The Fascist States of America?

 

Progressives are fond of calling people they don’t like “fascists,” which just tells us they don’t know what the term means. Progressives hate fascists? No, rather, they clearly like fascism a lot.

Consider the main features of fascism as promulgated by the original Italian fascists. Are these things that progressives promote?

  1.  Overriding government control of business and the economy? Check.
  2.  Limitation of speech and action to what is approved? Check.
  3.  Government health care? Check.
  4.  Safety over freedom and liberty? Check.
  5. Central control of education? Check.
  6. Gun control/confiscation? Check.
  7. High taxation and appropriation of property for the good of the people? Check.
  8. Division of people by race, gender, etc.? Check.
  9. Promotion of a political agenda through the threat of violence? Check.
  10. Group rather than individual responsibility? Check.

The progressive program in America might be thought of as a continuing effort to turn America into a fascist state, which the Italians considered to be the most workable form of socialist state. And they have almost completed this project. Even before Obamacare, the medical system was under almost complete government control through regulation. The same can be said for much of the rest of the private sector.

Most of the pathologies of America are now due to the way the government regulates everything as opposed to the way the markets and capitalism normally operate. In fact, few Americans even know how the markets and capitalism normally operate, that is, in the absence of overriding government control.

Progressives now openly disdain liberalism. The idea that speech should not be free but should rather be “good speech” that doesn’t “harm” anyone has taken academe by storm. Most of the expectation is now for people to be protected from speech they think of as uncomfortable or that makes them feel bad.

The progressive program has long since taken root in the larger culture. The expectations of the American people are increasingly fascist. Most of the complaints people have about Trump vis-a-vis the COVID-19 pandemic are due to the fact that he acts like an American president rather than a fascist leader. In accordance with federalist constitutional principles, Trump left most of the important decisions about how to react to the pandemic to the states. People already have been conditioned to think of this as being wrong or irresponsible on the President’s part. They want a fascist leader, not a president.

The Democrats might be thought of as campaigning on a fascist platform. Some of them, such as Kamala Harris, have promised to thwart constitutional restrictions on executive power in order to enact an agenda on gun confiscation and provide for other elements of their wish list. They are promising to override the judiciary and slap even greater restrictions on commerce and human activities for the sake of the climate or some other clap-trap.

And this pro-fascist mindset isn’t confined to the left but has also infected the right. Consider building the Wall. People don’t understand why it’s so difficult for Trump to build the Wall. They don’t seem to know how limited the President’s powers are. They don’t expect the President to be bound by the law. They expect a leader to just build the darn wall. They want a Leader. They want fascism.

Published in Domestic Policy
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There are 7 comments.

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  1. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Roderic,

    Check. You’ve got it exactly. When they scream lookout for the fascists or even the more sophisticated ones who rail about authoritarians, all they need really do is look in the mirror. They’ll find the fascists and authoritarians they are so fearful of right in front of them.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #1
  2. namlliT noD Member
    namlliT noD
    @DonTillman

    Yet, another example of Strategic Projection

    (‘Someone want to attempt to compile a list of them?  It’s gonna be pretty big.)

    • #2
  3. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    This is spot on. Hammer, meet nailhead.

    • #3
  4. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    It is not over-regulation so much as it is the establishment of the presumption that conducting business at all is only done with government blessing. Regulation means government authority pursuant to powers granted by  law.

    Fascism is more like living in a mafia-controlled neighborhood. 

    Newsome and Whitmer are already trying out theories of arbitrary, non-COVID-related conditions on business re-openings. Anti-racist enough? No. Sorry, no license. Green enough? 

    The presumptions of property rights and limited government are what totalitarians of all stripes target right away.

    • #4
  5. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Meanwhile in New York…police hassle Jewish resident and guests in his own home.

    • #5
  6. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Great post, Roderic!

    Roderic: The Democrats might be thought of as campaigning on a fascist platform. Some of them, such as Kamala Harris, have promised to thwart constitutional restrictions on executive power in order to enact an agenda on gun confiscation and provide for other elements of their wish list.

    During one of the Democratic primary debates Kamala Harris laughed in Biden’s face when he said there are Constitutional limits to what a president can do without Congress.  She apparently does believe that the president should have dictatorial powers.

    • #6
  7. Steven Galanis Coolidge
    Steven Galanis
    @Steven Galanis

    A good post and good comments behind them. I just have a side-note. One day soon, the scientific research community will feel the heat of strong investigative journalism. A strong leader they do not want; a Col. Klink type would be perfect!

    • #7
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