Totalitarianism: What is It?

From Wikipedia:

“Common to all definitions is the attempt to mobilize entire populations in support of the official state ideology, and the intolerance of activities which are not directed towards the goals of the state, entailing repression or state control of business, labour unions, churches or political parties. Totalitarian regimes or movements maintain themselves in political power by means of secret police, propaganda disseminated through the state-controlled mass media, personality cult, regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism, single-party state, the use of mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror tactics….

The term, employed in the writings of the philosopher Giovanni Gentile, was popularized in the 20th century by the Italian fascists under Benito Mussolini. The original meaning of the word as described by Mussolini and Gentile (G. Gentile & B. Mussolini in “La dottrina del fascismo” 1932) was a society in which the main ideology of the state had influence, if not power, over most of its citizens. According to them, thanks to modern technologies like radio and the printing press, which the state could, and probably would, use to spread its ideology, most modern nations would naturally become totalitarian in the above stated sense.”

Of Nazi-ism, Fascism, and Totalitarianism, the latter probably best describes the behavior of The Scouting News representative, Ron “Benny” Holmes. Use of the internet to spread his ideology, attempts to restrict free discussion and criticism, and the widspread use of terror tactics (threats, slander, defamation of character, etc) are all verifiable facts associated with his behavior. Don’t stand for this. Let The Scouting News know how you feel by not renewing your subscription. Better yet, go ahead and cancel it now, and be sure to ask for a refund!