On April 17, I wrote this popular blog: https://clarespark.com/2014/04/17/totalitarianism/. It was preceded by a related blog that also was popular: https://clarespark.com/2012/09/05/proto-fascism-and-the-democrat-peoples-community. The blogs on ‘totalitarianism’ got lots of views probably because it was not widely known at that time that there was a pseudo-democratic movement afoot to eliminate the Electoral College and substitute the trappings of a popular democracy, in effect, reversing the Constitution and eliminating the notion of a constitutional republic in favor of [mob rule, urban domination]. In other words, such details as the marketplace of ideas, checks and balances, and separation of powers would be obsolete and “anti-democratic” because they are ultimately controlled and defined by “the big money”—or so such blue-state politicians as Andrew Cuomo would have to argue.
We have seen the signs of such a transition to authoritarian statism already: the expedited passage of the Affordable Care Act (and then lawlessness in its implementation), the increasing power of the executive branch, the takeover of academe by “Democrats” who shamelessly proclaim themselves the police force that will patrol dissident factions (i.e., the Tea Party and all those who fear Big Government: see https://clarespark.com/2014/04/12/the-organization-of-american-historians-taking-sides/), and the turnaround of Brandeis University in the case of Ayaan Hirsi Ali—an insult supported by the Harvard Crimson staff, devoted as they are to multiculturalism, as opposed to the clash of civilizations thesis advanced by Hirsi Ali, who unequivocally states that there are no moderate Muslims. Similarly, the Secretary of State John Kerry’s deluded hope that he might broker a peace between Arabs and Israelis, reflects the assumptions of multiculturalism, as opposed to recognizing that there are some “differences” that are not only irreconcilable, but cannot be settled by mediation or “inclusion.” (And what the Left wants is a binational state, i.e., the end of a majority Jewish state, and the return of Jews to dhimmi status.) Soon we will all be requested to bow and scrape before our Platonic Guardians or the new nomenklatura.
Ever since I read Barack Obama’s two books in 2008, I have feared a bloodless transition to either fascism or communism. (Why bloodless? The population is so pacified/brainwashed, and force so unevenly distributed that I do not expect significant resistance.) BUT, I do not equate the two forms of statism, and have written extensively about this distinction in the past: The revolution of Communism promised to fulfill the promise of the Enlightenment with its ideal of individual emancipation, while Fascism (in all its variants) was a counter-Revolution that erased the Enlightenment, substituting the judenrein “people’s community” for the independent individual endowed with civil rights. Now look at the discourse of the Left and its stronghold in the Democratic Party: its key words are “families” or “the people” or “community”—entities that, in contrast to terroristic Republicans/Israelis/Goldfingers, are noted for their tender care and outreach to “the oppressed.”
One explicator of this crucial difference between fascism and communism was the late communist historian Eric Hobsbawm. See https://clarespark.com/2013/10/28/hobsbawm-israel-the-totalitarian-idea/. Sadly, Hobsbawm lacked the critical distance not to bash Israel and finance capital, as have other leftists, Karl Marx for instance in his early essay on “Money” as “the universal pimp.” But my most persuasive argument against the use of the word “totalitarian” is this: why are artists and dissidents murdered, locked up, or bought off in these omnipotent societies if it is so easy to impose total control on the population in societies with a tradition of cultural pluralism and at least a measure of free thought? Who but intellectuals benefit from this emphasis on the Soviets as compared to the Nazis and all their atrocities?
Two authors stand out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Nolte#The_Historikerstreit. Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origins_of_Totalitarianism (Hannah Arendt’s “great book”). Whatever their motives, such books and arguments take our attention away from the dynamics of Hitler’s rise to power and the unspeakable consequences of the Third Reich. As I write this, the factions that make up the right wing in America (not to be confused with the European Right) are still fighting with each other. Until the magnitude of the crisis that confronts us is broadly recognized and addressed in solidarity, excising those fringe groups and behaviors that really ARE racist, terroristic, populistic, and lawless (the Klan, Neo-Nazis, usually blamed by the Left on “the Right”), there is little doubt about who wins and who loses. If we get to 2016 without a coup (call it what you will), I will be the most surprised of anyone. 
The Clare Spark Blog 
[…] https://clarespark.com/2014/04/19/totalitarianism-2/ […]
Pingback by Index to blogs on “totalitarianism” | YDS: The Clare Spark Blog — October 8, 2014 @ 7:11 pm |
Must be nice to have a blog and shot racist things like “clash of civilizations…” with you at the vanguard protecting the palace walls from the great unwashed right? You are so un-American…we are diverse and America is becoming less white and Christian every day…get over it already.
Comment by GregAbdul — July 21, 2014 @ 7:54 pm |
To Greg Abdul: Why would you bother with a yahoo like me?
Comment by clarelspark — July 21, 2014 @ 7:58 pm |
Don’t worry (or may be you should): the ISLAMO-NAZI STÜRMTRUPPEN are attacking full scale everyone on the net who has ever spent a word against totalitarianism (HENCE against Islam) and even remotely has expressed ANY sympathy or whatever for of closeness to Israel.
These guys have an intellectual depth of an amoeba… Just check how many of them have ever had a Nobel Prize… They are the only people in whose UNIVERSITIES still have “professors” teaching that “the Earth is flat and it is anti Muslim propaganda to say the opposite”… (look for flat earth professor islam on Google)
Comment by HaDaR — July 21, 2014 @ 9:44 pm
Greg , America was founded by white Christians for the most part .
America is not about Christianity , as a country we support all true religions . By true I mean religions that have a moral base . I exclude Islam from that group as it is nothing more than a cult of hate and death .
As an American I accept anyone, regardless of color or religion , who wants to be an American . That means respecting our flag , country , beliefs and wanting to be known as an American . Not a Mexican/American , Latino – what ever that is , Japanese/American , Muslim , German / American etc..
If you want to turn America into where ever you came from – we have a problem .
Comment by Sleeper — July 21, 2014 @ 9:32 pm |
I do not believe that the Klan and neo-Nazis are right wing . The KKK was a Democrat reaction to the Civil War . The Klan – see Robert Byrd – has always been a proud part of the left in this country . The worse racists in this country have been Democrats – look at Lyndon Johnson . The Nazi were National Socialists . How is that right wing ? Anarchists , KKK and the neo-Nazi are left wing , it’s just that they are more honest and outspoken than their fellows .
As a side note the NRA was founded by ‘white’ Republicans to teach the emancipated slaves how to protect themselves from the southern white backlash – KKK .
Tell me where I am wrong .
I enjoy reading what you have to say but I have a struggle with all the labels that you use, but don’t stop, it keeps me thinking .
I believe that your last sentence is correct and I am thankful that I have no children .
Comment by Sleeper — April 20, 2014 @ 12:10 am |
The Nazis were a radical party that was initially in coalition with the European Right until the “conservative nationalists” departed 1936-38. The word “socialist” in NSDAP does not refer to communism but to sacrificing oneself to the Volk (“the people’s community”). Hitler purged the Strasser brothers in 1934 (they were indeed left-leaning populists). As for the Klan, they were started by some Democrats, but in the 20th century, have been nailed to other anti-communists and to others opposed to the civil rights movement by the left, including social democrats. I see them both (the Klan and the neo-Nazis) as being fringe groups that are up for grabs by either political party. Whatever they are, they are surely reactionaries and bigots.
Comment by clarelspark — April 20, 2014 @ 12:20 am |
The civil rights movement as championed by Martin L King had my complete support and admiration and I believe of most true Americans . The Southern Democratic governors where the ones flying the confederate flag and sending out the dogs . Our history has been re-writen .The movement was co-opted by Lyndon Johnson and his ilk and it was turned into set asides , quotas , welfare checks ,abortions , family destruction , pandering and the creation of a permanent class of resentful slaves . People like Sharpton and Jackson were put in charge of the plantation and any black with the audacity to reject the plantation was labeled Uncle Tom . I believe if MLK could see what passes for the ‘movement’ today, he would be as disgusted as I am .
JFK is a hero of the left . Compare an economic speech made by him to one by his brother Ted to see the difference .
Comment by Sleeper — April 20, 2014 @ 2:57 am
[…] I started out today thinking about chastising the careless use of the term “tolitarianism” by both Left and Right—who generally accuse their opponents of the T word. It is rather like a Nazi sign or a Hitler moustache painted on the Enemy du jour. (For a fuller account, see https://clarespark.com/2014/04/19/totalitarianism-2/) […]
Pingback by “Totalitarianism” | YDS: The Clare Spark Blog — April 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am |
I spread around a bit this one also to a few hundred people…with the subject: “This post is a real WOW (also hitting the nail on its head about Hannah Arendt)” …I really can’t stand both her, who was so assimilated that she could be the lover of a nazi (which is now beyond any reasonable doubt after the publication of Heidegger’s diaries!) and write lots of idiotic things about the Eichmann Trial (of which she did not even see the most important parts like the witnessing of “K-Tzetnik” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehiel_De-Nur and http://www.amazon.com/Ka-tzetnik-135633/e/B001JWUTL8) and the other guy, Ernst Nolte…with his historical reconstructive surgery of German virginity…
You are always very interesting…
Comment by HaDaR — April 19, 2014 @ 11:53 pm |