tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877349281521352496.post8582095693093801158..comments2023-10-11T03:05:24.811-07:00Comments on Essayist-Lawyer: The Tea Party and FascismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877349281521352496.post-63328178852989777072013-10-26T13:52:23.022-07:002013-10-26T13:52:23.022-07:00Well, thanks. I always appreciate comments by str...Well, thanks. I always appreciate comments by strangers. And it is an interesting insight you have there. Looking back over my analysis, I do not believe the Tea Party shares any of the ultimate goals for society with classical fascists, They are more like hard-line libertarians who want a return to the Gilded Age. Nor are they fascistic in their methods (although problematic in other ways). <br /><br />But I do believe the Tea Party shares many of the "mobilizing passions" of fascism, and that this makes them dangerous. I suppose you may be right that if they find a charismatic leader like Ted Cruz, they may begin to share most of the mobilizing passions of fascism, though none of its ideology and goals. And it may indeed be worth considering how dangerous that is.Essayist-Laywerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04888789551503637986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877349281521352496.post-32453494808562521832013-10-25T12:44:14.916-07:002013-10-25T12:44:14.916-07:00Not sure I agree with your analysis. First, I th...Not sure I agree with your analysis. First, I think the Tea Party is actually in its incipient stage. There are people in the movement who don't look like your typical European fascist but there are others like Ted Cruz who appear to have the same kind of contempt of democracy as being too wishy washy and a deep penchant for demagoguery and the use of propaganda as a political strategy that characterized the leading fascists of Europe's past. If these types of people come to dominate the Tea party then I think you will begin to check off more of the fascist characteristics over time. <br /><br />Also note that there is no reason American fascism need exactly model the origins and nature of European fascism. I think the more generic authoritarianism aspect of fascism has at its root the notion: "I know better how the world should work than you do and if I can't convince you then I will manipulate you into following my vision or if that fails force you". <br /><br />To summarize, I think your analysis is premature and may be misinterpreted as saying "don't worry its not fascist" instead of what is should say which is "currently it is not fascist but there are fascist components to it which may or may not grow over time so we should continue to be concerned about it"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10632909688084363396noreply@blogger.com