The real source of fascism: not the cult, the destitute mind

[myata]

Someone probably made this observation before: there's this level of existence that can be called "perpetual destitution", not necessarily in just economic terms but more generally, quality and ambience of life, hope, mobility, the likelihood of positive change and so on. So, living in this condition sufficiently long or even all their life a human would not just abandon all prospects and hope of improvement, but can begin to see them as impossible, alien outside of their reality.

Then, if the folks in this condition are risen by some cause, or even warmed up sufficiently by propaganda, the only outlet for their discontent they could grasp wouldn't even be a promise of the better life, sure they hear it but don't see it as plausible couldn't take for real; but that of bringing someone else, a scapegoat under, down and below their own level of misery and destitution. This is why it catches up. The fuel is already there.

Scapegoat, hatred, the cult and its idol: fascism, of all kinds and flavours always revolves around this unholy quartet. Hatred to a scapegoat, the only light in those miserable lives. Cult, the instrument. And the idol, personification, a reflection of all that their existence is about. They don't even listen, no need to. They just watch a perpetual, non-stop show of their deep selves as they could visualize it.

Destitution is the ground for hatred, the cult and its idol feed on it and channel it. This is why he just can't stop bringing someone down, appoint ever new enemies, hating, threatening. It's all there's to it, the one and only source. 

Modern, civilized democracies should be looking out for such pockets, why and where do they emerge and work on true, broad prosperity and meaningful participation to prevent the spread. If unchecked it can bring democracy down and has.

[Michael Hardner]

Wasn't the system already designed to prevent this from happening?  It was supposed to allow an informed public to elect leadership that would pursue their best interest right?

If so or if not, then what happened and what should happen next?

[myata]

4 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

Wasn't the system already designed to prevent this from happening?  It was supposed to allow an informed public to elect leadership that would pursue their best interest right?

What "system"? The one they have in the States does very little of that, factually as opposed to all the great talking and writing. And Canada, essentially nobody is immune, but the binary setting of a political system in these times of instant influence is a huge vulnerability. These systems were designed in the 18-19 centuries and for those times. They have not even few, virtually no defenses against an aspiring tyrant propped by an authoritarian cult moving at a lightning speed.

[Michael Hardner]

17 hours ago, myata said:

What "system"? The one they have in the States does very little of that, factually as opposed to all the great talking and writing. And Canada, essentially nobody is immune, but the binary setting of a political system in these times of instant influence is a huge vulnerability. These systems were designed in the 18-19 centuries and for those times. They have not even few, virtually no defenses against an aspiring tyrant propped by an authoritarian cult moving at a lightning speed.

I think that they do have such defences but no matter.. can any further defenses be added at this point? What can be done?

[myata]

As our live experience shows these days, the greatest danger is from within: a twin government party gets corrupted, falls into authoritarianism then gets to power and begins to dismantle even weak vestiges of democracy. At this time, in my view this is the greatest vulnerability and risk. Flip a coin democracy or a slow slide into tyranny influenced by any number of random and instant factors. Proportional representation would deal with that. But granted, is not the only one. The next highest risk is the influence of big capital and irresponsible advertising ranging all the way to malevolent propaganda.