Not actually a picture from Vienna
The New York TImes published an important opinion piece by Sylvie Kauffmann on Wednesday.
www.nytimes.com/...
PARIS — On Monday, the Western world may well wake up to the news that, for the first time since the defeat of Nazism, a European country has democratically elected a far-right head of state.
In case you’ve been absorbed by the internecine pie fights in the Democratic Party — the political situation globally is kinda going to hell. Austria is poised to elect a right wing leader. Norbert Hofer’s Austrian Freedom Party won 35% of the vote in the first round of Austria’s elections. Worse, his primary opponents were either eliminated in the first round or had the leader of their party resign. It will take a bit of a miracle for Austria not to be led by a proto-fascist Monday morning.
As Kauffmann points out, one month from now, we may find Britain in a fit of nationalism exiting the EU. The Economist says right now it’s 47/40 in favor of remaining in the Union. Good news, but that’s awfully close for such an important vote.
Worse news is that if you believe today’s polls, Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s National Front (what a giveaway of a name) is now the front-runner for the Presidency of France next year.
And meanwhile, here is the U.S. of A. We have this clown —
Heil pffflbt Heil pfffflbt Right in the Donald’s face.
Wait, wait wait. It’s not fair to compare Trump to the far right fascists of old or of new Europe.
They dressed better for one thing.
But compare these characteristics of fascism:
www.rense.com/…
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism — “Make America Great Again”? We’re going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it?
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights — Like the right for Muslims to enter the country. (EDIT: Trump opposes marriage equality, and has said re: torture “We have to beat the savages” — www.cnn.com/...)
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause — Muslims, women, Mexicans, the Chinese, gabby ex-girlfriends.
4. Supremacy of the Military — “We’re going to make our military ... so powerful that we’re never going to have to use it.”
5. Rampant Sexism — fill in your own favorite story about bleeding from… wherever.
6. Controlled Mass Media — the guy’s practically Svengali to news directors and the Republican media machinery handles the rest. Look at how Megan Kelly was brought to heel once it became clear Trump was going to be the nominee. (EDIT: Oh, and see Crashing Vor’s comment below for an even more direct threat to the free press)
7. Obsession with National Security — borders, Muslim bans, you name it.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined — The Donald may get a pass here. I’m sure he’s willing to take advantage of useful idiots in the Religious Right, but they were backing Cruz and it may be difficult for him to bring onboard.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - Protected by trade policy, tax structure, and the usual assemblage of Republican voodoo economics.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed — Though Trump give lip service to the place of unions in America, it’s worth remembering, for one, the way his organization fought them in Vegas — www.latimes.com/…
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts — I’ll let the Federalist, hardly a bastion of lefty thought tackle this one — thefederalist.com/…
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment — “We can have safe streets. But unless we stand up for tough anticrime policies, they will be replaced by policies that emphasize criminals’ rights over those of ordinary citizens.” “My only complaint is that lethal injection is too comfortable a way to go.”
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption — does wanting to “date” your daughter count?
14. Fraudulent Elections — Sadly, I don’t think Drumpf has had to resort to fraud so far. He’s honestly captured the hearts and minds of a significant portion of the right wing in this country.
The point is that this is a dangerous time in global politics. It’s incumbent on us to to elect ANYONE other than Trump to the presidency in November. I don’t see a World War II on the horizon, but political instability increases when there’s huge economic disparity. I fully believe the US didn’t go fascist in the 30’s because of the New Deal. We need to keep the White House, get back the Senate, and set ourselves up to positively affect redistricting in the states in 2020 so we can reverse the policies that have led to the dramatic income disparity we suffer now.
And if our politicians are too cosy with interests that align with the right and corporate power and inequality we need to pressure them to reverse course and start to swing the pendulum back to fairness and equality. The alternative is to encourage fascism here and abroad.
