Fascism in America

[arisbe]

The Left has been denouncing American Fascism, indeed, denouncing America as Fascist, for so many years that we are deaf to the din of it. Lately, though, the warnings of an emerging Fascist mentality have been repeated from what some describe as the fringes of the Right, both the traditionalist (paleoconservative) and individualist (libertarian) wings. The American Conservative is seen as more moderate and mainstream, sceptical of big government, critical of the war, but willing to give both Republicans and Democrats the benefit of the doubt when they seem honest. It is therefore a milestone that even they are now insisting that we ought to take the threat very seriously indeed. Scott McConnell, a student of Fritz Stern, Columbia's great historian of the European Right, makes a sobering case, with the essential qualifications, in Hunger for Dictatorship: War to export democracy may wreck our own.

It is, I think, essential reading.

Comments

Re: Oh Goy!

[eru-illuvatar.livejournal.com]

No, not at all. Perhaps it was the financial interests of some corporations, but the majority of the U.S. economy has suffered because of this war. War, in essence, is the vast transfer of capital and resources away from the productive economy into a non-productive entity: the U.S. military. Of course we need an army, and it is the legitimate and moral duty of the government to protect us, but war is not good for the general economy. That is a myth!

While I tend to agree with you,

[lilchiva.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that the neo-con economic plan states differently. If we were to look at the deficit as a short term loss then we could see our current economic upswing as a mid to long term gain. The idea is that one makes perpetual war and therefore constantly increases the need to for the military-industrial complex and via that stimulates the economy for private interests which in turn is supposed to be an overall gain for the economic interest of our citizens.

We have done this at length for about half a century and many think it's the reason for our market dominance. The last time this happened to this extent was during the Regan Era.