In my last post I discussed the hidden face of fascism. In it I mentioned my attempt to interview a young fascist and the revelation that he was attempting to hide his fascist views while running for his local city council. Below you'll find the first part of the interview. I sent him some additional questions but he has failed to respond to me. His answers are completely unedited, as they were sent to me. Enjoy:
1. Lucas, could you begin by telling us a little bit about yourself and your organization?
I am a 22 year old Student of Political Science and Economics at Wright State University. I am currently in an election for the office of 1st Ward City Council in my hometown of Troy, Ohio. I have a mother and a little sister, both who live in Troy.
The Corporatist Party is a small group of College Graduates and Students who share various parts of the Corporatist platform. Some things you will find about Corporatists, are that they never forget where they came from, they never loose sight of the people for whom they make decisions. This is how Corporatism is the champion of all peoples, young and old, poor and rich.
2. Originally your site was called The American Fascist Movement. It is now the United States Corporatist Party. Your old blog was called the Face of Fascism. And yet you've made it clear that you're not a fascist. Why the change? Are you distancing yourself from fascism because of the negative baggage the term carries or, in your mind, is there a great ideological chasm that you have crossed that would set your movement apart from other fascist movements?
I was never a member of the American Fascist Movement, or any other movement supporting the installment of a Fascist Government in the United States. My blog was called "The Face of Fascism" because it sought to educate people as to just what Fascism is, and how we can actually look at its successes and failures to change our own nation for the better.
3. Are you familiar with other modern fascist movements in this country such as the AFM? If so, is there any affinity between The Corporatist Party and some or any fascist movements in this country?
I am understand that just as there are a number of Marxian Socialist and National Socialist (Nazi) in existence in America, there are probably a number of Fascist movements as well.
4. Mussolini was once quoted as saying, "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." Traditionally, it has been my understanding that the fascist use of corporatism would be to attack or absorb the trade unions and other movements of the working class. What if any role would trade unions have in a Corporatist society?
Corporatism would, in the long term, introduce a sort of Syndicalism, which would effectively rule out the need for labor unions and trade unions as you know them in America. Do try and remember why Labor Unions and Trade Unions began, and while they were justified then, you'll find that a slight paradigm shift in American Politics would suggest that their time is over.
5. You have previously told me that Corporatism takes the strengths of fascism and builds upon its weaknesses. What are those weaknesses of fascism, and in what ways does Corporatism build upon them?
Well I am sure you'll agree that Nationalism (called "Patriotism" in America) is a great thing for a Nation to have. In Fascism (not National Socialism) there was a sense of Ultra-Nationalism. This was the justification for the government importing only what it had to, and manufacturing as much as it could. I personally look at Nationalism as a form of economy as well. In Capitalism, you'll find people chasing capital for their own good. There is no better example than Modern Hong Kong. At the other extreme, there is Communism/Socialism. In Communist/Socialist economies you'll find a command economy. Best example of this is Cuba. Nationalist Economies share a little of both Capitalism and Communism/Socialism. Nationalist economics are driven by Nationalism, and a love for ones country. In Nationalist economies, you are still out to make a buck, but not at the expense of fellow citizens.
6. Many of us on the left see growing signs that our country is heading down the path of fascism. Moreover, it seems clear to many of us that the merger of state and corporate power has already happened with both the major parties being little more than puppets to their corporate masters. Would you agree or disagree with this analysis. If you disagree, could you explain why?
I honestly couldn't see you being any more in error, with all respect to your analysis. You misunderstand what Mussolini meant by "Corporate". Corporate politically is FAR different than Corporate economically. This is one of the few reasons that Political Scientists and Economists don't get along (and with myself studying both, I'm always in the middle!). Corporate politically plays off the Latin derivative "corpus" meaning body or whole. Corporate thus means to look at things as benefiting the WHOLE or the BODY of the Nation-State. Corporate economically would be your use of the word. If you re-read the Communist Manifesto, and also a few books by Right-Wing thinkers (and I really don't mean Rush) you'll find that this Country, with its emphasis on helping out other nations, and the free trade agreements we see, indicates more along the lines of Left-Wing ideological shift. When a nation moves so that its economy "webs" out to other Nations' economies, you're seeing the economic dominance which is NEEDED for Marxian Socialism and ultimately Communism (in its True Form). Trust me Dave, NAFTA and CAFTA (even though Bush is behind it) are Left-Wing instruments.
7. It's 1936, Spain, and I give you a rifle. Are you on the side of Franco or the Socialists?
Depending on what month in 1936 ('36 was pivotal and the started to lose). Just a little Poli-Historical humor there for you. I would no doubt be on the sides of the Nationalists who were NOT led by Franco. It was only after the leader of the Coup was killed in an airplane crash that Franco was pushed into power. Remember that Franco was out in the Canary Islands when the coup began. But to answer your question, provided that I was a citizen of Spain at the time, I would have picked the nationalists...Socialism is truly the recourse of a weak mind, Dave (and you know that too). Command economies are bad, and really don't have a high rate for success. And before you think it, Fascism (Corporatism too) does not call for a Command Economy.
