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Fascism in America - by Stephen Lendman
America's lurching fast toward full-blown tyranny.
In 1932, Mussolini declared the 20th century a "Fascist century," saying:
"It is to be expected that this century may be that of authority, a century of the "Right," a Fascist century." He claimed it would "sav(e) Western civilization." For what he didn't explain.
Post-WW I, Fascim's roots emerged. At the time, Western civilization was thought to be decadent, destructive, and in decline.
In his book titled, "The Decline of the West," Oswald Spengler said "liberalism, democracy, socialism (and) free-masosnry" weakened it. Only fascism could save it.
In his essay titled, "Fascism: Doctrine and Institutions," Mussolini said, "Fascism denies, in democracy, the absurd conventional untruth of political equality dressed out in the garb of collective responsibility."He called it the "complete opposite" of Marxist belief in class struggle as the driving force for social progress and justice. He said "(f)ascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power."
His definition applies now. Corporatism's alliance with political Washington reflects his ideology. It's been building for decades.
Huey Long once said fascism will arrive "wrapped in an American flag." In his book titled, "Friendly Fascism," Bertram Gross called Ronald Reagan its prototype ruler.
He described a slow, powerful "drift toward greater concentration of power and wealth in a repressive Big Business-Big Government," Big Brother alliance. It leads "toward a new and subtly manipulative form of corporatist serfdom." Its friendly face turns dark as hardline policies emerge.
In the 1930s, George Seldes saw it coming. He worried that New Deal policies would erode. In his 1934 book titled, "Iron, Blood and Profits," he discussed a "world-wide munitions racket." He cited WW I militarists and weapons makers in Europe and America.
"Merchants of death" he called them, promoting "imperialism (and) colonization - by means of war. (T)he healthfulness of the business depends on slaughter. The more wars," the more riches.
His 1943 book titled, "Facts and Fascism" explained "Fascism on the Home Front" in Part One, called "The Big Money and the Big Profits in Fascism."
In Parts Two and Three, he discussed "Native Fascist Forces" in industry and his day's media. A shadow of today, they included only print and radio's early days. Television was just an idea.
