The fed is a powerful institution, but its power is contingent on two factors: the cohesion of the ruling elite, and cooperation of the states. My argument was that none of these factors would obtain. Fascist mobilization could occur as a result of struggle among elites, and states would respond differently to that mobilization.
Of course we can argue that in this hypothetical situation the fed's response would be to maintain control by force. They did during the Civil War and gain, albeit on a smaller scale, during the Civil Rights movement. But I think that this outcome would be less likely than a breakup of the union for a very simple reason - I do not think that modern day Americans have much taste for a war, let alone a civil war.
Wojtek
On Sat, Feb 20, 2010 at 5:30 PM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
>
> On Feb 20, 2010, at 5:23 PM, Marv Gandall wrote:
>
> Doug jokes that their ancestors tried secession once before. Except for
>> the Emancipation Act, I'm still not persuaded that their defeat was a good
>> thing. :)
>>
>
> It was a serious joke. I mean, really - isn't the secession issue closed?
> The U.S. has many problems, but its federal gov is the most powerful
> institution in the world. Try to challenge it and you'll end up dead.
>
> People make a comparison to the USSR. The ruling class of the USSR wanted
> to destroy it. They wanted to become a capitalist ruling class and steal
> state property. It worked. But it's not like it fell spontaneously.
>
> Doug
>
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