UPDATE #2: The political left is already deciding which barrier to their agenda will be taken down next. The filibuster has to go, of course. ACORN is working on vote fraud.
UPDATE: Michael Ledeen sees it. His second column is here.
What is happening now–and Newsweek is honest enough to say so down in the body of the article–is an expansion of the state’s role, an increase in public/private joint ventures and partnerships, and much more state regulation of business. Yes, it’s very “European,” and some of the Europeans even call it “social democracy,” but it isn’t.
It’s fascism. Nobody calls it by its proper name, for two basic reasons: first, because “fascism” has long since lost its actual, historical, content; it’s been a pure epithet for many decades. Lots of the people writing about current events like what Obama et. al. are doing, and wouldn’t want to stigmatize it with that “f” epithet.
Second, not one person in a thousand knows what fascist political economy was. Yet during the great economic crisis of the 1930s, fascism was widely regarded as a possible solution, indeed as the only acceptable solution to a spasm that had shaken the entire First World, and beyond. It was hailed as a “third way” between two failed systems (communism and capitalism), retaining the best of each. Private property was preserved, as the role of the state was expanded. This was necessary because the Great Depression was defined as a crisis “of the system,” not just a glitch “in the system.” And so Mussolini created the “Corporate State,” in which, in theory at least, the big national enterprises were entrusted to state ownership (or substantial state ownership) and of course state management.
Maxine Waters was on This Week today. That is a scary prospect and it was as bad as it sounds. A grinning fool is in charge of our future.
I have worried about Obama and the fascist tendencies of the left. This “stimulus bill” is an example. It is a spending orgy of Democrat priorities, mostly to reward and strengthen constituencies. Thus, we see ACORN get billions even while they are prosecuted for election fraud. They are a core constituency of Obama’s and were even behind a lot of the real estate abuses that brought on the crisis. No matter. They will be rewarded.
Obama is not a communist. Fascism is a form of socialism that includes private property. It is often supported by private interests that think they have an inside track with the government. One example is big business, which loves this bill. The “Progressives” of the early 20th century were interested in power and control, not necessarily public ownership of the means of production. They also used censorship, just as threats of the “Fairness Doctrine” circulate in Washington now.
Why would Obama want to roll back welfare reform? That was Clintons great accomplishment but it was really, like most of his accomplishments, an act of the Republican Congress. Democrats have no interest in reducing the welfare rolls. Those are voters ! Why risk the possibility that they might stray as they gain self confidence in the work force?
The economic stimulus bill had very little economic stimulus in it, if you mean a solution to the crisis. That comes next. Banks will be bailed out on condition they continue to fund Democratic party imperatives like loans to risky borrowers. After all, there are few Democrats who understand economics.
I suspect we have begun our own “lost decade.” The Japanese used exactly the same sort of spending priorities in the early 1990s and built billions of dollars of infrastructure projects, many useless and redundant. We are about to do the same with the same result. Stagflation, here we come!
The political risk is an even worse consequence as we have a fascist in the White House.
“The political risk is an even worse consequence as we have a fascist in the White House.”
I heard this all time when President Bush was in office, from folk on my side. It was loopy and I proudly said so. I’ll say the same here, The fascist label needs to be put away and folk on both sides throw it out ALL the time.
And please do not suggest that somehow I’m implying Obama is above critique; however, if the word doesn’t apply to George Bush (and we know I was no fan of most of his ideas), then it does not belong to Obama.
Be well. Hope everyone is doing fine. I miss Cathy.
peace
I am using the term as defined by Jonah Goldberg’s book. I think it is a real risk but we will learn more as the Obama-Geithner bear market gathers momentum.
Mike,
O, I see. When the left trow out the term at everyone they disagree with then it’s a problem. But when a conservative critic writes a book to put the word back on the left, the real fascists, then it’s apt and true?
The fascist game is tired when my side does it. It’s tired when your side does it, even with Goldberg’s book.
peace
Sorry, James. I know the term has lost its meaning and has become an epithet. The fact remains that it was a popular political theory for 40 years and the theory explains what is happening now. The worry is that fascism usually involves a charismatic leader who has few scruples.
Ok Mike. If you insist. Be well. Have fun.
peace
PS: Let me just say this: when the next GOP leader is called a fascist, I’m sure you will come to his/her defense and note how the word is misused. Too bad you can’t do the same with someone you disagree with.
peace always
“Why would Obama want to roll back welfare reform? That was Clintons great accomplishment but it was really, like most of his accomplishments, an act of the Republican Congress.”
Why? Because the Democrat party’s activist base has long resented any and all welfare reform, no matter how modest. They’ve been waiting for a politically safe opportunity to undo welfare reform since Clinton gave in to the Republican Congress and signed the legislation. Remember when Jesse Jackson assured the Democrat party’s welfare faithful that once Clinton was safely re-elected in 1996, surely Clinton would undo the reform? I remember and I’m surprised that so many critical observers of the new P-O-R regime in America don’t.
Mickey Kaus is warning the Democrats that this is dangerous but they won’t pay attention.
James, if I see a Republican acting this way, and Bush skirted it last fall, I will certainly say something. Why don’t we call it a “corporate state?” That conveys the meaning and avoids the epithet.
I vote for socialist democracy as the term. Although corporate state is an excellent descriptor. The ‘f’ word has been misused so much it has become the f word by default. And I fear for the continued impact of the f word as its over usage marches down the age scale to wee little grade school ad homineering.
Mike,
That seems to be a much fairer, and accurate, term. And critique.
peace
It may be fairer but it’s a lot less fun. Turning the tables on groups who abuse an idea or word is almost worth keeping it in the lexicon.