There are some parallels in the U.S. today to what occurred in the 1920's in Germany. Is it possible that we can learn something from history? We tend not to, but let's try anyway.
In 1930 the major world depression had caused huge unemployment in Germany. Six million were unemployed or 1/3 of the work force. Currently in the U.S., We are faced with a similar unemployment crisis. Also, we have a huge debt, as did the Weimar Republic. Their solution was to make drastic cuts in government spending as many of our politicians today are spinning. In Germany debt reduction made the situation worse, weakened the Republic and in the end put the Nazi party in power. Unemployment demands job creation and this is done by increasing the debt temporarily. Then when the employed worker pay his taxes, the debt will begin to decrease. In the U.S., we are not dealing with the unemployment crisis which amounts to 14.5 million with 5 million of that total no longer looking for work. In addition, today in the “muddle west” there are anti-democratic Republican governors who intend to break the labor unions that represent public employees. And that's just the beginning. The crypto-Fascist Koch Brothers are financing these right-wing fanatics whose purpose is to quash all unions.
This is all done to preserve the power and control of the billion dollar giant corporations. Preservation of the plutocracy is the ultimate goal even if it means the destruction of democracy. It is clear then that there is a definite link between Fascism and Capitalism, that a Fascist political system is intended to preserve Capitalism. Fascism is the key instrument for the preservation of plutocratic domination.
In the early days of the Weimar Republic workers were able to win crucial benefits, namely unemployment compensation, the 8 hour day and the right to unionize. But when the economic shock of 1929 occurred, the giant corporations and banks were faced with reduced profits. It was then that the wealthy corporations withdrew their support from the Republic because it was too pro-labor. The corporations pressured the government to eliminate welfare programs and big business cut wages and broke the unions. Then the corporatists poured money into the Nazi Party.
Thus, braced with cash it was possible for the party to win 37% of the vote in the 1932 election, the most they had ever won. It was more than any other party and made it possible to gain control of the government with the help of the right-wing power brokers in secret negotiations. Hitler was appointed Chancellor by President Hindenburg and that ended the Republic. The Corporate Fascists won the day, saved German capitalism and traded the Democratic Republic for murder, torture and political repression.
Now the situation in this country is not that bad - yet. But in Wisconsin and other middle western states we see the powerful few using the economic crisis to destroy union organization. The right wing claims there is no money for welfare, health plans, pensions and collective bargaining. But this not true. There is plenty of money. It is just in the hands of the few instead of the working population.
The fascistic Koch Bros. want to destroy all your hard won democratic rights and privileges. And they use puppets like the Governor of Wisconsin to achieve their goals.
There is a joke going the rounds of the internet.
There are three guys sitting around a table. One is a billionaire, the second is a union worker, and the third is a Tea Partier. In the center of the table is a dozen delicious cookies. The billionaire takes 11 cookies for himself. Then he warns the Tea Party guy,
“Lookout, that union guy is going to take your cookie.”
References:
Hedges, Chris. American Fascism
Parenti, M. Contrary Notions
Weitz, Eric. Weimar Germany
Wikipedia
