CB: Fascism is not just a domestic weapon. Where does that idea come from or what is the argument for it ? A main feature of Nazism and Japanese fascism was foreign wars. That fascism is not "used" against foreign enemies is not historiclly accurate. A central feature of Nazism was anti-Soviet war and imperialist war, and conquest. Japan fascism had a major foreign aspect.
As Mark pointed out, imperialist violence and fascism are not equivalent. Great Britain has been slaughtering the natives since the 1500s. You can even find a reference to this in Marx's chapter on the genesis of the industrial bourgeoisie in V. 1 of Capital. But who would describe the suppression of the Boxer rebellion or the Sepoy revolt as fascist? When a word can be applied so universally, it loses scientific precision. Indeed, as I pointed out in my reply to Stan, fascism is generally associated with a weaker core nation's inability to fully develop a genuine empire. When you can't superexploit coolie labor, you are forced to superexploit your own workers. When they resist, the ruling class backs the Blackshirts or the Nazis. ^^^^^^
CB: I haven't said there is an imminent threat. Just a threat. It amazes me that you say you see no advances , qualitative or otherwise, toward a "totalitarian" state. What about the Patriot Act ? The latest act seeking to limit habeas corpus ? The rightwing border patrols in the South ? The stealing of Presidential and other elections ? The creation of a whole new domestic police department, Homeland Security, added onto the FBI, etc. ? The rush of rightwing media propagandists ? Use of big, bold lies at an increased level ? In your face, domestic genocide as in omission of rescue of thousands in Katrina ?
All of this pales in comparison to what takes place when real fascism is on the march. The simple fact is that undocumented workers have built a powerful movement that has not been subject to violent attacks. The Minutemen constitute as much of a fascist threat as did the Montana or Michigan militias 10 years ago. These sorts of formations are utterly marginal. That is why I thought the ISO was so mistaken by trying to break up their meeting at Columbia as if we were in the 11th hour of a showdown with a genuine fascist movement.
CB: Isn't that selective repression ? Those are not all democratic rights. Seems to me that many Germans' rights were not circumscribed there. Most of the "good" Germans' rights were left pretty much as they were.
Charles, student activists were beheaded in Germany for handing out anti-Nazi leaflets in 1944. I don't think we are anywhere near that situation today in the USA. -- www.marxmail.org
