I have only one important complaint about Charles Ferguson's largely convincing discussion.
There is a danger of fascism in the US. The economy is not going to recover -- people are quite angry --- and the right wing is successfully mobilizing shock troops of angry people to "take back our country" from blacks, gays, immigrants, etc. With these shock troops and Republicans back in power, the effort to cut Medicare and Social Security --- keep wages down through international competition --- and keep the right wing in power by mobilizing the "angry whites" and demobilizing the dangerous people that Obama got out to vote in 2008. Perhaps the ruling class does not have anything to fear from Obama --- but they do have reason to fear a mobilized public -- even towards miniscule steps towards an American version of Social Democracy. That is why they may opt for fascism --- (Check out Chris Hedges' book AMERICAN FASCISTS written in the context of the 2004 mobilization of right-wing Christians.) And unfortunately, that's why we need to support Obama and the Democrats -- while continuing to yell and scream about their policies. Mike Meeropol
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