[BNW] musings

["Erik Kjerland (S&T Onsite)" <a-erikkj@microsoft.com>]

This is kind of long, but I got on a roll.

Okay, we could all pretty much agree that the fascist government (FG) will
have to manufacture/manipulate some kind of "THREAT" in order to impose and
maintain a permanent state of martial law across the country.  (Given that
martial law starts in the 60's, I'd agree that it's probably some kind of
nuclear or Commie threat).

Given that we're under martial law with some THREAT, what consequences would
this have?  Here's some thoughts:

1.  Huge federal police force.  Maintaining martial law for 30 years in a
country the size of the US would require substantial law enforcement
personnel.  The Armed Forces could be used to supplement commandeered state
police, but this would reduce the forces available for international
military activities (I assume the elite fascists running the show would not
confine their megalomaniacal aspirations only to the US).  Therefore, I
predict the draft would remain in effect.

2.  Mandatory military service?  Given that a large portion of the male
population would be used to maintain domestic martial law, the military
forces may need mandatory service to keep up strength for national defense
(against foreign powers) and international military actions.  Also, forcing
all 18-year-olds to serve for 4 years would help prevent higher education,
as well as cement indoctrination.

3.  Education.  For long term population control goals, education would have
to be strictly monitored and controlled, with certain subjects extensively
edited, deleted, or even outlawed.  The FG would likely create some kind of
"Goals 2000" to properly educate (indoctrinate) children.  After 20 or 30
years of this type of scholastic endeavor, the need for the THREAT would
decrease drastically.  Students having gone through the indoctrination would
believe everything the gov and media tell them.

4.  Media.  The FG couldn't leave the 1st Amendment alone.  They couldn't
have enough operatives to infiltrate every press organization, so they'd
have to suspend the 1st Amendment by connecting the media to the THREAT.
This would require some cooperative media outlets in the beginning.  After
30 years, the FG obviously has the domestic lapdog media in lockstep.

5. Guns.  If the THREAT is properly propagandized, perhaps the government
could leave firearms in the hands of the people because they are so
brainwashed.  This is very unlikely.  In the 60's, the FG would want the
equalizing force of armed private citizens removed.  Expect complete
illegalization of guns.

6.  Drugs.  I'd expect many drugs would be perfectly legal, and even
encouraged (Sliders did a neat episode on this).  It's a great way to
control the populace, along with other breads and circuses.

7. 10th Amendment.  Martial law = no state's rights.  State governors are
probably appointed by the President.  Legislatures are puppets at best, if
they even exist.

8.  Technological advancement.  I'd say that fascist societies do not
encourage scientific discovery as much as capitalist societies.  Labor and
brain power is redirected to totalitarian control of the populace.  BNW 1998
America is probably not as advanced as real life.  The computer/internet
boom in the last decade will obviously not exist in BNW.  The internet
represents instant access and communication for the masses, something
fascism cannot tolerate.  Even with extensive and draconian control of a BNW
internet, don't expect many homes to have Personal Computers (Federal
"Libraries" may have them, but only connected to "approved" documentation).

9. Technology 2.  Obviously, technology will affect the other issues here.
Better surveillance equipment will lessen the need for police, for example.

10. International relations.  As noted previously, totalitarian control of
American citizenry will bleed resources from the military.  The US will not
be able to exert as much international muscle.  Communism and other
dictatorships will be bolder, and more successful.  Did we get involved in
Vietnam, or were we too busy crushing domesitc resistance against the FG
beneath our jack-booted heels? Is Europe now under Soviet control?  Seems
plausible.

11.  Economy.  FG would definitely nationalize important industries
(telephone, tv studios, auto manufacture if involved in international
conflict) in the early years.  Such federal ownership of businesses would
increase over the years (retarding entrepreneurial advancement).  Expect
centralized management of the economy.  This means, of course, a weak
economy with regular shortages of goods.

Hope this stimulates some theorizing!

 


Thanks!

Erik Kjerland

Word of the Day
gloar v. 
To squint; to stare.