Really well-written. I love how you explain these things.
Big fan of this line in particular: "The leader is above the law because his followers feel he needs such unquestioned power to be able to properly protect them, a feeling he creates by filling them with fear of the other."
The 2024 election was the first time I was old enough to vote in a presidential election. I don't want it to be the last.
You should be read in every goddamned US classroom. Alas, our education objective is becoming a coloring book with no crayons, pens or pictures. Hate never felt so real.
I developed, on my own, the concept that capitalism and democracy are not compatible back in high school (1960s) and was roundly criticized for it by peers, teachers and my own parents. It is so refreshing to see, after all these years, a credible history scholar say the same thing. Thank you, James Fell, thank you endlessly. I just wish all those other assholes were still alive to know I was right all along. Maybe I'll take a page from Prof. Fell's script and just say "Fuck 'em all!" The shitheads.
Although still a little too young to create much of anything in the 60's, except some noise & show & tell projects, by the time I got to high school & college I had some kind of understanding that capitalism wasn't the be all & end all. At least not as it seemed to be heading, & I am not really financially astute. But something wasn't right. I also knew that the ideal of democracy wasn't the reality for many. But when I questioned these things, the adults around me, those who lived through the Depression & WWII would ask me if I was a socialist. Or communist. Or anything that didn't sound like a "patriotic American." Also, after a Jesus encounter which lead me to further awareness of how we're supposed to care for others, I continued to question why our country wasn't fulfilling it's states values. Again, "are you a communist, socialist blah blah ".
For all my naivete, I saw something unfolding & am now seeing the results, a long with you & others & it's not pretty.
So I say thanks to you & echo your thanks to James Fell. It's good to know I wasn't imagining things. 🌿🕊️🌿
RAH did one better. In that or another story, he projected a theocracy to arise. We are nearly there.
I did a paper once a long time ago. I conducted research using the written sermons from the pulpit during the Revolutionary War. Most of them were again the war of separation. They claimed God anointed and selected our kings, and to rise against them was a war against God and the authority of the church leaders. The same spiel was trotted out in the last couple of elections.
James, I misread this sentence right chere: "I think Dear Leader would appreciate me storming the Capitol Building and tasing my balls in the process. "
My initial read switched tasting for tasing. I didn't immediately notice because... that seemed reasonable for one of the repressed members of DaCult!
Awesome piece my friend. This gets restacked in addition to being shared.
James, BRILLIANT! But "brilliance" is only a value to those who understand brilliance when they see it. Most of Trump's supporters couldn't finish a quarter of this, with a gun held to their heads.
The people who value "thinking" is diminishing every day here and has been for decades.
Our "Democratic" system was broken back in 2016 when it allowed a person like Trump to become the President! Then and there, it should have been cast aside and a new system created. Maybe something as simple as a "military coup" and having them install a benevolent dictator for a number of years.
People are already talking about "just wait until 2026" and the Dems will take over like a Blue Wave...yeah, that ain't gonna happen, Trump even thinks he'll lose control and he'll cancel the Elections....
I beleive THAT window of opportunity has been closed...maybe forever...
Thanks for this post, a goodly detailed history of fascism and its allure for some people. Capitalism as an economic engine depends upon constant "growth"; allowing billionaires to take and keep all resources, and the labor of people, in order to enrich themselves even more. Leaving the 98% of us non-millionaires scrambling to survive. And susceptible to a fascist creed of "order", that promises falsely to lift us up to prosperity.
You might also be interested to know that there's a theory in Australia that the CIA was involved with The Dismissal, when Gough Whitlam's government was dismissed by the Governor General.
Whitlam was far too left wing for the US's comfort - sewerage for all! free tertiary education! pensions for single mothers! free healthcare! - so the idea that the CIA (and the Queen & Prince Charles - that's confirmed) had a hand in it isn't completely far-fetched.
If you ever have spare time, you might enjoy reading The Palace Papers, one academic's dogged pursuit of the letters between the palace and the then-govenor general.
I was doing my hair in my bathroom in Brisbane when Parliament failed to agree on a budget for the magic third time and the Governor General dissolved it, calling for new elections. It was momentous. And then liberal Malcolm “Life isn’t meant to be easy” Fraser was elected. This is the first I’ve heard of the CIA and Royals involvement.
Really well-written. I love how you explain these things.
Big fan of this line in particular: "The leader is above the law because his followers feel he needs such unquestioned power to be able to properly protect them, a feeling he creates by filling them with fear of the other."
The 2024 election was the first time I was old enough to vote in a presidential election. I don't want it to be the last.
This is a beautifully written and concise explanation of fascism. Thank you.
My hope is that the US is not totally destroyed by these thugs.
We are walking a tightrope.
You should be read in every goddamned US classroom. Alas, our education objective is becoming a coloring book with no crayons, pens or pictures. Hate never felt so real.
I developed, on my own, the concept that capitalism and democracy are not compatible back in high school (1960s) and was roundly criticized for it by peers, teachers and my own parents. It is so refreshing to see, after all these years, a credible history scholar say the same thing. Thank you, James Fell, thank you endlessly. I just wish all those other assholes were still alive to know I was right all along. Maybe I'll take a page from Prof. Fell's script and just say "Fuck 'em all!" The shitheads.
Although still a little too young to create much of anything in the 60's, except some noise & show & tell projects, by the time I got to high school & college I had some kind of understanding that capitalism wasn't the be all & end all. At least not as it seemed to be heading, & I am not really financially astute. But something wasn't right. I also knew that the ideal of democracy wasn't the reality for many. But when I questioned these things, the adults around me, those who lived through the Depression & WWII would ask me if I was a socialist. Or communist. Or anything that didn't sound like a "patriotic American." Also, after a Jesus encounter which lead me to further awareness of how we're supposed to care for others, I continued to question why our country wasn't fulfilling it's states values. Again, "are you a communist, socialist blah blah ".
For all my naivete, I saw something unfolding & am now seeing the results, a long with you & others & it's not pretty.
So I say thanks to you & echo your thanks to James Fell. It's good to know I wasn't imagining things. 🌿🕊️🌿
This is an amazing piece, with such a deep insight on the appeal of fascism to the MAGA folk.
Awesome work as usual.
James, that was amazing.
RAH did one better. In that or another story, he projected a theocracy to arise. We are nearly there.
I did a paper once a long time ago. I conducted research using the written sermons from the pulpit during the Revolutionary War. Most of them were again the war of separation. They claimed God anointed and selected our kings, and to rise against them was a war against God and the authority of the church leaders. The same spiel was trotted out in the last couple of elections.
James, I misread this sentence right chere: "I think Dear Leader would appreciate me storming the Capitol Building and tasing my balls in the process. "
My initial read switched tasting for tasing. I didn't immediately notice because... that seemed reasonable for one of the repressed members of DaCult!
Awesome piece my friend. This gets restacked in addition to being shared.
A very powerful piece, James. Thank you. This should get a very wide distribution.
James, BRILLIANT! But "brilliance" is only a value to those who understand brilliance when they see it. Most of Trump's supporters couldn't finish a quarter of this, with a gun held to their heads.
The people who value "thinking" is diminishing every day here and has been for decades.
Our "Democratic" system was broken back in 2016 when it allowed a person like Trump to become the President! Then and there, it should have been cast aside and a new system created. Maybe something as simple as a "military coup" and having them install a benevolent dictator for a number of years.
People are already talking about "just wait until 2026" and the Dems will take over like a Blue Wave...yeah, that ain't gonna happen, Trump even thinks he'll lose control and he'll cancel the Elections....
I beleive THAT window of opportunity has been closed...maybe forever...
The US is fucked.
Thanks for this post, a goodly detailed history of fascism and its allure for some people. Capitalism as an economic engine depends upon constant "growth"; allowing billionaires to take and keep all resources, and the labor of people, in order to enrich themselves even more. Leaving the 98% of us non-millionaires scrambling to survive. And susceptible to a fascist creed of "order", that promises falsely to lift us up to prosperity.
Excellent piece. The writing is top notch, and the presentation is both factual *and* engaging. Thank you!
You might also be interested to know that there's a theory in Australia that the CIA was involved with The Dismissal, when Gough Whitlam's government was dismissed by the Governor General.
Whitlam was far too left wing for the US's comfort - sewerage for all! free tertiary education! pensions for single mothers! free healthcare! - so the idea that the CIA (and the Queen & Prince Charles - that's confirmed) had a hand in it isn't completely far-fetched.
If you ever have spare time, you might enjoy reading The Palace Papers, one academic's dogged pursuit of the letters between the palace and the then-govenor general.
I was doing my hair in my bathroom in Brisbane when Parliament failed to agree on a budget for the magic third time and the Governor General dissolved it, calling for new elections. It was momentous. And then liberal Malcolm “Life isn’t meant to be easy” Fraser was elected. This is the first I’ve heard of the CIA and Royals involvement.
Well said. I'm standing and giving you a golf clap in this diner, right now. You nailed it.
Absolutely brilliant.