This reminds me of the terrible pictures of thousands upon thousands of persecuted Jews being herded to their death while the mocking giant metal saying Albeit Macht Frei cast on ominous shadow over those sentenced to starvation, hard labour and torture by the German government. The mentality and ethics of our present governments seem to be emulating the terrible behaviour that characterised National Socialism in the 30s.
I am expecting to see two trends in this century. A continuing rise of national socialist rhetoric, and a counter movement in socialist rhetoric. Governments are at risk of going to extreme.
I would not be surprised if the kinds of naysayers who defend extreme political views played a significant part in the rise of National Socialism and the Nazi party. These extreme views have three things usually.
First, they offer simple answers ... though more usually promises of answers which usually are not delivered. Instead they wind up scapegoating and doing nothing to fix things.
Second, they play on hate and division. Its hate politics gone amok. That is happening in many countries right now.
Third, there are powerful vested interests backing it. Often this is from an industrial lobby.
Democracy relies, at its core, on informed public debate. In an era of public relations, spin, and declining journalism, we are at danger of being ill informed on decisions that will impact our futures.
To date only the internet is providing a growing opportunity to debate this stuff. Which is maybe why naysayers like Godwin's Law?