Fascism with a Smiley Face -- Ol' Czechago Town

You remembered from high school civics classes that democracy depends upon an informed, involved citizenry. You supported Gene McCarthy in '68. You went to Chicago to see democracy in action. However, Chicago was nuthin' like you learned in school. That was when you got a firsthand taste of repression, and entenched powers protecting themselves. America in '68 didn't look much different from any other totalitarian country. Is that the way you felt about the American society then?

Some demonstrators' signs out in Grant Park said "Welcome to Czechago". The meaning was not lost. And it became very clear that in the US we usually got the more benign fascism-with-a-smiley-face, as with meaningless electoral choices, but that the system would not hesitate to use the old methods if we refused to accept the new ones.

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