So bush wins.

[Volkov]

Originally posted by P.O.U.M
- Powerful and continuing nationalism

- Disdain for human rights

- Identification of enemis/scapegoats as a unifying cause

- Supremacy of the military

- Rampant sexism

- Controlled mass media

- Obsession with national secruity

- Religion and government are interwined

- Corporate power is protected

- Labor power is suppressed

- Disdain for intellectuals and the arts

- Obsession with crime and punishment

- Rampant cronyism and corruption

- Fraudulent elections

I saw this on a shirt. It was supposedly made by someone who has studied fascism under Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco. I think its safe to say that America is involved in every point above.

Someone corrrect me if I am wrong, but I believe that Fascism requires a massive Petty-Bourgeoisie for a basis.  The Petty Bourgeoisie continues to shrink and shrink.  The US is mostly Proletarian, not Petty-Bourgeoisie.  I don't see why everyone is still worried about Fascism.  Even if things go badly, we will at least have several opportunities to take power and the means of production from the Bourgeoisie.  The Petty-Bourgeoisie would be too small to do such a thing, and even if they somehow orgainzed, they would have to deal with a powerful and well-orgainized Proletarian revolutionary army, as Rune already stated.

[Swimmingadict]

The Petty Bourgeoisie is shrinking but not the point where it is almost nothing, the two parties still try to appeal to the middle-class professionals and management.  So America still has an incredibly strong petty bourgeoisie, the middle class professionals, but the American proletariat’s consciousness hasn't been awakened so fascism isn't need to maintain the bourgeois social dictatorship.

[Volkov]

Originally posted by Swimmingadict
The Petty Bourgeoisie is shrinking but not the point where it is almost nothing, the two parties still try to appeal to the middle-class professionals and management.  So America still has an incredibly strong petty bourgeoisie, the middle class professionals, but the American proletariat’s consciousness hasn't been awakened so fascism isn't need to maintain the bourgeois social dictatorship.

The Petty Bourgeoise is not nearly as big as it used to be.  I am not sure, but I believe that a really good portion of Germany and Italy back then were Petty Bourgeois.  Not to mention that some of the Petty Bourgeoisie will side with us, probably, as they did with the Bolsheviks.  We must organize well and educate the workers well so that we are in a strong position to forcefully remove the means of production and political power from the Bourgeoisie.

http://www.marxist.com/usa/US_elections_JP_041104.html

[P.O.U.M]

and the election/voting problems continue to unfold...

North Carolina Votes Lost

[Monster]

I think that comrades must understand the difference between the class nature, and the apparent class nature. What it is, and what it looks like it is.
As Rune wrote, the media has a hell of a lot of influence on the American proletariat - Petit Bourgeois influence, making them focus on subjects like family values and celebrities. Economic analysis is, as far as I have seen, reduced to showing the stock-prices at most. Of course the proletariat gets influenced by this, and thus the debate stays at that level. The so-called "free" media of the US has a debate that ranges all the long way from liberal to conservative - whilst left wingers are left to shout on the streets. This has made the "ordinary hard-working american" apparently petit-bourgeois. But from here to fascism, there is a long way. If they didn't have the small level of democracy they have now, the discontent from the proletariat would be humongous! It's a masquerade of lies and deception, but it is kept alive every 4 years at the dubious elections.
The question of the moment is not that of fascism, but that of the level of consciousness of the american workers. And as to that, signs indicate good times to come - the rising level of trade union organization amongst the Hispanic workers, and the amount of people voting at this election. The fact that people are beginning to get interested in politics and are starting to ask questions about their state of life, should terrify Bush and the rest of the bourgeoisie a lot! The main problem, as I see it, is the way the questions are being answered - by the bourgeois media and the government themselves. If we are able to answer the questions of the workers in a decent way ("patiently explain" - as Lenin stated it) - the possibilty of great positive changes to come is definetely present!

[P.O.U.M]

I dont think anyone here really thinks America is actually gonna go fascist. I just posted the points just cuz i found it funny.

It was to me nothing but an attempt, a failed a attempt, to be cute.:(

Intresting conversation has arose out of this though. Though I do find it amusing that even Alan Woods thought there was a threat of fascism no more than 2 years ago.

Is there a threat of fascism in Europe?

[Daymare17]

Comrade P.O.U.M., if you examine that article I think you'll find that Woods is arguing the opposite. He polemicises against the sects and explains how there is not a serious threat of fascism. Just look:

We must, of course, combat reaction and racism at all times. But it is a serious mistake to sound the alarm bells and start shouting about fascism every time some reactionary demagogue gets an increase in votes. Such behaviour can seriously disorient the working class and actually disarm them when the moment arrives to prepare for a real struggle against reaction.

At this moment in time the real fascist organisations have been reduced everywhere to virulent sects. They may resort to terrorist activities, but this only expresses their impotence. The reason for this is obvious. The ruling class does not need these elements at the present time. The electoral victory of Le Pen in the first round of the French election immediately revealed the real state of affairs. The workers and youth came out onto the streets in all the main cities of France. This must have set the alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power.

No, the bourgeoisie does not need the fascists at this stage. Their provocations can destabilise the situation and provoke a massive reaction on the part of the working class, as happened in Italy in 1960. If they go too far with their provocations, the bourgeois state will take action against them, like a man who uses a stick to control an unruly dog. But that does not mean that there is no danger of serious reaction in the future - quite the contrary.

Who has been proved right, the sects or the Marxists? Haider's fan club was recently shut down. Haider is now a complete nobody. And only a few years ago all the sects were shouting, fascism fascism fascism in Austria.

[the_sociallist]

Originally posted by ????
.........


If I say it will take a while.

Iran watch out!!

[NabberGnossi]

I don't think the US will become fascist, it doesn't have to. The US is controlled by other means, much more subtle than outright tyranny.

But it does have Mao-like posters asserting the leader's presence along freeways:

[the_sociallist]

Attention....January 20th there will be an counter-inaugural demonstration in Washington DC

http://www.answercoalition.org/