The Fascist Politics of the Pandemic

[swag]

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/coronavirus-fuels-fascist-politics-by-federico-finchelstein-and-jason-stanley-2020-05?fbclid=IwAR3zFt_sqZt9-5cTCpKP9_0oZHo3sbThLVkp4c2bPOfkQs4aYB9ZBbYCYCg

Excerpt:

There is nothing like a pandemic to bring out the fascist ideology in countries under far-right rule. In the world's three largest democracies, national leaders are using the COVID-19 crisis to wage war on immigrants and minorities, while testing the limits of common sense.

NEW YORK/NEW HAVEN – In stark contrast to the effective leadership shown by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Singapore’s autocratic technocracy, the world’s far-right nationalists have met the COVID-19 crisis with something not seen in decades: the fascist politics of disease. And no one typifies this brand of politics better than Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro.

True, a few other world leaders – including Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and the dictators of Belarus, Turkmenistan, and North Korea – still deny that the coronavirus poses any threat. But, among coronavirus deniers, Bolsonaro is in a league of his own.
Among other things, Bolsonaro recently fired Brazil’s minister of health, Luiz Mandetta, merely for advocating mild social-distancing measures. Bolsonaro seems to be emulating his US counterpart, Donald Trump, who recently ousted a senior health official for resisting his efforts to champion an unproven treatment for COVID-19.

Throughout the crisis, Trump has been out of his depth, oscillating incoherently between denial and calls for decisive action, and most recently speculating that the coronavirus could be treated by injecting household disinfectants. And yet he and Bolsonaro channel the same political impulse to place themselves above science and expertise, exalting their own gut instincts and justifying their decisions with faith and myth. Though their “strategies” are superficially distinct, both share a fascist historical background, which centers around the cult of a leader and the myth of national greatness – a greatness that has supposedly been compromised by internationalism and liberalism (which fascists equate with communism).

Around the world, far-right leaders’ responses to the pandemic feature key elements of fascist ideology. After members of Spain’s right-wing nationalist Vox party were infected at their own political rallies, they suggested that their antibodies represented the nation’s fight against a foreign invader. As one Vox leader, Javier Ortega Smith, put it, “my Spanish antibodies fight against the damned Chinese viruses.”

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[Newest Reality]

1. Good take!

If you didn't realize that Trump is the equivalent of a Fascist dictator, (American style) raise your hand.

I am not saying that to lash out in a partisan way at him. It just seems that overlooking the implications of that are a problem, since it gives excuses to Trump that he does not deserve. If you don't get the modus oporandi at the core of the phenomena around him and that this is not about his personality disorders, (which seem to actually help him succeed, if you notice) or just incompetence, (sure, he has a narrow knowledge base and limited vocabulary) then his confidence game is succeeding on both sides of the partisan divide.

I only stress that here now and then because it is HOW you see it that makes the big difference. This Orange Rodent is shifty and an expert at the confidence game. He has a history of it and I would bet that his time as a Confidential Informant when he rated on his mobster buddies and gained immunity as well as his real success, money laundering, were great practice. Even a mobster can't trust him. He's what they used to call a rat fink. When it comes to being a manipulative criminal, you are dealing with one of the best ever. It comes naturally to him and he has a host of tactics to fire out at us. There are more on the way.

In that case, put nothing past him. This next six-months will be very dangerous for our democracy and the health and vitality of our country, despite what his fawning base imagine in their delusions about their authority figure. Most of all, see through his tactics and don't be a mark because you can do so unwittingly by going with the impressions he creates purposefully. That takes more effort and observation, but it may help us all in the long-run.

Oh, yes, he is wearing down. It does take effort to create a reality like that. His age works for us and we may see more cracks. However, that won't stop the will to power and the attempt to take America over.

[alwaysinasnit]

2. +1000

Regardless of the Bungler-in-Chief wearing down, he has a massive army of enablers who will continue to bolster him. I am certain that these thugs are currently working on remaining in power so, like you, I believe something really nasty is heading our way to finish tipping our democracy into the abyss.

[live love laugh]

3. I am always posting my Fascism summary on RW sites being the proud liberal troll that I am

Characteristics of Republican Fascism

✅ contempt for democracy (voter suppression) education, free speech, facts and truth
✅ belief in single party, rule by the rich
✅ $$$ over lives (Covid “liberation”)
✅ give taxpayer $$$ to billionaires
✅ takeover/privatize schools, media to promote propaganda
✅ separate racial, religious groups


Fascism is authoritarian, right wing government by a dictator (ie. a president who thinks they’re above the law). It’s complete control by whim rather than rule of law (ie. promoting divisiveness for personal gain.)