Some think fascism in America will resemble Nazi Germany, but I think it will it will look more like Fascist Italy. People picture skinheads and Klansmen, but in Italy it was different. Fascists used racist rhetoric, like Slavs were backwards and Africans were savages, but these were typical attitudes in Europe at the time. Institutionalized racism didn’t occur til 1938 when Mussolini under pressure from Hitler passed anti-Jewish laws. Italo Balbo the charismatic right hand of Benito protested this change. Hell, Mussolini even had a Jewish mistress. The fascists of today will look a lot like the very familiar, mostly white, working and middle class.
The most important thing to look for to see who are the potential new members of the fascist movement is behavior and rhetoric. Warning signs include Social Darwinism, need for more social order, and authoritarian leadership. Other ideas include a nation in crisis and a conspiracy that’s destroying society. In Germany and Italy had economic meltdown. Scapegoats included socialists and anarchists in Italy and communists and Jews in Germany. In the USA there’s been a lot crap spewed about “socialists” and Muslims. But in researching these groups I’ve also stumbled upon 9/11 conspiracy claptrap about an “inside job,” or an attack not by al-Qaeda, but by Mossad. There is a lot of chatter about an idealized past. This seems to be split between those who fixate on the American Revolution (the only good revolution they say) and the states’ rights bunch who focus on the American Civil War and the rise of the federal government. There is also a cry for social change. Many write that we’re past the point of reform, but not yet ready to shoot the bastards yet. Nationalism is talked about a lot from “America, love it or leave it” to the hermetically seal the borders group. Some refuse to fly the American flag (because the US has become corrupt) and instead fly the Gadsden Flag. Others fly the Star and Stripes and say the Pledge of Allegiance like it will ward off evil spirits. I wonder if you told them that the socialist Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge, and people used to do the Bellamy salute to the flag until 1931 their heads might explode. Many neo-fascists today support isolationism because war distracts from fighting the enemy here at home. These are quite disturbed by any talk of class. Apparently we’re all just Americans except for the secret Muslims and the Marxists. Also there are attacks on human rights like reproductive rights, gender equality, social justice (some sort of Marxist trick), homosexuality, and the separation of church and state (it’s a Christian country doen’t matter if there were Jews and freethinkers here before 1776).
The groups is see as disturbing include the Minuteman Project, the Tea Party “patriots”, the 9-12 Project, and the Oath Keepers. The teabaggers and 9-12ers have even appropriated left-wing symbols and slogans. The 9-12 project was originally a clenched fist popular in working-class, anti-war, and black power movements. There now have a more appropraite snake logo. Some tea party activists have even chanted “Keep your laws off my body,” a 60s pro-choice slogan. They credited Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals as their inspiration for marches and town hall disruptions. I wonder if they know he’s a left-wing community organizer from the south side of Chicago? The only thing missing is the charismatic leader who can unite these groups. The Minutemen think the state isn’t harsh enough on illegal immigrants often working with the US Border Patrol. The Oath Keepers speak like civil libertarians but are quite vague on what they plan to do against the “unconstitutional” state and have shown no support for soldiers who have actually done something to resist, like going AWOL. Will vigilantes like the Minutemen, paramilitaries like the Oath Keepers, or even the old survivalist militias become the streetfighters of the new fascist movement? Reading the comments of their supporters about a coming civil war or that the government is corrupt (taken over by socialists, “secret Muslims,” Jews, or just being “unconstitutional”) is quite disturbing. Their links to big business and corporate interests is interesting too. Groups like FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and the Club for Growth have been giving them financial support and media talking points. Newscorp and Fox News eat the stuff up. It’s good for ratings, even if they are creating the news rather than just reporting it. Imagine the hellfire that would rain down if CNN or MSNBC were organizing and then covering anti-war or pro-labor groups in this country.
Some things are different. The socialist movement is fractured, and not as dynamic is was in the 30s or even the 60’s. The Soviet Union broke up in 1991 and China learned it’s lessons from Gorbachev, saving the dictatorship and forgeting the revolution by reintroducing capitalism. Even the labor movement is in tatters with the decline of manufacturing in the US. Apparently finding few revolutionaries and socialists the proto-fascists have turned on reformers and liberals. I found the Oath Keepers take on the G8 protests interesting. On their website they show a group being attacked by the cops. Some people said “so what, they’re anarchists.” They were quickly admonished that these were peaceful libertarian protesters. The anarchists “deserved” to be attacked by the cops because they vandalized private property. So much for liberty. If you don’t fit their definition of freedom the state can grind it’s iron heel into your face. Will these groups gain power or be co-opted by the Republican Party to try to win back control of the government? I lean to the latter but none of us should be complacent. Freedom is a constant struggle whether it’s economic freedom, sexual freedom, political freedom, racial equality, or individual freedom. Join me one more time to find out how we can build a resistance to the fascists.
Posts
I have two definitions for insanity.
1. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
2. Believing in two opposing ideas at the same time (mine).
I have come to the conclusion that most people are insane. Example, many people believe that global trade is good but want you to buy American. Socialism is bad but it’s OK at the local level. Schools, roads and most importantly it’s alright when it is a corporation (insurance but not OK if it is us, the government). I could spend all day on this one. I think now the statement from Christ is a very profound one “Forgive them for they know not what they do”. He was right and still is.
| November 9, 2009 @ 9:09 am
I can agree with the first definition. There’s a lot a contradictory impulses in people. I just worry about these folks with their left-wing and populist rhetoric but their actions help uber-wealthy corporations. I also amazed at the balls of the politicos who attached that anti-abortion ammendment to healthcare. I wonder if these “Christians” would attach an ammendant to other bills to cut of federal funds to states that have the death penalty? Attacking poor women must be more politically satisfying than dealing with poverty or ending war.
| November 9, 2009 @ 11:17 pm
I enjoy your commentary and insight, but I think for the most part these are fringe groups who won’t have much of an impact on the status quo unless the economy continues to worsen. If that’s the case, then all bets are off. Unemployment at 10%+ by 2011 = Obama is most likely a one-term president, that much is clear to me, but I think the bigger threat is from both Republicans and Democrats who have been bought and paid for and who will continue to sell us all out to corporate interests and block any meaningful reform. I’m more afraid of shitheels like Lieberman than I am of teabagger and oathkeepers.
| November 9, 2009 @ 10:24 am
I’m not advocating taking the focus off those in power. Just want people aware of potentially worse things happening. Unemployment is the thing to watch we’ve just reached 1983 levels. Growing unemployment will fuel discontent and the cry for change. But what kind of change that will be? If the Dems let that asshole stay in their caucus they show themselves to be complete idiots. I can’t understand why people don’t understand that the d-bag that represents the insurance capital of the US aka Hartford, CT is serving his corporate masters not his people.
| November 9, 2009 @ 11:00 pm
“China learned it’s lessons from Gorbachev, saving the dictatorship and forgeting the revolution by reintroducing capitalism.”
Not quite. China was always a completely different situation from the Soviet Union- very different culture, very different level of development (the PCGDP of the Soviet Union in 1979 was TWENTY times higher than China; the Soviet Union was a fairly developed industrial economy, whereas the pre-1980’s China wasn’t- in fact, China is, per capita, still much poorer than the Soviet Union at it’s height), and they followed Maoism, which was an agrarian-collectivist “heresy” of Marxism, very different from Marxist-Leninism or Stalinism. If anything, Deng Xiaoping’s reforms brought China much closer to early Marxism than Maoism; Deng Xiaoping Theory is based off of a three-stage model of development (Socialist Market Economy; Socialist Economy; Communist Economy), each stage taking approximately a century to implement. Deng thought China needed about a century of party-led market economics- a hybrid of Lenin’s New Economic Policy and Japanese “Asian-model” export capitalism- before they’d be ready for socialism, which was a later stage in development; China had tried to jump the gun. Deng thought they’d be ready for their next transition around 2075-2080.
Jiang Zemin, Deng’s successor, tried to throw out Deng Xiaoping theory with his meaningless “Three Represents”, but everyone saw through it for the useless farce that it was. Hu Jintao’s “Scientific Development Perspective” is mostly just a clarification of Deng Xiaoping theory.
So, when you hear people going on about how China’s gone capitalist- it’s true; but they haven’t abandoned Marxism either. It’s still the theoretical underpinning of their central government’s long-term plans. Unless you believe that they’re entirely cynical, which I don’t, not after the number of party members I’ve discussed these issues with.
| November 9, 2009 @ 3:51 pm
Thanks for the insight. I’m more knowledgable about Russian history than Chinese. Just have the his quote rattling around my brain “To get rich is glorius!”
| November 9, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
One of these days I may just have to write a “What’s the Matter with China?” post (or series) for you guys; it’s an interesting and complicated situation over here in general, which raises a lot of questions about socialist & third-world development, the meaning of democracy, and the roles of small business and entrepreneurship in socialist society. China is a lot more fascinating from the inside than the typical American media reports make it out to be. (FWIW, I’ve been living in Shanghai about two years now)
| November 11, 2009 @ 4:44 am
I encourage you to do so. I lived in the former Soviet Union a few years back. Being on the ground rather than observing something from a far changes your perspective. I had been raised to believe the USSR was the evil empire, but seeing what it had become made me reasses my assumptions. It would be Ayn Rand’s paradise where your freedom is only limited by your wallet – Mig rides, space flight, nukes. These are all available but most ordinary people live in crushing poverty or drink themselves to death.
| November 12, 2009 @ 12:04 am
–”The anarchists ‘deserved’ to be attacked by the cops because they vandalized private property. So much for liberty. If you don’t fit their definition of freedom the state can grind it’s iron heel into your face.” — I’m not sure what you mean by this. Liberty, to you, is allowing people to destroy private property? You see an injustice in law enforcement engaging people who are vandalizing private property? Help me understand.
| November 10, 2009 @ 4:48 pm
I just don’t think property should be held more sacred than people. My personal opinion is sometimes there is a time for a smashed window at corporate business or graffiti on government building. There are times when breaking the law is the moral thing to do like John Brown’s raid or Nat Turner’s revolt. Protest marches are great but relying on them as the only means off change is naive. Social change requires commitment and diversity of tactics. MLK and civil rights wouldn’t have gotten as far if there wasn’t Malcom X and angry black people with molotovs standing behind them.
| November 10, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
Not a real comment, just saying there needs to be an “About Chris” page too.
| November 10, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Just for you a write up small bio and maybe Nick will post it.
| November 10, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
There’s a difference between Tea Party Express sponsored by Americans for Prosperity and Tea Party Patriots by Freedom Works and Dick Army. I’ve read the orders that the OK will not obey and watch every segment spot Stewart Rhodes got on television plus the lengthy Alex Jones spot where Jones says Glenn Beck is a federal agent. He just seems crazy to me and with Sarah Palin’s new book it seems like no one in the GOP trusts anyone else. Where is this fascist leadership going to come from?
Who is going to lead the coup detat? Right now the conservatives and republicans seem to be nothing more than a contentious, cannibalistic sack off assholes who eat their own young.
A less important question that I find to be humorous: What do the Oathkeepers really plan to do about military trials in the inevitable future when American citizens are being tried as terrorists?
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. recently announced the choice to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in a Manhattan federal court while Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the U.S.S. Cole bombing, is to be tried by the military. What would the OK do in the event of Muslim American citizens like Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan being tried by the military for attacking military targets? They would probably sit on their hands. Their oath to uphold the constitution means nothing, it’s just an ego jerk.
| November 14, 2009 @ 11:00 am
Yes there is a split amongst the teabaggers tea party patriots claiming to be the real deal and the tea party express being accused of being co-opted by the Republicans. There is even an actual Tea Party registered in Florida which is coming under fire. I love it the reactionaries are in a battle royale to prove who his the biggest right-winger.
| November 18, 2009 @ 1:00 am