RE: [Marxism] Re: Return Of The Renters

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

Chris Brady wrote:

Yeah, I can see the operational definition of the USA at this point in
history as not characteristically fascist.  But I agree with Ward
Churchill about the experience of Native Americans that the US
Government has operated in a fascistic fashion toward Indians.  I also
remember, quite vividly, the hyper-belligerent attitude and
confrontational tactics of the swarm of Republican storm troopers in
mufti who assaulted the election offices in Florida during the final
moments of the last Presidential contest.  I can still see their
hysterical, raging, white, male, thuggish faces, their violent,
intimidating gestures, and their civilian, middle-class style of dress
(in lieu of brown shirts or bandoliers).  Fascism is always there for
the taking, if capital requires it.  Ultimately, though, in the
capitalist mode fascism remains a subordinate feature, overt or covert,
dormant or active, as it may be.

Response (Jim C): I think these comments are quite correct. First of
all, the oligarchs and their paid minions know very well that fascism
has its own inner and potentially destabliizing contradictions; they
know that disinformation is to be preferred over total
blackout/censorship of any information, that cooptation is to be
preferred over direct force and threat, that the illusions and
diversions of bourgeois electoral "pluralism" and citizenry
"participation" with rigged menus is to be preferred over direct
one-party and no-elections rule, that subtle and sophisticated mind and
soul control/manipulation, leaving the target unaware of being
manipulated is to be preferred over direct orders and control, and that
fascism makes it very clear who are the rulers and who are the ruled and
how far the rulers are prepared to go to expand and consolidate their
rule.

Just as the relatively higher degrees of personal freedom and prosperity
in America and Canada (relative to many other regions and nations of the
world) are achieved through--and at the expense of--direct fascist
repression and brutal exploitation abroad, so it is with Indian Country
in America and Canada playing the same kinds of roles as those in the
"periphery"--here at "home" in the metropoles. And just as Indian
Country acts as the proverbial--and highly overworked according to
Michele Cheung--"Canary in the Mine" with respect to some non-Indians
now experiencing forms and levels of economic hardship that have been
typical for Indians, so it is with respect to various direct forms and
levels of fascist repression--non-Indigenous peoples are now
experiencing some forms and levels of fascist-like repression that have
been typical for Rez-based Indians for some time.

Bugging telephone convesations and faxes, opening and intercepting mail,
direct threats and suppression against freedom of
assembly/associaton/speech/religion, outright murder of activists,
registration and control by "blood-quantum", gradations of privilege by
"blood-quantum", racial profiling and incarceration on trumped-up
charges without counsel, union busting, and even lack of  basic
bourgeois "freedoms" to buy and sell personal property (without a
BIA/DIA "permit") are common on most Reserves in Canada and Reservations
in the U.S. On most Rezes in the U.S. and Canada you will find raw,
naked, concentrated, unrefined, direct, brutal and in-your-face
capitalist exploitation and direct political repression--capitalism
without its varied masks, "smiley faces" and
"refinements". That is one reason why I do not regard political work in
Indian Country as some form of "identity politics" but rather work on a
particular political front with direct and wide-ranging
implications--along with lessons and evidence on the nature of
capitalism--for political work on other fronts and issues.

Jim C.


_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism