HardSchell Report

Is the US descending into fascism?
What would be the indicators?

Fascism: authoritarian ultra nationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimentation of society and of the economy which came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.

Chicago Anti Fascism Rally 9-5-20:

I wanted to learn more about the current anti-fascist movement which is worried about encroaching authoritarianism in the US.

So, I attended an anti fascist rally in Chicago sponsored by a few different organizations. There was a modest but enthusiastic crowd and several speakers enumerating the injustices that we all can see, including egregious police killings, unequal educational, housing, and job opportunities, and garden variety abuses of power.

Passion and enthusiasm were abundant. But, I wanted to hear about ideas for change (other than a “mass mobilization” and “revolution” which would finally give power to the “proletariat” (as Friedrich Engels noted in the English edition of Marx’s Manifesto in 1888:  “the class of modern workers who, having no means of production of their own, are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live.”)

A pamphlet was distributed at the rally with a long, all caps title:

ON THE IMMEDIATE CRITICAL SITUATION,
THE URGENT NEED TO DRIVE OUT THE FASCIST TRUMP/PENCE REGIME,
VOTING IN THIS ELECTION,
AND THE FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR REVOLUTION

The 16 page pamphlet reviles the current “system of capitalism-imperialism …” and suggests that it “… must be overthrown and replaced by a radically different and far better system, in order to abolish and uproot all relations of exploitation and oppression, and the violent conflicts they give rise to … .” Why? “In everything we do … our consistent approach is, and must be, to make all this serve that fundamental goal of revolution and the emancipation of all humanity.“

Where’s the Plan?

I agree there are areas of serious concern with the current administration, which hopefully will be consigned to history on January 21, 2021:

• Lies about the Pandemic
• Undisciplined and inward-looking relations with Russia, China, North Korea, the Europeans, and basically 95% of the world that is not US.
• Attempts to delegitimize the free press
• Support for crazy conspiracy theories
• Climate change denial and suppression of government research
• Application of Justice Department and State Department for political activities
• Family members given high level responsibilities within the administration
• Animus against immigrants.

But, listening to most of the speakers made me think they were living in or at least promoting a fantasy of something like Che and Fidel in the jungle fighting Fulgencio Batista’s soldiers.  

I sympathize with the rally speakers but, I am frustrated that all this energy and passion is expelled into the air and left to drift away. There is no revolutionary plan or potential for “mass mobilization” as dreamed of.

Let’s realistically
work on
fixing the problems!