Patriotism is just nationalism dressed up pretty – both despicable. One people – one world – all important.
The cause of fascism?
It’s when people start being in fear of their jobs or struggling to survive. They look for the reasons. The fascist politicians like Trump point to immigrants, blacks and Latinos. They say stupid shit like Make America Great Again, Build Walls and support outdated industry.
It’s no answer but it makes sense to some people.
The real problem is inequality. AI and automation have made ordinary workers redundant. Outsourcing to third world countries with cheap labour and terrible work conditions, no health and safety and no environmental limitations exacerbates the problem.
The rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Trump was cynical. He played on the fears and hopes. He is a billionaire, masquerading as a friend to the poor, who was feathering his nest, stirring up division and hate and coming up with silly solutions for his own ends..
Walls and old tech are not going to solve this. The wealthy have to be taxed more leading to a greater distribution of wealth. At present, it is all being channelled to the top.
We’re only seeing the tip of this. Much worse is to come.
When driverless cars and self-stacking supermarkets happen the drivers and shelf-stackers on zero-hours will be pushed out. The majority of people will not be needed. The wealthy owners will take all the money.
We either sort it with taxation or we end up with the extreme wealthy living in walled communities protected by drones and robots while the rest of us fight it out for scraps in order to survive on nothing. That’s when it descends into Mad Max and fascism.
The people who support Trump or Bolsonaro foolishly think these macho guys will fix it.
The macho guys like Trump and Bolsonaro are conning them all. They are part of the problem. They are the billionaires siphoning off the money. They don’t want to ‘fix’ the problem. They offer short-term solutions.
Fascism breeds off fear, insecurity, inequality and dread of the future. Fascism requires scapegoats, elitism and easy solutions. Fascism is the ultimate right-wing control.
fascism has always been close in american politics since before wwII. fascism in those days in those days kept america out of the early part of that war. now fascism is back in the guise of “two party” politics in the states. It has been top down fed and coddled, and now defended. we are sooo fucked.
Yes it is clear to see. There is this strange American dilemma of freedom and selfishness coupled with generosity. Status is based on how much you earn. It’s an insecurity. There is this macho John Wayne mentality that we sort out our own problems and don’t let the state interfere. Who needs police? Who needs education? Who needs health care?
it has been hard watching so many people, hungry….no primary job, no second or third job…months owed in back rent. No future/ geeze *sigh*
Yes. There are big social problems that need solving.