Whether On the March in Berlin or At a Trump Rally – The Fascist Mobs Support the Nihilism of Fascism
“NIHILISM” is an interesting word;
but not a word used often in our daily
discourse or our daily routine. It is a word that aptly describes what happens
when we abandon the fundamental principles of positive social interaction. One
dictionary (New World) indicates a Latin derivation from the word ‘nihilum’
that conveys the meaning of something so trivial it equates to ‘nothing.’ Three
categories of definition spell out its meanings in more depth:
(1) Philosophy a) the denial of the
existence of any basis for knowledge or truth
b) the general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion,
etc. (2) the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in existence (3) Politics a) the doctrine
that existing social, political and economic institutions must be completely
destroyed in order to make way for new institutions b) a movement in Russia (c. 1860-1917)
which advocated such revolutionary reform and attempted to carry it out through
the use of some terrorism and assassination
c) loosely, any violent revolutionary
movement involving the use of terrorism.”
With those definitions in mind, let
us recall statements from Trump World, which apply to his attempt to become the
first elected long-term despot of this nation in 2024. That is now the one
purpose of this man: to reclaim the office “stolen” from him in 2020 by so-called
fraudulent votes and practices. He is already using intentional strategies and tools
of politics and government to make that a reality. An extended term as
president with absolute control has been the aim of Trump ever since he
announced his candidacy in 2015. He said on that June 16 occasion that
ü
the
American dream is dead
ü
our
leadership is weak; that he was strong and successful enough to take care of
all our problems caused by those weak leaders.
ü
Now, our country needs a truly great leader.. We
need a leader that wrote “The Art of the Deal.”
We need somebody that can take the brand of the United States and make
it great again.
ü
He will be the greatest jobs president that God
ever created. .
ü
He will bring back our jobs from China, from
Mexico, from Japan, from so many places. He’ll bring back our jobs, and he’ll
bring back our money.
ü
he knows the smartest negotiators in the world and
will put them one for each country.
The announcement of Trump’s
presidential candidacy on June 16, 2015, at Trump Tower in Manhattan, told us
more than was realized at the time (see my Posts at Nov. 17, 21, 30/2015). What
has followed that event right up until today has been a litany of words and
behaviors related to those definitions of nihilism. Let us recount some of the
ways:
1) the
denial of the existence of any basis for knowledge or truth
n The
lies and misinformation surrounding his approach to the COVID19 pandemic were
all we needed to understand that Trump had fallen deep into Nihilism. He denied
that COVID19 was a deadly virus and declared his belief that it would go away on
its own; he recommended deadly remedies; he blamed China; he gave up leadership
of the fight and let state Governors struggle with the growing need for
supplies and the expanding number of fatalities. He even denied the simple acts
of mask-wearing and social-distancing would have any significant effect and he
refused to do either. Even when he tested positive himself and became ill, he ignored
the fact that he could be a spreader of the disease and he engaged in public
events and close-up interactions (with secret service for instance).
n According
to the Hollywood Reporter, an email was sent out by Extra Mile
Casting to recruit extras “to wear t-shirts and carry signs and help cheer him
in support of his (presidential-run) announcement” in June of 2015. (Truthout.com)
n Insults
flowed based on false assumptions and prejudices– toward rivals like Marco Rubio;
countries like Mexico and “Islamic” nations and people: “They’re sending
people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us.
They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists…”
n He
Demeaned reporters and the work of the media as exaggerated and full of lies;
there was talk of ‘alternative facts’ and repetitive mention of their corrupt
reporting
n Did
a similar number on election workers, election officials and election system
claiming it was all ‘rigged’ with fraudulent votes – he called his 2020 loss
the ‘big steal’ and the ‘big lie’ but could never prove anything in court
n Fully
supported state efforts to:
disenfranchise groups of voters; to gerrymander voting districts and to intimidate workers and voters and voting
officials; especially focused on people of color
n Tried
to induce election officials to find or declare votes for him (Georgia); set up bogus reviews to change or invalidate
votes (Arizona; Wisconsin)
n Called
for the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021, to attempt to have Congress and Mike
Pence decertify the election results and have Congress vote for President where
he would win;
n After
the warm-up violent confrontation at Charlottesville, he spoke of “fine people
on both sides” as though truth did not matter
n It
appears he may have had an integral part in the planning for the insurrection
at the Capitol on January 6, 2021; some arrested have asserted that they were only
doing what they “were called or ordered to do” in loyalty to their president
n Six
months later, Trump praised his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in a
violent attempt to overturn President Joe Biden’s
2020 election victory. “These were peaceful people, these were great
people,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News host
Maria Bartiromo. Recalling the events of Jan. 6, Trump claimed “there was love
in the air” at his rally earlier that day at the White House, and falsely said
there was a “lovefest between the Capitol Police and the people that
walked down to the Capitol.”
n “They are military people, and police officers and construction workers,” he added. “They are tremendous. In many cases, tremendous people.” In truth, the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol was a shocing and horrifying event, but the gap between truth and fiction had grown into a chasm.
2)The doctrine that existing social, political and economic institutions must be destroyed to make way for new institutions. We do not have enough room or time to list all the “deconstruction” of norms, policies, institutions that the twice-impeached Donald J. Trump has attacked or destroyed in his perverted quest for “absolute power.” Let us simply remind ourselves of a few major deconstructions that have happened under his watch:
n The Republican Party in shambles and under
his control; he chooses who will run for office and what policies will be
pursued
n The Congress has lost its power to function as
an independent branch because of Trump assertion of Executive Privilege and
refusal to allow Congress to conduct oversight, enforced by those Republican
officeholders who have become his ardent followers and apologists. Trump has
captured the Congress
n Likewise,
his capture of the Supreme Court through nomination of loyal Right-wing Justices
in the majority and by appointing his loyalists to many lower court judgeships.
Trump has captured the Judiciary, but only if no SCOTUS Justice “jumps ship.”
n His
use of his power to hire and fire key administrators has taken some
independence away from Executive Departments, e.g., Attorney General and DoJ;
FBI Director, EPA Director. Some results: AG loss of independence and status as
lawyer for the People became lawyer for the President and pursued cases and
matters Trump dictated; firing of FBI Director Comey may have prevented
investigations into Trump practices; At the EPA, Trump was able to appoint
loyalists who conducted deep recission of industry-hampering regulations.
n His
use of the powers of the presidency to intimidate and control underlings,
contributors and recipients, as well as office seekers has destroyed the norm
that officeholders must not manage or control certain assets while in office
n His
many power-grabs have resulted in government being used as a personal tool to
advance his family’s business, his own wealth, and the absolute power that he
needs to satisfy his overblown ego; as dictators have always done.
n His position allows him access to world
leaders and to their country’s aggrandizement of the family business
enterprises thus deconstructing foreign diplomatic mission into promotion and
cheerleading
n He
has also damaged the approaches we as a nation need to counter dictatorial
powers which is the ability to call them to account when necessary – Trump
adoration of absolute power held by the likes of Putin, Kim Jong- Un and Erdogan
forestalled and prevented any aggressive U.S. response to invasion of Ukraine,
to North Korean missile launches or to Turkey’s capture of Kurdish rebels.
n Destruction
of our electoral system, along with lack of accountability in government, has
led to a situation where future elections may all be subject to charges of corruption
and over-throw actions. By his constant harping on election fraud and stolen
election results and on voter fraud, Trump has forever damaged the electoral
process.
n But
what’s more, he has so infected the system that he can now proceed to call the
next elections fraudulent and corrupt, opening the way to the fiction of a national
emergency by which he could extend his time in office, along with his
sycophants who would help him to sustain his absolute rule.
n If
that doesn’t work, he can command the military or volunteer militia to put down
any opposition to his coup d’état (while
he has been unable to capture the DoD, he has enough followers in that
department and in the military itself to at least call out loyal troops under
loyal commanders. Would General Milly act to disobey orders, or to engage in
battle against loyal Trump troops? In another 3 years that question could be
moot
3) any
violent revolutionary movement involving the use of terrorism
·
Charlottesville
· January 6, 2021 -- the INSURRECTION at the Capitol
·
The Lafayette Square incident of clearing out peaceful
protestors for Trump to hold up a bible
·
Use of federal staffers dressed in military garb
to control peaceful protest by Black Lives Matter activists
·
Use of isolation of children at southern border
as intimidation technique to discourage asylum seekers; construction of his
“great, great wall” to intimidate undocumented immigrants
·
Intimidation of disloyal staffers and civil
servants who are whistle-blowers or witnesses to executive abuses
·
Warnings to members of Congress that they will
be “primaried” if they ‘betray’ the President
·
Supporting threats made to local election
officials who failed to de-certify (overturn) Biden election of his votes
· Increase in societal violence in Trump’s name and under his tutelage or perceived ‘permission’
·
Threatened use of the ‘second amendment
solution’ to intimidate and terrorize school board members, election officials
and other public officeholders or followers who stray from supporting Trump
·
Intimidation by threats of violence against
demonstrators or hecklers at rallies or other venues
·
Use of budget cuts to intimidate or punish
disloyal offices, programs or people; especially people of color.
·
The use of every kind of falsehood – lies,
slanderous accusations, manufactured ‘facts or stories, conspiracy theories,
negative ads, and violent demonstrations/actions to intimidate and denigrate
anyone who is anti-Trump
The things Donald Trump has said and done bring home to us that we were warned of
his nihilistic intentions from the beginning, and we should have paid closer attention,
He said basically that our leadership is weak; that he was strong and successful enough
to take care of all our problems caused by those weak leaders. He then extolled his
brand and his business as an example for great change needed in our thinking and our
actions, concluding—“If I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before, and we will make America great again.”
It is always helpful and enlightening to consult his niece, Mary Trump, regarding her uncle’s
demeanor and intentions and motivations. In her book – It’s “Too Much and Never Enough” – she
spells out some items that fit nicely into the pattern of Nihilism evidenced by Donald’s lifestyle and
values. Consider these quotes:
“To this day, the lies,
misrepresentations, and fabrications that are the sum total of who my uncle is,
are perpetuated by the Republican Party and white evangelical Christians who
know better…true believers such as...William Barr and others too numerous to
name , have become…complicit in their perpetuation.”
“In the last three years, I’ve
watched as countless pundits…and journalists have kept missing the mark, using phrases
such as …’narcissistic personality disorder’ in an attempt to make sense of
Donald’s often bizarre and self-defeating behavior. I have no problem calling
Donald a narcissist – he meets all nine criteria…. A case could be made that he
also meets the criteria for personality disorder which in its most severe form
is generally considered sociopathy but can also refer to chronic criminality,
arrogance and disregard for the rights of others. Donald may also meet some of
the criteria for dependent personality disorder…which include an inability to
make decisions or take responsibility, discomfort with being alone, and going
to excessive lengths to obtain support from others.”
“As the pressures on him…
continued to mount…the disparity between the level of competence required for
running a country and his incompetence has widened, revealing his delusions
more starkly than ever before. His ability to control unfavorable situations by
lying, spinning and obfuscating has diminished to the point of impotence in the
midst of tragedies we are currently facing…(which) has led to a level of
pushback that he has never experienced before, increasing his belligerence and
his need for petty revenge as he withholds vital funding, personal protective
equipment and ventilators from states whose governors don’t kiss his a__
sufficiently.”
“The horror of Donald’s cruelty
was being magnified by the fact that his acts were now official US policy,
affecting millions of people. By the time this
book is published, hundreds of American lives will have been sacrificed
on the altar of Donald’s hubris and willful ignorance. If he is afforded a
second term, it would be the end of American democracy.”
Taking into account his life experiences and his own words and actions, it is difficult not to conclude that Donald Trump is a Nihilist and a
Nazi sympathizer who encourages deconstruction of government and institutions
by force and fear as his terrorist weapons. Those who support and vote for him
are therefore Nazi sympathizers and followers, like it or not. They are the fertile
soil from which Nihilism is enabled to grow to accepted normality. They are the
same ilk who spawned the Third Reich and the Holocaust. Their lack of critical
thinking and assessment is appalling. They are the abettors of insurrection and
the instigators of violent revolutionary takeover. Ignoring their true meaning
or missing their purpose is the very ingredient they cherish in others because
it enables them to put their kind in control. The list is long that includes
those nations that fell asleep while the Nihilists rose to power: Russia, Poland, Austria, Germany, Italy,
Venezuela, Argentina, the Philippines – it goes on and on.
Yet we still have some media, institutions, and leaders who fail to acknowledge the threat that this man and his followers pose to our democracy. In fact, the worst failing of the progressives elected to rid us of this mess lies in the fact that they have accepted powerlessness and infrastructure projects as their goals instead of fighting for election reform and other systemic changes to undo the ability of the Nihilist Trumpers to take over our democratic institutions. The message to them is: YOU CANNOT WIN THIS WAR WITHOUT GETTING DOWN and DIRTY.
Democrats have failed at seizing and using
government and money as tools to block and defeat the aggressiveness and dirty
tricks of these Nihilists. For instance, what did Democrats do about the re-drawing
of congressional and other districts? To say they watched would be too kind. OR,
what did they do about the bogus election audits? Objected? – not much and not
enough. What are they doing now to prepare for 2022 election? They are on
vacation!
THIS IS A WAR TO SAVE DEMOCRACY ==
and they don’t even have a plan of attack! You can’t win this war without doing
something revolutionary to disrupt and confuse the enemy. How about starting a
special ops unit that will work quietly to undermine funding for (or grab funds
from) the groups and individuals backing
Trump? Or how about a media group whose function is to overwhelm social media
with all kinds of messages about dire consequences of voting for Trump and
Trumpers? OR how about organizing college students to demonstrate at least once
a week in every college campus or college town and to produce creative ideas
for making college student votes the deciding factor in local and state
elections? Could Democratic Committees at county level be made into centers for
concerted actions against the radical Right?
Could we at least get an emergency phone line for reporting Far Right
threats and abuses?
These are just random thoughts –
someone cleverer than I can come up with more effective strategies – so why
is the effort to incorporate such strategies into an attack Plan on hiatus? Now
may be too late already. So --someone in this moribund DEMOCRATIC Party
structure better get MOVING before there is no two-party system and no Congress
but only a Nihilist Dictator who has just one goal – his own success and
absolute power!
