6 January, 2009
The current pace of outsourcing and downsizing nearly everything in our economy from manufacturing, to services, to military functions, video-security, and street policing, will result in a fascistic state the world has never seen. A review of recent global history, coupled with a superficial glimpse of daily practices in the U.S. tells nothing less.
The loss of a dollar-based oil market, and the bursting sub-prime housing bubble are but the latest tides in an economic sea rumbling with the steady decrease in American produced and consumed manufactured goods. While Congress borrows billions to pay for endless war and larger Cold War type military budgets (for aircraft carriers and killer satellites), additional capital flights resultant from the imports of energy and stuff has left American taxpayers a currency that is losing buying power at a record pace. When the value of our currency hits rock bottom, and the energy costs are double and triple of today, an accompanying decrease in the living standard will result in political unrest leading to the establishment of a political state under the control of a powerful ruling corporate class. Currently we are experiencing this phenomenon at the edges.
Reflections from the Past
Post-war Germany is a good example of what occurs under these conditions. German reparations to European banks after World War I paralleled much of what today is called structural adjustment. And when working people saw that their tax money did not go to provide their government with resources to promote the lives of Germans, large swaths of the labor sector were unwilling to continue their manufacture. The proceeds of almost all German production had been going to foreigners. This discontent within industry led to large drop offs in German manufacturing. Without production, there was less consumption and less capital. The Reich's mark went into free-fall and hyper-inflation destroyed the wealth of the middle class.
With a poverty-stricken populace and massive unemployment, the scene was set in Germany for political entrepreneurs and a party willing to wrest take control and establish ordered prosperity. Though the German public was rightfully interested in a return to prosperity, unfortunately they were also ready to accept whatever means were necessary to attain it. And as Stanley Milgram demonstrated, most Americans would do it too.
Hitler and the Nazis were the means, backed by American financiers and other what remained of capitalists, to control the disillusioned citizens and restore production. The National Socialist party accomplished the rule by establishing public works programs and a resumption of manufacture accompanied by a repudiation of reparation payments to foreign banks. Once the Nazis assumed power there was no chance of a return to a democratic government.
The history of Italy under Mussolini, Spain under Franco, and Chile through Pinochet, was similar. To control a disgruntled populace believing a fascistic populism to be their salvation, these despots were supported by the rich (as well as the church) in the suppression of true liberation and democratic movements, in the presumed interests of the whole and the nation. All these fascist governments ruled by means of intimidation over ordinary working people by use of the military or paramilitary. These governmental figureheads were, in turn, backed financially and encouraged by the rich who were interested in maintaining social and economic control. Is not the same call for law and order, border security, and a perpetual war on terror prized today?
American Fascism
The U.S. is now approaching the end of the first phase of this process – i.e. the end of republican practices and democratic processes. The ruination of the American working classes by the erosion of manufacturing and a well-off class of educated workers is almost complete. The dollar is just beginning what will be a drastic fall in value. The former “ownership-society” is now a growing debtor-class teetering on pauperization. When distress spreads among the educated, the state will react with more imprisonment and an ever-increasing level of security forces, public and private security (e.g. Blackwater, CACI, MPRI, etc.). Not understanding the nature of the problem, too many will welcome a more totalitarian police-state. Tasers at school, the mall, at airports, and the like will be commonplace. Citizens will disappear at the government announces another round-up of domestic terrorists.
Long ago, Louisiana Governor, Huey Long, predicted that "When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the American flag." To get there from here, in an orderly and constitutional process, Fascism will be mandated, little by little, via the Military Commissions Act, resolutions like the Authorization for Military Force, and appropriations bills that permit the president to declare martial law. Have you read the Defense Authorization Act of 2006?
If Americans do not resist these and similar legislative acts, and do not see to it that a new Congress revokes all it has done for the Bush dictatorship, there will be no turning back. (Do we suppose that Caves-a-lot-McCain will roll back torture and attacks on Hajji?) Without restoration of democratic values, the establishment will seize more control. Well-paid and well-armed police forces, both public and private, will do the bidding of power, as they have throughout history.
For all practical purposes, there will be full-blown fascism in the U.S. Unless the public takes the responsibility, we will see fascism in our lifetimes. It will be the inheritance of our children.
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Richard Backus, is a free-lance journalist specializing in political economy and politics. He resides in Miami Beach, Florida and his personal website is uncensoredops.blogspot.com
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