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U-Know! Forum » Neoliberal Fascism (No surprise to anybody!) |
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lawrence2 106 posts |
Aug 04, 2018, 14:52
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https://www.truthdig.com/articles/neoliberal-fascism-and-the-echoes-of-history/
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phallus dei 583 posts |
Edited Aug 05, 2018, 15:48
Aug 05, 2018, 15:47
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Thanks for sharing the article. I agree with the beginning and end, but find the author's reasoning skills in the middle to be lacking... Neoliberlaism is indeed the chief enemy facing the world. (Stuart Hall wrote a good book on the ideology and origins of Neoliberlism if you are interested.) As the author states, neoliberalism began in the late 70s and has continued since then, with a dramatic upturn after 9/11. This covers the presidencies of Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton, and Obama. Trump, on the other hand, has been in power for less than two years. And, unlike his predecessors, he has faced unremitting hostility from congress and the press. If he was part of the same neoliberal order, then wouldn't the establishment and its mouthpiece (the media) embrace him? How does directing public hostility against Trump strengthen the same order which has been in place since the late 70s? The author never addresses this question, probably because the obvious answer it that Trump's policies go against neoliberalism. Trump, and other populist movements around the globe, are an attempt to reclaim democracy from the neoliberal order. The author mentions several systemic problems facing America - 2.5 million in jail, 47% of children under five living in low income families, the opioid crisis, the lack of drinking water in Flint, Michigan. Is Trump the cause of these problems? No, they all started and grew exponentially under previous presidents. The author almost admits this, but still decides to blame Trump at the end: "Fascism in the United States has arrived slowly by subversion from within. Its roots have been on display for decades and emerged most visibly with President George W. Bush’s and then President Barack Obama’s war on terror. Bush, in particular, embraced unapologetically a raw display of power that sanctioned torture, domestic spying, secret prisons, kill lists, laws sanctioning indefinite detention, warrantless searches and war crimes. Obama did little to correct these legal illegalities and Trump has only breathed new life into them." Actually, Obama did nothing to counter these crimes. Despite running on a progressive platform, once in office (for eight years!) he continued domestic surveillance, prosecuted whistle blowers,and expanded America's imperial reach. Doesn't that make Obama more of a tyrant than Trump? An intellectually honest appraisal of Trump would look at the effects of his policies, and then compare those policies to those of previous presidents. The author does not do that. Instead, the author either blames Trump for the crimes of his predecessors, or simply highlights Trump's rhetoric over his actions. In this manner, the author is able to make Trump a "fascist". But juxtaposing Trump's words with a recount of Nazi atrocities is not enough to "prove" that Trump is of the same fascist cloth. Nor does it show that America is about to open the gas chambers. Hitler had the backing of the German establishment; Trump does not. Hitler had paramilitary thugs (the SS) tied to his organization and under his payroll; Trump does not. Once in power, Hitler had the state and media firmly under his control; Trump clearly does not. Hitler unambiguously promoted a race-based ideology; Trump has repeatedly disavowed racism. "Trump = Hitler" is a strawman argument. It's only purpose is to stifle debate, to lead to the very loss of critical thought that the author allegedly bemoans.
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lawrence2 106 posts |
Aug 06, 2018, 02:13
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Well yes I see the difference but in no way I'm a fan of Trump at all. Again he is in no way as bad as George W. was but in many ways Trump is just as annoying. And frankly his policies are already looking bad on America. That's just my two cents. But at that I'm thinking he really HAD to have been president anyways simply because Hillary (however I voted for her holding my nose!) would've continued the neo-liberalism garbage that has ruined everything. THAT I agree with anyways but it doesn't make much of the Trump camp less annoying or grinding to the ears.
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phallus dei 583 posts |
Aug 06, 2018, 12:47
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lawrence2 wrote: Well yes I see the difference but in no way I'm a fan of Trump at all. Again he is in no way as bad as George W. was but in many ways Trump is just as annoying. And frankly his policies are already looking bad on America. That's just my two cents. But at that I'm thinking he really HAD to have been president anyways simply because Hillary (however I voted for her holding my nose!) would've continued the neo-liberalism garbage that has ruined everything. THAT I agree with anyways but it doesn't make much of the Trump camp less annoying or grinding to the ears. Yes, in terms of "appearance," Trump is less polished than his peers. But Obama, Hillary, Trudeau, and Macron all gained elite backing in part because they had the right "look" for the position. They could implement austerity with a few nice words and a smile. If we are going to free ourselves from neoliberalism, we'll need to start judging our leaders on their policies, not their looks or rhetoric. At least we are on the same page when it comes to George W!
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lawrence2 106 posts |
Aug 06, 2018, 12:59
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Well yes. :)
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Howburn Digger 986 posts |
Aug 21, 2018, 00:14
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phallus dei wrote: Trump is less polished than his peers. But Obama, Hillary, Trudeau, and Macron all gained elite backing in part because they had the right "look" for the position. They could implement austerity with a few nice words and a smile. If we are going to free ourselves from neoliberalism, we'll need to start judging our leaders on their policies, not their looks or rhetoric. This video is a mere 11 seconds of Hillary and she is so proud. People need to see Obama, Clintons et al for what they actually did and the wars they fermented and enabled. What a legacy. Rabid Neoliberal Fascists. https://youtu.be/mlz3-OzcExI
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phallus dei 583 posts |
Edited Aug 21, 2018, 13:07
Aug 21, 2018, 13:01
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Be sure to check out the remix version!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqYJRc0TJkQ One of the clearest depictions of the Empire I've seen.
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Howburn Digger 986 posts |
Edited Aug 26, 2018, 08:07
Aug 26, 2018, 08:07
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phallus dei wrote: Be sure to check out the remix version!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqYJRc0TJkQ One of the clearest depictions of the Empire I've seen. Holy motherfucking fuck. I've never seen (or heard) that before. Everyone on the planet should see and hear that.
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phallus dei 583 posts |
Edited Aug 26, 2018, 13:49
Aug 26, 2018, 13:11
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Howburn Digger wrote: phallus dei wrote: Be sure to check out the remix version!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqYJRc0TJkQ One of the clearest depictions of the Empire I've seen. Holy motherfucking fuck. I've never seen (or heard) that before. Everyone on the planet should see and hear that. Yes, that video is a classic. Watching it brought me a lot of joy during the election season. I'm sure if it was made now, it would be quickly flagged as "hate speech" or for being made by a "Russian bot". The Empire has learned its lesson, and is doing its best to make sure that something like 2016 never happens again.
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Ethericat 42 posts |
Aug 27, 2018, 11:10
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phallus dei wrote: Howburn Digger wrote: phallus dei wrote: Be sure to check out the remix version!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqYJRc0TJkQ One of the clearest depictions of the Empire I've seen. Holy motherfucking fuck. I've never seen (or heard) that before. Everyone on the planet should see and hear that. Yes, that video is a classic. Watching it brought me a lot of joy during the election season. I'm sure if it was made now, it would be quickly flagged as "hate speech" or for being made by a "Russian bot". The Empire has learned its lesson, and is doing its best to make sure that something like 2016 never happens again. I hardly ever come here these days, but I'd just like to say that both of your contributions in these and related discussions are excellent, and are properly informed insights outside of the identity politics group think echo chamber that is so prevalent online these days. Great stuff. Keep it up chaps.
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