AlterNet: Does America Face the Risk of a Fascist Backlash?

[marmar]

Does America Face the Risk of a Fascist Backlash?

By Robert Freeman, AlterNet. Posted March 19, 2009.

The Right's ability to capitalize on people's sense of grievance must not be underestimated.



In early 1919, Germany put in place a new government to begin rebuilding the country after its crushing defeat in World War I. But the right-wing forces that had led the country into the War and lost the War conspired even before it was over to destroy the new government, the "Weimar Republic." They succeeded.

The U.S. faces a similar "Weimar Moment." The devastating collapse of the economy after eight years of Republican rule has left the leadership, policies, and ideology of the right utterly discredited. But, as was the case with Germany in 1919, Republicans do not intend to allow the new government to succeed. They will do everything they can to undermine it. If they are successful, the U.S. may yet go the way of Weimar Germany.

World War I left Germany utterly devastated. The landed aristocrats, industrial magnates, wealthy financiers, weapons makers, and the officer corps of the military that formed the locus of right wing power were completely discredited. Their failure in provoking and prosecuting the War was catastrophic, undeniable, and complete.

The economy was destroyed. Prices were at 800% of pre-war levels and rising quickly. Agriculture, pillaged for the War, lay in ruins. Social insurance payments for the War's injured, to widows and orphans, and newly unemployed soldiers were astronomical. And all this was before the cost of rebuilding was even begun.

At the same time, Germany faced massive reparations payments to the Allied victors, France and England. But Germany's foreign properties had been confiscated and its colonies turned over to the victors. The combination of these conditions, both domestic and international, made it extraordinarily difficult for the German economy to recover. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/workplace/132155/does_america_face_the_risk_of_a_fascist_backlash_/

[pinto]

1. That's a stretch of an analogy, Mr. Freeman, imho.

We are not post WWI Germany by a long shot.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Not yet -

but don't forget, WWI Germany was NOT devastated by the war. The vast, overwhelming majority of the fighting was outside Germany's borders. It's industry, infrastructure, agriculture were essentially untouched. So it wasn't like they were clawing out of the rubble of war. The problems were economic and political more than anything else. True, the old regime had been swept away and they'd had precious little experience with democracy, but the instability had much more to do with the Russian Revolution creating fear of the communists than with inexperience. The conservatives and fascists played on that fear - just as the republicans have played on the fear of terrorists - and in doing so encouraged the people to give away their rights for security. It was all about Fear, Fear, Fear, with an added helping of "we've been screwed".

Where have we heard that, lately?

[MicaelS]

2. Not bloody likely

If anyone goes to the wall in the US, it's going to be some business / corporate fatcats.

[TN al]

3. I thought we already had our flirtation with fascism...

...under Bush. Was I wrong?

[tom_paine]

4. No, but we may be wrong in assuming that Bushifascism was defeated with Obama's election.

As with Clinton, it may merely be in waiting, ready to pick up right where it left off, as if it were never gone.

[TN al]

5. Good point...

...and while I have no evidence to state this and probably a lot of anecdotal evidence to refute it I would like to have more faith in Americans to think they would go down that road again. Of course I had faith that they would not go down that road in the first place and look what that faith got me.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Exactly. Obama's election was not victory -

it was only offering the opportunity for victory. If they can pull him down, subvert his programs and turn his tenure into a simple soundbite joke (preferably a dirty joke, as they did with Clinton) there will be nothing to stop them coming back in 4 or 8 years.

Just what has Cheney been up to the last few days, if not that?