” Fascism is a merger of state and corporate power.” MUSSOLINI
As the grandson of anti-Fascist Italian immigrants I grew up in a family keenly aware that the cancer of fascism did not die with the Allied victory in World War II in which my three uncles honorably served. My Dad taught me that we must be ever vigilant against its rise again.
In his message to Congress in 1938, President Roosevelt sounded the alarm :
” The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.”
WAKE UP, AMERICA !
The Trumpists are stealing our democracy !
Fred Rich LaRiccia
It may be uncomfortable for some progressives to accept, but it is probably important that we be aware at this early stage that if things really do get out of hand with Trump’s complete disrespect for the Constitution and targeting of vulnerable minorities because he controls all branches of the federal government, it could be that our only protection will be our local government and the local police and courts. So progressives should be strengthening our ties and lines of communication with local police forces now. As a criminal defense lawyer in the district courts of our state, I can tell you that most police officers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts understand that their job is a social service and public service job, most do remarkable work each and every day rescuing lives, de-escalating disputes, and assisting the public.
I’m volunteering in my hometown to manage a campaign for the Board of Selectmen in the upcoming Town Election on April 25.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
I expect to do three things in the new year to help fight this locally:
1) Become a teacher
This isn’t just out of self interest since I want a more stable, secure and meaningful career but also a way to spark the kind of civic knowledge and engagement we are going to need to revive to get ourselves out of this.
2) Be a bolder advocate for women, friends and family of color
We had four races represented at my thanksgiving table this year, all family by blood, marriage or adoption. I have to learn how to be more confrontational in sticking up not just for my own family and friends but strangers who feel under the microscope by this administration. Direct confrontation isn’t always my strong suit (despite appearances on this blog), but I can’t hesitate anymore.
3) Keep working on campaigns
I too will likely be helping a long time friend of mine run for city council in her hometown. One of the few upsides of Trump winning is the many people I’ve encountered who I encouraged to run now saying “yeah! Why not me?”. Particularly women and people of color. Passing the progressive income tax is directly related to helping the marginalized.
In other words, when I think about the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco my first thought is not, “You know, their problem was that they were too close to Wall Street (or European equivalent).”
Roosevelt may have been referring by attempts in our own country to remove him by force and replace him, which were supposedly backed by some high profile industrialists and revealed by Gen. Butler whom they reached out to as the man on the dark horse. Additionally, many German and Italian industrialists and nobility (initially anyway) backed the regimes of both facist states. The Italian and Japanese examples more closely linked large Fordist style conglomerates or concerns with the arms of the state. The German form of racism was a lot more explicitly racially nationalist in character.