The End
The End
John M. Lane
Introduction
One year before its 250th anniversary, the American experiment has reached a tipping point. Democracy has always been the most fragile of systems humans have developed to govern themselves. Democracy depends on the following: an informed public, agreed-upon truths and facts, the knowledge that for the system to succeed, compromise is necessary, and most importantly, the belief that your ideological/political opponents are not the enemy, they are your fellow citizens. The leader of MAGA does not believe this. He has stated that he “hates” Democrats. Before we proceed, let us define Communism and Fascism:
Communism – Totalitarian: Economically, the means of production are controlled by the state. That includes all banks, jobs, markets, products, and how those products are produced, wages, and salaries. All aspects of education, civil liberties, and the press are controlled and run by the State. All civic life is disbanded, especially Religion. Nationalism and Patriotism are demanded; in some communist states, the cult of the all-knowing, all-powerful leader is promoted in a constant stream of propaganda. The party has total and complete power in the name of the people, the proletariat.
Fascism- Authoritarian: Economically, the means of production are not (entirely) controlled by the state. Market aspects of the economy are allowed to function if they serve the interests of the state and the ruling classes. Traditional instruments/elements of the status quo: the military, church, aristocracy, ruling elite, and the business/financial classes are allowed to keep and increase their power if it serves the interests of the government authorities. Political parties, unions, student groups, and civic organizations are to be disbanded and replaced by organizations that serve the interests of the leader and the state. Conformity is to be proper behavior for all classes. Freedom of the Press and thought is to be strictly regulated. The Leader and the ruling elite are to be honored and obeyed. Nationalism and Patriotism are to be “encouraged” and promoted. In the end, only the state has the proper authority.
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Throughout its existence, Democracy has, from time to time, failed to meet the needs of the body politic. This was especially true after the First World War in Europe, the United States, and parts of East Asia. Contradictions in the ability of Market Capitalism, in tandem with democratic government, to deliver the possibility of improving the lives of much of the population led to the growth of radical movements that proposed that they had an alternative that would provide what Capitalism/Democracy could not. Far Left/Communism promised a “workers' paradise” where the State would eventually wither away. The revolution in what became the Soviet Union led to the creation of a monstrous totalitarian regime that was responsible for the deaths of millions of people and the degradation of millions more.
The other radical movement was the Far Right/Fascism. The elite establishment of Market Capitalism/Democracy was much more fearful of Communism than Fascism. Almost from the beginning, there was a belief by what I will call the Conservative Elite that Fascism could be controlled and turned to Conservative advantage. The 1930s German Conservative elite believed this, which is why they financially supported the rise of “national socialism” (Nazism) in Germany. Fascism came to power first in Italy in 1922, and Germany, under the Nazis, in 1933. Fascism led to the Second World War. Between 60 and 80 million people lost their lives in the deadliest war in human history. In the end, Western democracies, led by the United States, defeated Authoritarian Fascism. Belief in and support for fascism have never completely disappeared.
Fascism as Racism
Today, there are four countries that are ruled by some type of totalitarian Communism: China, Vietnam, Cuba, and North Korea. Fascism, on the other hand, has a firm foothold today in numerous countries and is spread and propagated by an international network of financial, intellectual, and political supporters. Support for Fascism is as strong now as it was in the 1930s, especially in Western Europe and the United States. For the rest of this essay, our focus will be on the United States.
The current Fascist/Authoritarian movement in the United States is called “MAGA” (“Make America Great Again). MAGA had its immediate beginnings with the “Tea Party” movement in 2010, which was formed to “protest” the policies of President Barack Obama. The intellectual foundations of MAGA can be traced back to the Eugenics movement at the turn of the 20th century, the “Liberty League”, an anti-New Deal group founded in the 1930s to fight FDR’s “socialism”, and various pro-business and anti-communist organizations, like the John Birch Society, prominent in 1950s and 60s. Millions of dollars were spent to create “think-tanks”, that would organize and propagate the ideas that over the past sixty years steadily grew, finding a place in mainstream discussion, and reaching their fruition in the “Project 2025” document which became the blueprint for the idea of taking back America from the “globalists”, “WOKE fanatics”, feminists, socialists, “sexual deviants”, and non-white immigrants.
MAGA portrays itself as being “America First”, non-globalist, and for the “working man”. It’s none of those things. MAGA is a “mismatch” of chaotic whims and ideas and incompatible policy agendas from the right side of the political spectrum held together by a cult-like allegiance to the “Leader”. What really holds the various MAGA factions together is their barely acknowledged, but ever-present, belief in white nationalism and white supremacy. Having said that, it should be made clear that not all MAGA supporters are racists/supremacists. However, it should also be made clear that all racists/supremacists are MAGA supporters. MAGA believes that the United States is a white republic, built by and for white people only. Historically, this is the reason why all of Mexico, Central America, and Cuba were not annexed by the Americans when they had the opportunity to do so. It is also the reason that Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia will never be given statehood. If there is to be a “Democracy”, it is for white people only. Legislation and programs designed to help the working and middle classes, passed during the “Progressive Era (1901-1914) and the New Deal (1933-1939), were only approved after assurances were given to racists/segregationists in Congress that African Americans would receive only the bare minimum benefits, if any, from the programs.
MAGA believes that Democracy must be put on the shelf until the unquestioned power and domination of white people is restored. Hence, the Voting Rights Act must be destroyed, and voting for non- “real Americans” curtailed and eliminated. MAGA believes voter fraud exists because the very fact that non-whites vote is fraudulent.
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Chaos As The New Order
The current body politic of the United States is in a dizzying state of bewilderment and chaos. This is being done deliberately to create as much uncertainty as possible. As government and societal institutions and norms are being wrecked, everyone is assured that only the “Great Leader” knows how to make things right. Surely, you will temporarily suffer some pain and discomfort in the short term as the country is put back on the right path. “Waste, fraud, and abuse” will be eliminated as we rid the country of criminal migrants and aliens. Housing will be plentiful once the “vermin” have been removed. WOKE will be eliminated because only merit will count. Fake news will be eliminated, as only the truth will be heard.
Foreign nations will again respect the United States, as they pay for the new tariffs that help finance our glorious future. The “Great Leader” will bring about a new era of liberty, freedom, and prosperity.
Of course, none of the above is true. The United States is entering an era of “unfreedom”. As a nation, we could be slowly descending into a dystopian nightmare of pain, grief, and fear. The only thing that can save us is the willingness not to give in to tyranny and hate. Do not obey in advance, Organize in small groups, speak out against injustice, and fight to preserve democracy.