[MD] "just right-wing politics"

[david buchanan]

Arlo and all MOQers:

I thought it might be interesting to think about the 14 essential 
characteristics of fascism in terms of what Phaedrus thought... "Phaedrus 
thought that no other historical or political analysis explains the enormity 
of these forces as clearly as does the MOQ. The gigantic power of socialism 
and fascism, which have overwhelmed this century, is explained by a conflict 
of levels of evolution. This conflict explains the driving force behind 
Hitler not as an insane search for power but as an all-consuming 
glorification of social authority and hatred of intellectualism." I thought 
if might be interesting to look at these features of fascism in terms of 
what it glorifies and what it hates...

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism- glorifies society
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights- hates intellectual values
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause-glories society
4. Supremacy of the Military-glorifies society
5. Rampant Sexism-hates intellectual values
6. Controlled Mass Media-hates intellectual values
7. Obsession with National Security-glorifies society
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined-Both glory and hatred
9. Corporate Power is Protected-glorifies society
10. Labor Power is Suppressed- anti-intellectual
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts- obviously anti-intellectual
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment-glorifies society
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption-? Sure is a lot of it.
14. Fraudulent Elections-anti-intellectual

Arlo's final score was 8.75. I'd say the match is more like 12 or 13. But 
one thing worth noticing here is that anti-semitism and genocide do not show 
up on that list. Most people hear the word fascist and think of 
concentration camps. But that kind of horror does not define fascism at all. 
Its hard to pin down exactly what it is because it is so irrational and 
unprincipled. It takes on various shapes depending on the place and time of 
its appearance. It tends to be an exaggeration of the culture and so it 
tends to look less scary at home than it does among foreigners. In other 
words, American fascism is going to be very, very American and will strike 
most Americans as nothing more than protecting normal things like mom and 
apple pie.

You know what kills me these days? Those bumber stickers and magnetic 
ribbons that say "support our troops".  It bugs me because it implies there 
is a sector of the American public that does not support our troops. It 
implies that there are motorists out there driving around with bumber 
stickers that say "fuck our troops" or "our troops are dupes". In the total 
absense of any such counter position, one has to assume that the real aim in 
expressing such inane sentiments is to supress dissent. Its a way of 
suggesting that a person should keep their criticisms to themselves so as to 
avoid any morale crushing effects on the US soldier. I look at those bumber 
stickers and I can agree to what they explicitly say, but I really hate the 
implication. They might as well slap on a bumber sticker that says "I'm 
wrapped in the flag so shut your pie hole, you commie fag".

I'd like to have a bumber sticker printed up that says, "Good ideas can not 
fit on bumperst". And then I'd have one printed for the other side that says 
"ickers". Think they'd sell?

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