From: Jim Devine
Michael Meeropol wrote: >> I wonder how many Penners have thought about whether fascism is a clear and >> present danger. Doug Henwood: > Who needs fascism when there's no left? In addition, there are other really obnoxious kinds of capitalism besides fascism. For working-class people and the members of the less-privileged ethnic minority groups, free market capitalism is pretty bad at present -- even without jack-booted thugs at every street corner and martial music played over all loudspeakers. For many, the trend these days seems toward debt peonage much more than toward fascism. ^^^^^ CB: Since history doesn't repeat itself, an obnoxious and extreme right-wing form of capitalism may not be in response to a strong left and working class movement as it was in the last historical occurrence, but in response to a different combination of factors. On the other hand, the immigration reform movement is a strong left and working class movement today that contributes to the Tea Party's fascistic and White suprmacist characteristics. Homeland Security is a new authoritarian feature of the US system which was started in response to "terrorism". The "terrorist threat" is another clear and present and new basis for rationalizing establishing new right-wing structures in America. Note that under Nazism most of the German population ( "a superior race of people") was not subject to fascist oppression. It was certain minorities who were so oppressed. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
