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At 20:52 29/03/10 +0200, Dan wrote: >I'm trying to decipher, from the accounts in the French press, what the >significance is of these US "militia" groups, ..... >Michigan, I am unhappy with the European left's characterization of such >groups as merely "far-right". Dan, that's a reasonable question but shows that you haven't lived in the US. If you had (as I have) and learned the political cliches and code words then you would probably see that these groups are indeed extreme right-wing, whether you want to use the "fascist" designation or not (which I won't argue). >This is why I feel there might be a mis-characterization of the current >US militia groupings as "ultra right-wing". They do seem to lack the >ideological preference for a strong Nation-State which would regulate >society and the economy. Yes, their ideology is nominally against "Big Government" and the centralization of military power by the federal government. But in practice, opposition to "big government" really has to do with "high taxes and big government spending" which refers to spending on social programs, public education, helping the poor, creating jobs, etc. I think that terminology began big time with Reagan (or before?) as he slashed budget items that help the poor and cut taxes for the rich, and that was fine with such "anti-government" activists. What they are against is any aspect of government which they might perceive to be "socialist." If a Hitler came to power, you'd never actually see them protesting "big government." Don't take them so literally! Yes, they often express hostility to the federal government's authority and military centralization, but again these have to be understood in context. Such hostility goes all the way back to the civil war (these people mostly identify with the confederate slaveholding states) and talk of "state's rights" so that they could preserve slavery, or in more recent years so that they could practice racial discrimination. What they hate the most is when federal troops were used to forcibly desegregate public schools in Alabama (or much later in Boston, I believe) whereas they want local autonomy so that they can have a racist society. They aren't really for communities arming themselves, but only the whites or land owners arming themselves against minorities, immigrants and the poor. >In Europe, "far-right" clearly refers to the practices of fascist groups >in the 20s and 30s. These were defined by : 1) rabid anti-communism Well of course these US groups are very much so, but with the demise of the USSR and a credible international movement in the name of communism, the fascists have different names for us. So they oppose unionists, feminists, environmentalists, queers, supposed "socialists" (in the health-care debate), "political correctness," or just anything associated with the left or left communities. >So what is to be made of this uniquely American phenomenon of >"anti-Federal Government" militias ? Is the present economic crisis No, these groups aren't new at all. But I think their rise at the present is part of the backlash to Obama and so they're joining the racist movement that got energized also around the health-care debate, so they might see this as their chance to hook up with broader right wing and racist sympathies that have likewise been energized. >determining factor in the spread of such groups ? Or are they really >just good ol' Fascists that corporate interests are using, No, they are good ol' Fascists that the corporate interests are NOT using, but they are HOPING that they will be used soon! That's why they arm themselves: for the coming "race war" that many of the more open fascists have been talking about for years. And now with Obama they see it coming closer. I hope that Mark is right and that they will stay a small minority and not gain greatly from the current racist backlash or consolidate anything. But don't mistake them for being anything other than far-right or fascist. Jay Moore post was very thoughtful regarding their different issues relative to the state, but again I see that more as superficial talking points rather than as anti-fascist in any actual sense. - Jeff ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: [email protected] Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
