OK, how about starting with the simple logical fallacy test:
Fascism is bad
Government Repression is bad
therefore
Government Repression = Fascism
Unless we can agree that this is not a valid argument, there is no point in having a further discussion.
:-)
It is similar to the equally ridiculous:
Capitalism is bad
Fascism is bad
Capitalism = Fascism
proposed by the Dimitrov-huggers.
Another step is agreeing that not all forms of fascism are Nazism or neonazism.
Fascism comes in three flavors:
1) Italian corporatism 2) German "master race" Nazism 3) Clerical fascism
Another question is if there is a difference between ethnonationalist discrimination and genocide.
Another question is if there is a difference between fascism social/political movmeents and fascist state power.
Only by overcooking all of this into an undifferentiated hyperbolic rhetorical gruel can the question be asked:
Is the United States the New Nazism?
Now if you want to step back from wretched rhetoric excess and have a discussion about how terrible and alarming is the wave of government repression, I will probably agree with you completely, even down to the echoes of fascism.
However if you want to assert there is no difference between 1930's Germany and 2002 in the US, then what's the point? Surely you can find as many books as I can discussing recent research on fascism, or noting the differences between repressive capitalist "democracy," right-wing military dictatorships, left-wing Stalinist purges, and the Nazi genocide.
Which brings us back to the first point: Just becasue it is bad, doesn't make it Nazism.
The political repression of people perceived to be Arab and/or Muslim is terrible and we all need to oppose it. This opposition is not assisted by claiming we live in a police state or are on the verge of Nazi-style genocide.
-Chip
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Chuck Grimes
> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 11:39 AM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: RE: The New Nazism
>
>
>
> ``...There are many forms of authoritarian repression other than
> fascism. It is important not to lump them all together because the
> proper response depends on the proper analysis...'' Chip Berlet
>
> ----------
>
> Okay, I knew we were going to get this lecture, despite the fact that
> the US executive branch is now empowered to carry out police state
> repression of an entire class of people on their own say so alone.
>
> The structural or legislative foundation for a nazi-like state is an
> accomplished fact, with a racialized target---arab, middle eastern,
> non-citizen. That must cover several hundred thousand people and if
> you toss in latin americans by mistake, then probably a million or
> more.
>
> The administration is now in disparate need of a concrete scapegoat,
> because the Afghanistan war is essentially over as is the blood lust
> over Sept 11. The administration is working very hard to keep this
> going, and it is in fact collapsing. So they are in the position of
> manufacturing an enemy. All of this is at the cusp of being outright
> fascist. Sure it isn't quite there yet.
>
> So, specifically how would you characterize the US state of affairs,
> in relation to fascism, naziism and their authoritarian states?
>
> Chuck Grimes
>