OPINION
7A TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GUEST COLUMN
America has avoided road to fascism
Claims that a two-party political system leans toward fascism not only ignore a plethora of historical examples to the contrary, but they also misunderstand the causes for the rise in extremist political groups.
The fascist governments that arose in Germany and Italy during the first half of the 20th century arose despite multi-party democracies. They arose largely because the multi-party governments of that time period could not effectively deal with the crippling economic and social problems plaguing these societies, resulting in people turning toward extremist groups that offered real change and an end to political deadlock.
Certainly the rise in extremist groups can hardly be attributed to a single cause, but to suggest that fascism looms ominously on the horizon for the United States requires more evidence than a rant about American politics.
To likewise suggest that American political parties lack diversity is to misunderstand what these political parties represent.
In the United States, political parties represent coalitions of interests, not a single-minded entity with a dedicated ideology.
When the parties are divided on an issue, people complain that partisan politics tear the country apart.
When the parties come together on an issue, people complain that they can't tell the difference between the two parties and that we are approaching fascism in America.
The problem with American politics isn't political parties. It is American citizens who don't understand the political process and want easy solutions to complex issues, particularly solutions that don't require any more effort than cynical complaining.
I suspect that some people don't understand that fascism is a very specific ideology, rather than simply a society in which one political party dominates the political process.
The United States has never been a fascist country nor is it leaning toward fascism.
To suggest otherwise is little more than angry lashing out and frankly is insulting to the people who were forced to or continue to live under such a system.
Just because you can't elect an official who represents your interests perfectly doesn't mean the system is broken or leading toward brutal dictatorship.
There are 300 million Americans, all with their own ideas of a perfect world, and most likely no one will be completely satisfied.
America's politics seem distant from its people, but you cannot simultaneously complain about government control mechanisms and restrictions on freedom while calling for that government to implement control mechanisms to facilitate the rise of a multi-party political system.
Freedom doesn't always mean choice. The very freedom to form political parties, businesses or other organizations sometimes leads to monopolies that restrict choice.
Americans need to understand that if they want their choices protected, some freedoms must be restricted.
Freedom to engage in an activity means the freedom to suffer the consequences of that activity.
For better or for worse, this includes American political parties.
Max Rinkel
Sincerely,
Sincerely, Andrew Stangl.
Senior in political science, international studies, French and history
》 FROM THE DRAWING BOARD
Andrew Stangl
COMMENTARY
Groundhog perpetuates winter
I saw something upsetting on the news recently.
Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Pennsylvania, saw his shadow. That apparently means winter is not going to end for a few more weeks.
Isn't that wonderful?
Sure, spring seems like it should be getting ready to make an appearance soon, but a pampered marmot stood in the right angle under the sun, so this infuriatingly cold weather is sticking around for a while longer.
Too bad Phil does not live in Kansas, where trying to predict the weather without fancy equipment is about as logical as assuming the Wildcats are actually going to live up to their potential in basketball.
People are, however, just as annoying as observing every
morning as you leave your apartment that it is still really cold out, even though it was supposed to get into the 50s today.
That is just the way the weather works in Kansas.
If you are not a meteorologist, your guess as to how it is going to feel outside is as good as anyone's.
Except for meteorologists.
I'm pretty sure there's something they aren't telling us.
One of my strangest memories of growing up in a state that claims to be "as big as I think" (on a side note, the state's public relations people really would not be happy with) was the blizzard that occurred when I was in the first grade.
What was so strange about this blizzard? It was in the middle of October.
Yes, that's right. The people of Topeka got a respite from raking leaves that day so that they could shovel their driveways.
It was quite a shock to me then.
I was quite a shock to life then.
I was too young to understand the concept of unseasonal weather or that the snow would be gone without a trace in time for Halloween.
Since that fateful, albeit confusing storm, I've observed every type of weather in this state, from extremely hot Novembers to cold Marches, and occasionally, Mays that provide the showers that then give way to June flowers, apparently because April was lazy and somebody had to pick up the slack for it.
I'm starting to think we are due for a plague of locusts sometime soon.
It has been clearly established that Kansas weather does not meet any typical definitions of "normal."
But why not?
Some people may tell you that various storm systems from all over the country tend to cross the Midwest, occasionally mixing and producing big storms and that these systems may very well be strengthened by the effects of global climate change.
Unfortunately, we live in Kansas, where science is a scary subject matter, so a different, less feasible explanation must be brought into the discussion.
My suggestion is that Kansas is being punished for some random misdeed committed within what
would eventually become its borders a few centuries ago.
Go ahead. Try and prove that that never happened.
We could always do some research, and find out exactly what this state-cursing event was and attempt to set it right, but what would that actually accomplish?
I, and many others, have complained about the weather in Kansas, but it does seem to be part of its character.
And Kansas needs all the character it can get.
It fills the void left by all the space between our few hills.
The cold is annoying now, but remember, it could always be worse.
Cohen is a Topeka junior in political science and English.
And really, what would we actually gain from having normal, seasonal weather?
Nobody could build jack-o-lantern/snowman hybrids, nor could they occasionally wear shorts in January.
Free for All, live from Wescoe Beach
What's happening to Free for All?
Hey kid, wanna get famous?
From the blog "Friend of Jim"
on Kansan.com:
This spurt of senseless words was all part of The Kansan's master plan: propagate the Vid for All. Think of it like a Free for All but with a picture of your beautiful face.
How did I snag my dose of silly satisfaction呀? I stood outside Wescoe Hall during a fire alarm fervidly shouting "Peanut butter space monkeys!"
How do I get involved?
You get 30 seconds to be as clever as possible. Your noggin and vocal chords produce the diction, which picks up on our (maybe) state-of-the-art handheld digi-
box. We'll post the recorded segments every Thursday on Kansan.com, and voila, insta-fame! (Don't be shy. Remember the space monkeys.)
Regardless of whether you're shy or not, youre probably wondering where and when we'll record these ditties. Look for us from 12:30
p. m. to 1:30 p.m. in front of Wescoe Hall on Wednesday.
Brian Lewis-Jones is the Kansas Web Editor.
Stay up to date with pop culture, bad jokes, eco-complacency and hopping Jazz with Brian Lewis Jones' blog
Want more? Check out Friend of Jim online.
@KANSAN.COM
》 FREE FOR ALL To contribute to Free For All, visit Kansan.com and add the Facebook application, or call 785-864-0500. Free For All callers have 20 seconds to talk about anything they choose.
Can fat people go skinny dipping?
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I'm a cow. Drink your cereal milk.
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To the person who complained about potholes: Get a clue. You can't fix potholes until after the winter is over.
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It's called rateyourprofessor. com. Check it out.
Barack Obama's wife doesn't like him and neither should you.
I was thinking there should be an engineering wet T-shirt contest. But then I realized that there would be no one to do it.
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I would have gone to K-State, but I already graduated high school.
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Chuck Norris' calendar goes straight from March 31 to April 2. No one fools Chuck Norris.
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Gmail is so much better than KU email.
I'm skipping class for you, scuffy guy on the bus. I hope you know that.
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If you don't like hippies and have a problem with gays, why did you come to one of the most liberal schools in America.
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My imaginary friends make fun of me, because I am real.
Guess which is the most overrated team in NCAA basketball? Kansas
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It makes me sad that Nader is the best candidate now.
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Joining a fraternity is like buying a group of friends. Really dumb friends.
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Oh Ron Paul supporters trying to compensate for your inferiority complex, you make me laugh.
@KANSAN.COM
Want more? Check out Free For All online.
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Darla Silipke, editor
864-4810 or dsilipke@kansan.com
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864-4810 or dsmith@kansan.com
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SUBMISSIONS
CONTACT US
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For questions about submissions, call Bryan Dykman or Lauren Keith at 864-4810 or email dykmankansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editorjkansan.com.
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Maximum Length: 200 words
The submission must include: Author's name and telephone number; class, home-staff (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
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Maximum Length: 500 words
The submission must include: Author's name and telephone number; class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
The Kansas will not print guest columns or letters that attack a reporter or another columnist.
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Darla Slipke, Matt Erickson, Diane Smith, Bryan Dykman, Lauren Keith and Zach White.
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