Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe day a vice president accused 'several million' Americans of being fascists
Link to tweet
https://www.editorialboard.com/the-day-a-vice-president-accused-several-million-americans-of-being-fascists/
Its fair to say the Editorial Board uses fascism too broadly. This week, one of our readers wrote in to admonish an interviewee for branding things she doesnt like with the word.
Its also fair to say we use fascism too narrowly. By doing so, we leave out a lot of our history, which, you know, is kinda sorta fascist. If youre someone who believes the US is the land of the free, a beacon of hope around the world, a shining city on the hill, using fascist to describe Americas past will probably cause discomfort.
The symptoms of fascist thinking are colored by environment and adapted to immediate circumstances. But always and everywhere they can be identified by their appeal to prejudice and by the desire to play upon the fears and vanities of different groups in order to gain power.
Henry Wallace wasnt squeamish about calling a spade a spade. He was one of Franklin Roosevelts vice president (the 1940 election). He also had been the leader of what used to be called the Progressive Party. In 1944, the Times asked him to define what fascism means. The result was a document that could have been written yesterday.
Wallace wrote:
If we define an American fascist as one who in case of conflict puts money and power ahead of human beings, then there are undoubtedly several million fascists in the United States. There are probably several hundred thousand if we narrow the definition to include only those who in their search for money and power are ruthless and deceitful.
That sounds like a lot of people we know:
* The J6 insurgents
* Donald Trumps family
* Donald Trumps cronies
* The Republicans
* and the very obscenely rich people who continue to fund them
Wallace, moreover, wasnt squeamish about saying something else that needed saying. There were several million fascists in the United States happy to collude with the enemy if thats what it took to rule.
*snip*
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 1635 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (27)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The day a vice president accused 'several million' Americans of being fascists (Original Post)
Nevilledog
Feb 2022
OP
Cha
(297,240 posts)1. Rt TY.. at first I was
thinking VP Harris!
empedocles
(15,751 posts)2. Interesting find
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)3. Henry Wallace was a brilliant man
in a family of notable people. 3 or 4 secretaries of agriculture, founder of Wallaces Farmer magazine, a couple of college professors, founder of Pioneer Hybrid seed corn company, hung out with George Washington Carver as a child, plant geneticist, and advocate of world peace.
A block from my home is a peace monument to Wallace and George Washington Carter. Were proud of both these men.