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keep_left

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8. There's a saying among leftists that fascism results from...

Sun Dec 8, 2024, 01:44 PM

Dec 8

...a crisis of capitalism. That's what's been going on for many years now, sometimes in slow motion, and now greatly accelerated. And democratic institutions are notoriously fragile as a defense against fascism. Richardson explains this well in her essay.

But as the impulse of WWII pushed Americans toward a more just and inclusive society after it, those determined not to share power warned their supporters that including people of color and women as equals in society would threaten their own liberty. Those reactionary leaders rode that fear into control of our government, and gradually they chipped away the laws that protected equality.

There is, of course, a lot more that can be said about the history of what happened. One of the most pernicious trends over the last several decades has been the rise of the far-right "think" tanks, which when allied with the power of organized money (which helped create them in the first place) and increasingly reactionary Republican candidates, have made meaningful reform almost impossible. (Much has been said about the rise of the truly vicious "Gingrich class of '94", which brought about an enduring bellicosity to domestic politics).

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keep_left CaliforniaPeggy raging moderate eppur_se_muova misanthrope byronius snot love_katz wave_maker mopinko

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Highlight:

I learned a German expression for what universally drives people into the arms of the extremist right: Verlustangst [View all] DFW Dec 8 OP

They ARE losing ground. But they don't want to blame the ruling class leftstreet Dec 8 #1

BINGO!! "All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked," Like immigrants coming over the border from Mexico. mitch96 Dec 8 #2

Yep, then amplify that message so "illusionary effect" goes into action using social media accounts uponit7771 Dec 10 #22

I found Heather Cox Richardson's letter BuddhaGirl Dec 8 #3

There's a saying among leftists that fascism results from... keep_left Dec 8 #8

It's a pretty good word to describe conservatism, too! Grins Dec 8 #4

Frank Wilhoit, markodochartaigh Dec 8 #9

Pretty acid-tongued when he wants to be ... :) eppur_se_muova Dec 8 #11

I recently read a novel that made this very point. LisaM Dec 8 #5

To wit DFW Dec 9 #17

Yes, exactly. I like using cash, too. LisaM Dec 9 #19

KnR Hekate Dec 8 #6

I made a long reply on another thread. love_katz Dec 8 #7

Really well said! Evolve Dammit Dec 8 #16

Re: church goers--I heard a great call in on German radio today. DFW Dec 9 #18

Sadly true Nigrum Cattus Dec 8 #10

Don't kid yourself. Mr.Bill Dec 8 #12

The very thing they fear losing, now they have chosen for all of us to lose. Those who have Clouds Passing Dec 8 #13

This is a well stated thought. It's what the Dems should be saying SpankMe Dec 8 #14

I'm not sure Magats don't want war.... Evolve Dammit Dec 8 #15

They were never socialists or communist. Always Blue Dec 9 #20

Josef Goebbels would beg to differ DFW Dec 10 #21