The Nazis had the Herrenvolk – the master race. It didn’t work out for them so well. But if they’d been a bit slicker in their thinking, they would have done what we’ve done and touted the master culture – aka, the doctrine of American Exceptionalism. 
This is the notion not merely that We’re Number One – but that we are going to make you Number One, too. Everyone the world over is to be transformed – by force, if need be – into a member in good standing of Team Democracy. Which in practice means becoming a satrap of corporate interests, pledging allegiance to becoming the next “company town” in a string of company towns – with the ultimate goal being a world company town. Everything the same. Especially, the same financial institutions and the same system of debt-slavery, with periodic votes as to who will be the new massa – but never a real choice to exit or even fundamentally alter the system.
America is far pushier (though much more subtle) than the Nazis were in this respect. Their policy was – in the West – occupation and control and exploitation.The Nazis allowed the French to remain French, at least in the trivialities. And even in the East, the eventual plan was not to convert the Slavs but to push them aside (or into mass graves, which in some respects might be preferable).
Ours includes these things, too. But there is also the extra needling of conversion. They must become like unto us. C.S. Lewis put it this way:
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their consciences.”
The defining characteristic of The United States (singular, post 1865) both externally and internally, is that it never leaves anyone be. It is not enough to leave others alone, to live one’s life in peace. Individually or internationally. One must conform, submit – and obey.
To the Master Culture.
One hears it broadcast daily in the sociopathic narcissism (and solipsism) of our national leaders and leader-aspirants. Obama (and the previous decider) is even more shameless in this way than Dr. Goebbels ever was. Hillary and Rick Santorum and Newtie, too. They may not wear khaki (yet) but their souls are brutally brownshirt. The startling arrogance of our demands that so-and-so “step down” – that “the international community” (that is, the governing clique that controls the US) will not “accept” X (or Y, for that matter). Casual talk of “regime change” . . . in other people’s countries. The even more casual mass killings of amorphous Them in other people’s countries. The serial killer’s utter lack of shame or remorse; the pleasure he takes in his work.
Insolent public declarations about what other countries may and may not do – frosted with the most brazenly hypocritical brayings about “our freedoms” – long since taken away. 
And soon, theirs too.
But the true genius of the Master Culture, as opposed to the master race, is its universalism. It is not confined to a region or a people – and so, it is immune to the egalitarian catcall of “racism.” Anyone can join. That is, be forced to join.
All peoples, all cultures are to be subsumed into The One True Culture.
Nazi Germany had built in limits. It was clear – more or less – who was Volksdeutsche. Certainly not blacks and Asians or Indians (India Indians and the American variety) or Mexicans or Arabs or Aborigines. But anyone can be a member of the Exceptional American tribe and thus, a part of the Master Culture. The whole world can be subsumed. No, more than this. The whole world must be subsumed.
Even within its physical borders, American insists on fundamental sameness. On homogeneity of opinion (and range of action) within the bounds of the elaborated orthodoxy. On every town becoming a mirror copy of every other own. Of the same big box stores (aided by crony capitalists via “tax breaks” unavailable to the sole proprietor), the same food, the same McMansions, the same everything – most especially rulers, regulators and laws. Oh, there are minor shades of red and blue here and there – but the theme is the same everywhere and at all times: Collectivism, dressed in a new suit called “democracy.” (A vile form of government those musty dead white men from long-ago warned us about – but who pays attention to them anymore?)
There is a bad sci-movie that articulates the concept excellently. It is called Chronicles of Riddick (sequel to the excellent Pitch Black). It deals with a galactic power called Necromongers. The quest of these Necromongers is conversion. It is their religion. Just before a world is to be assaulted, a “conquest icon” is hurled from space, landing in the capital city of the soon-to-be-enslaved planet. Kind of like the way the US sends its corporations into foreign lands, with or without the consent of the native population. Or even its government. 
The Necromongers have a Purifier, too – a Hillary-like official whose job is to make sure the faith is spread. Not by persuasion or appeals to reason. But by force.
Submit – obey.
Necromongers travel from world to world, mercilessly imposing their will and assimilating the populace – who are given the choice: Submit –
Or, die.
Like Exceptional Americans, the Necromongers themselves are not a unique people. Just like Exceptional Americans, they are a diverse people – only, comprised of all the galaxies’ peoples rather than merely the world’s peoples. They replenish their ranks with each new conquest. No one group dominates. It is the idea that’s eternal.
And perhaps, inescapable.
Throw it in the Woods?
Hitler always said national socialism was not for export. it was for germans only. yet their rule was fairly benevolent in france and sweden who he considered fellow aryans. Much less so in poland and russia. an odd philosophy. if he had cooperated with the Ukranians brutalized under the bolsheviks he could have had millions of additional soldiers. they tried at the end but it was too late.
Hi Mark,
I’m an avid amateur historian. One of the things which has always interested me about Hitler – in relation to Stalin – is that Hitler is viewed as more tyrannical when in fact he was much more of a softie, as tyrants go. For example, he didn’t usually have his generals shot (as Stalin did, routinely). He just relieved them. He refused, for years, to put the German economy on a war footing – and put German women to work (Stalin forced everyone to work).
But he was irrationally brutal – when it served no sound purpose.
For example: Hitler arguably blew his chance to win the war in the West in 1940, at Dunkirk. He had the BEF cornered; Guderian’s panzers surrounded it. A genius move – in my view – would have been to offer generous terms of surrender; officers allowed to keep their arms, the men of the BEF treated decently and promised repatriation to England as soon as a cease-fire with Britain had been agreed to.
Had he succeeded in this – captured the BEF – it is my belief England would have had to sue for peace, out of military and political necessity. No BEF – no army to defend the island. An honorable peace offer from Germany could not have been refused. Well, Churchill might have refused it – but the populace would have demanded his removal. Someone more agreeable would have become PM, like Halifax – and peace would have been concluded.
Then Hitler could have wheeled around and hurled everything at the Soviet Union. In summer. And had he done so while practicing the same reasonable/strategic polices vis-a-vis the Ukrainians, Moscow would have fallen before the first nip in the air.
Stalin was a far more effective tyrant. God help us all if such a creature ever arises again.
The Borg from Star trek the next generation is a really good analogy to universal totalitarianism. In one episode Capt luc picard was being tortured until he was made to swear he saw five fingers being held up instead of four. something along those lines. Directly from Orwell’s 1984. He later said he really believed it as well. Pretty brilliant television. non-existent now.
Hey!! Guess who’s back!! The mind terrorist! Anyways, good info Eric for the people to digest. More and more of your readers need to digest the similarities and the differences between Nazi Amerika and Nazi Germany, and what allowed both to flourish, namely people’s gullibleness. For all who do not know or have not read it, the book They thought they were free, about the people of germany during 1933-1945, and how their mindset had them believing they were really free is another good tool to have.
For more on more of the same Eric, check out:
http://allrarefortherare.blogspot.com/2012/02/reality-is-relationship-new-quality-of.html
Its along the same lines of what you are saying, except told from the point of view of the relationships people build with their realities. Quality, all around….your readers seem impressed.
Thanks, Neon – good to know you’re around again!
Eric,
This piece is one of your best works. I have to some degree began to self-edit myself, so I guess for me that means I’m living in 1930’s Germany.
Well as a Canadian I like to say that you are fortunate that making critical comments there in good ol’ USA doesn’t result (yet) in some henchmen breaking down your front door and dragging you away in your pyjamas an hour or two after midnight! Never to be seen again! All because the little boy in Germany boasted in school that his dad said to his mom at dinner time: “Heehee, just between us, that Adolf Hitler sure is some pathetic clown!”
Thanks Eric for your reply. I am a big fan of Wendy McElroy whose recommendation led me to this site. I find it hard to know the existential reality of our situation and still speak and write without excessive red flag alarmism. You make it seem easy. For now Ill put the mailbox and address numbers back up on my property and be a more subtle practitioner of self ownership.
The best article yet.
Everyone laughed when Barry Soetero said there were 57 states. If you count our island conquests, Rammstein, Okinawa, and the rest, there are well over 800 United States. And they are all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same.
There are 54 million German Americans. Are they the ones that made this homotopia, a one size fits all nightmare utopia Bed of Procrustes we all have to lie in.
Thanks, Tor –
The urgency of the situation helps my mojo, I guess….
American Exceptionalism is the puffery used to excuse misadventure abroad and inaction at home. In a recent post I analyze the American Exceptionalism concept and contrast it with a healthy patriotism that could help unite the public against those few who are ruining America. http://www.ragingwisdom.com/?p=629
Puffery and fatal incompetence. If you want to be exceptional wouldnt you kidnap instead of kill Iranian scientists for one example. Worse than just destroying infrastructure, now these depleted-uranium-skulls are fast tracking a new stone age for everyone.
Washington Moves The World Closer To War
Paul Craig Roberts
Link: http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/16/washington-moves-the-world-closer-to-war/
Since my January 11, 2012 column
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/11/the-next-war-on-washingtons-agenda/
and the news alert posted on January 14, 2012
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2012/01/14/news-alert/,
more confirmation that Washington is moving the world toward a dangerous war has appeared. The Obama regime is using its Ministry of Propaganda, a.k.a., the American media, to spread the story that President Obama, Pentagon chief Panetta, and other high US officials are delivering strong warnings to Israel not to attack Iran.
For someone as familiar with Washington as I am, I recognize these reports for what they are. They are Br’er Rabbit telling Br’er Fox “please don’t throw me in the briar patch.”
If you don’t know the Uncle Remus stories, you have missed a lot. Br’er Rabbit was born and raised in the briar patch.
What these “leaked” stories of Washington’s warnings and protests to Israel are all about is to avoid Washington’s responsibility for the war Washington has prepared. If the war gets out of hand, and if Russia and China intervene or nukes start flying, Washington wants the blame to rest on Israel, and Israel seems willing to accept the blame. Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Russia’s Security Council, has apparently been deceived by Washington’s manipulation of the media. According to the Interfax news agency, Patrushev condemned Israel for pushing the US towards war with Iran.
You get the picture. The helpless Americans. They are being bullied by Israel into acquiescing to a dangerous war. Otherwise, no more campaign contributions.
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following.
And I thought American “exceptionalism” was supposed to mean that we don’t believe in and practice the kind of nonsense practiced in Nazi Germany, the Soviet Bloc, and various Islamic republics…If that’s what it means, then we are far from exceptional!
One of the defining attributes of the typical American Clover Mind is its capacity for doublethink – the ability to literally hold two mutually exclusive thoughts/concepts in one’s mind at the same time and not grasp the contradiction implied.
Late last year, Phil Giraldi wrote the following on Antiwar.com:
http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2011/12/28/a-tale-of-two-cities-weimar-and-washington/
I have no comment to Eric’s essay worth posting, but I hope you’ll all read the Giraldi piece.
Isn’t it funny how the gov’t’s attempts to make everything “fair” and “equal” is, as you said, nothing more than the idea of collectivism, the foundation of communism, yet so many millions support it?
Communism in Europe is only 20 years dead and America is heading right down that same road. We are already a socialist country no matter how you slice it, and the people want more.
I don’t get it. It’s as if people really don’t have the ability to learn from their mistakes. I thought that was what was supposed to seperate us from the other animals.
Even when people -know- the long term downside to something, they’ll still often do what is best short term.
Short term, it looks good. Long term well… poverty for just about everyone.
Arab spring is to be celebrated. Islam winter is to be suppressed. It’s a real shame these idiots don’t pay attention to history, even recent. “Brutal” dictator is thrown out. Free elections take place. The Muslim-backed parties get into power (after all, Islam has a lot to say about politics …and banking, but that’s another post), because they have a well-established structure in place and the majority of the population.
But that’s not what Hillary’s Ministry of State wanted. They wanted to open the door for Exxon Mobil and GE, Walmart and the rest. They can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to live like us, and just think the world just needs a little more time and persuading.
There are only two kinds of people in the world– those that desire to control other people… and those who don’t.
Unfortunately, that desire-to-control-group is the majority view, by far.
Permit or give that dominant group the ‘power’ to control others (..thru military, police, bureaucratic, or ordinary criminal methods) — and they will use it relentlessly. Even those exercising such power for nominally well-intentioned goals will eventually eventually descend into outright tyranny over others. Look around — you’re seeing it right now, here.
Power Corrupts. Always & everywhere.
Restricting violence-based power over other humans is the only solution.
Which political ideologies, parties, and politicians actually support reduction in power over other humans ??
Hey, the second Riddick movie was good! If nothing more than to watch Vin kick ass along with the cute chick that was the grown up girl “jack” from the previous movie. Girl had some moves on her!
Yeah, you have a point there. She was fun to watch!
That excellent quote is from C.S. Lewis, not Sinclair Lewis.
Thanks, JD – noted (and fixed)