How do you know if you’re living in a fascist country? It’s not always cut and dry, but there are some telltale signs, that aren’t able to be mitigated. Could the United States of America be leaning towards fascism? Or has America clandestinely undergone a transformation from a Democratic Republic to a Crypto-Democratic Fascist Nation? This article will place a series of dots; it’s up to the reader to connect them.
Introduction
The steadfast and often unnoticed veneration of a strong centralized nation state is a hallmark of fascist statecraft. A vociferous loathing of socialistic ideals is another key component of the fascist doctrine. Combine these two elements with aggressive militaristic tendencies, usually beneficial to the state and the state sanctioned industries, and the recipe for a totalitarian fascist nation is complete.
Fascism Historically Defined
In order to determine if the United States of America is indeed fascist, it is essential to have a clear definition of what is meant by fascism. Much of what is inferred about the nature of a fascist nation is gleaned from one of these two 20th century models: Adolf Hitler’s Germany and Benito Mussolini’s Italy.
Daniel Guerin was a French Anarcho-communist and prolific writer of treatises, who frequently lambasted fascism and fascist nations. In the year 1938, which corresponded with the fascist power grab in Germany, Guerin provides, in his book Fascism and Big Business, a simple and succinct definition of fascism. He writes; “…fascism is reduced to this: a strong state intended to prolong artificially an economic system based on profit and the private ownership of the means of production….” Guerin went on to explain what the cornerstone of that economic system was; “…big business approves of an aggressive policy that brings it new armament orders….” In other words, fascism is a powerful, centralized and militaristically combative state that overtly subsidizes war goods manufacturing all of which occurs within an anti-socialist public rhetoric.
Strong Centralized Government
If the fascist state is in possession of a well-oiled propaganda machine, then winning over the populace is made a much simpler task. This means to say, that when the populace is diverted from the strong arm tactics of the fascist government, the government is made more able to implement their policies without annoying intervention.
Noam Chomsky, a leading American intellectual, related the parallels of propaganda during Hitler’s Germany and modern America during an interview; “There it was the Jews. Here it will be the illegal immigrants and the blacks. We will be told that white males are a persecuted minority. We will be told, we have to defend ourselves and the honor of the nation. Military force will be exalted…. I don’t think all this is very far away.”
It’s clear that some leading American intellectuals see a shift towards historic fascism when one examines the propaganda machine and the injection of polarizing issues. This trend becomes more obvious and more entrenched when war appropriations and the military industrial complex converge.
Militaristic Tendencies and the Armaments Industry
In order for the fascist state to continue to advance its warring efforts, two ingredients are needed: money and manufacturing. Daniel Guerin, more than 75 years ago, clearly saw where the money was going; “…they (war industries) eagerly pocketed the fabulous profits from armament orders….”
One of those “war industry” companies in the United States is Lockheed Martin. The Lockheed Company merged with Martin Marietta Company to form a large aerospace design and manufacturing operation which has profited from government contracts. To illustrate the entwined nature of the American fascist states’ collusion with the industrial military complex, investigative reporter Tim Weiner remarked; “it’s impossible to tell where the government ends and Lockheed begins.”
Socialistic Ideals Quelled
Solidifying the opposition by squelching out socialistic descenders is the last litmus test of whether or not a state is fascist. Consider the opposition to universal health care; curtailing of food stamp subsidies; or reduction in funding of state subsidized morning breakfasts for poor or underprivileged school children. There seems to be a push in Washington D.C. to obfuscate or repeal many of the socialist tenets of modern America. The rollback on vast number of LGBTQ issues fits neatly in the fascist detest for social equality.
Maybe
A case might be sustained that the US has gotten aboard the Ship of Fools with a one-way and non fundable ticket to Fascism. Or maybe this is just the dream within a dream.