Creeping fascism (Which side do you think he means?)

Conservatives have long cried "creeping socialism," but what ails America is creeping fascism.

Fascism slavishly serves the wealthiest interests in society. If 10 percent of Americans own 90 percent of America, American fascism would be the dictatorship of that 10 percent. Yet, fascism displays a populist face. In Germany, for instance, Hitler had a man-of-the-people image. Think Sarah Palin: "Why, she`s just a soccer mom who loves to hunt. Gosh, Sarah is just one of us--only with better cheekbones!" Yet, as New York magazine revealed, Palin is now joining the ranks of America`s wealthiest, and the billionaire media-mogul Rupert Murdock says he has "plans" for Palin.

Likewise with the Tea Party: they claim to be Washington "outsiders" who`re going to "take back" America for its common folk. Yet, their policies shamelessly serve the super wealthy; their first order of business, for instance, was keeping tax cuts for the rich. That, in turn, highlights another trait of fascism: it claims to be "revolutionary," yet it deepens the power of the most privileged.

Fascists claim to be dewy-eyed patriots -- to live and breathe for the nation, to worship its flag. But true patriotism is like parenting, and you don`t love a child by worshipping it, by ignoring its faults. Rightist "patriotism" is national chauvinism -- "We`re superior; it`s our destiny to rule the world."

Externally, fascism pursues military adventures beyond its national borders, this to benefit the wealthy and feed national narcissism. Yet, Hitler sold his imperial dreams to Germans by claiming self-defense against Jews, Communists and others. Likewise, despite the fact that America militarily dominates the globe -- 2001 Department of Defense figures acknowledge 725 U.S. bases beyond U.S. borders, 38 on Okinawa alone (Johnson) -- the far right in particular insist a bunch of Third World jihadists are about to conquer us, that we fight only in self-defense against terrorists who would end Western Civilization.

Internally, violent bigotry is the fuel of fascism: to drive society to the far right, there have to be "others" to hate and blame. Hitler, of course, had his Jews; today in central Europe, fascists target Roma (Gypsies). Here in America, the furious far right is ever ready to shoot some hate object; whether it`s an undocumented Mexican, an Arab, a homosexual, a hippie, or just liberals in general, they want to "make somebody pay!"

Sociologists say bigotry and fascistic politics are often tied to an "authoritarian personality," something involving hypocritical denial and projection. Hitler, for example, would`ve said the Jews were persecuting Germany, not the other way around. Well, after decades of supporting white supremacism, America`s far right is now convinced Barack Obama is a black supremacist who hates white people. They`re painting Hitler mustaches on images of Obama; they think anyone who believes in a public sector is, essentially, a Nazi -- not them. Sarah Palin blamed the BP oil spill on environmentalists; Rush Limbaugh blames the Arizona killings on the Democratic Party. And although the fascistic claim to be moralists, their demagoguery speaks to the worst in us: fear, resentment, anger, insecurity and immaturity--that foolish voice that says we can fix things with outbursts of righteous anger and violence.

The free-enterprise fundamentalists say they`ve put us on the path to "freedom" and America as it was meant to be; they are, in fact, Pied Pipers of a police state, of a nation that`s fundamentally undemocratic and un-American.

Right on the money! Not only a great book, but dispels a myth regarding Fascism and which side of the political road it finds it’s home on — the left. The author of the article is acting as if the opposite is true, i.e. it comes from the right, which it never has historically done. Then all the conflating starts.
There is, seriously, creeping Fascism. It is found in the policies of this president, and his administration. It is found in the bundle of unelected and unimpeachable “czars” performing tasks at his beck and call. It is found in the nudging of Cass (Eliot) Sunstein), and the TSA actions under Big Sis.
As often happens on the left, those with a pulpit from which to expound project the desires and actions they have on others. The left cannot survive naked exposure of it’s agenda, and knows it. Thus, the untruths are told, and articles like this one serve best as parakeet fodder.

..... an alternate view:

“If guns are outlawed, it’ll be easier to control the masses” — T-shirt slogan
Conservatives have long cried “creeping socialism,” but what ails America today is blatant socialism.
Socialism slavishly serves the wealthiest interests in society. If 10 percent of Americans control 90 percent of America, American socialism would be the dictatorship of that 10 percent. Yet, socialism displays a populist face. In Germany, for instance, Hitler had a man-of-the-people image. Think the 0bamas: “Why, he`s just a “regular guy” – a modest man of the people from Chicago. Gosh, Michelle is just like one of us—only with bigger thighs!” Yet, as no major media outlet is willing to reveal, the 0bamas are now joining the ranks of America`s wealthiest, and the billionaire socialist George Soros says he has “plans” for 0bama.
Likewise with the Democratic Socialists of America: they claim to be Washington “outsiders” who`re going to seize control of America for its common folk. Yet, their policies shamelessly serve the super wealthy; their first order of business, for instance, was funneling about a trillion dollars to Wall Street. That, in turn, highlights another trait of socialism: it claims to be “revolutionary,” yet all it really does is change the names of the most privileged.
Socialists claim to be dewy-eyed patriots — to live and breathe for the “Hope and Change”, to worship “a better America”. But true patriotism is like parenting, and you don`t love a child by focusing solely upon its faults, by ignoring its many merits. Leftist “patriotism” is supra-national hubris — “We`re superior; it`s our destiny to rule the world.”
Externally, socialism pursues revolutionary adventures beyond its national borders, this to benefit the fanatical and feed ideological narcissism. Yet, the Left has sold its revolutionary dreams everywhere by claiming self-defense against religion, reactionism and counter-revolution. Likewise, despite the fact that Socialism ideologically dominates the West — the far Left in particular insist a bunch of “clinging” backwoods Christians are about to conquer us, that they fight only in self-defense against fundamentalist terrorists who would interfere with the “March of Socialism”.
Internally, violent bigotry is the fuel of socialism: to drive society to the far left, there have to be “others” to hate and blame. Stalin, of course, had his Kulaks and Jews; today in Europe, socialists target Christians. Here in America, the furious far left is ever ready to vilify some hate object; whether it`s a small businessperson, a WASP, a heterosexual, a hunter, or just conservatives in general, they want to “make somebody pay!”
Sociologists say bigotry and fascistic politics are often tied to an “authoritarian personality,” something involving hypocritical denial and projection. Stalin, for example, would`ve said the Kulaks were persecuting Russia, not the other way around. Well, after decades of supporting racial division, America`s far left is now convinced all Caucasians are white supremacists who hate people of color. They`re painting Hitler mustaches on images of George Bush; they think anyone who believes in a private sector is, essentially, a Nazi — not them. Rachel Maddow blamed the BP oil spill on private enterprise; Ed Schulz blames the Arizona killings on the Tea Party. And although the socialists claim to be moralists, their demagoguery speaks to the worst in us: fear, resentment, anger, envy, insecurity and immaturity—that foolish voice that says we can fix things with outbursts of righteous anger and violence.
The central control fanatics say they`ve put us on the path to “freedom” and America as it was meant to be; they are, in fact, Pied Pipers of a police state, of a nation that`s fundamentally undemocratic and un-American.
*****
John Blutarski is a White/Reaganite who lives in Boston.

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