)
12. "The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion.
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 12:05 PM
Sunday

At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.”
Frank Zappa

bedazzled

(1,878 posts)
15. Queensryche operation mindcrime predicted a lot of this
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 02:17 PM
Sunday

I thought they were exaggerating at the time. Silly me.

PufPuf23

(9,618 posts)
28. Why Frank Zappa is the Most Important Musician of Our Time
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 07:26 PM
Sunday

"After watching every Frank Zappa interview I could find online, I decided to create this video, which tries to highlight his views on the world and the things he was passionate about. Hope you enjoy it!"


MrWowWow

(1,461 posts)
29. 14 Characteristics of Fascism
Sun Oct 5, 2025, 07:27 PM
Sunday

The 14 characteristics are:

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html


Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Rock Star predicts fascis...