AMERICA COULD TURN SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT

There is a cold wind blowing through American Politics.  For democrats to feel smug satisfaction with the apparent disarray in the Republican Party would be a mistake.  Something more sinister than Ronald Reagan or even the war mongering neo cons from the Bush years is in play. If the more moderate wing of the Republican Party loses control of both Congress and the presidential primary, political demagogy may take their place.

There has always been a type of home grown American fascism in our political system.  Certainly not the German or even the Italian variety, but a right wing culture that believes a small group of enlightened leaders, with unwavering ideas, a pure ideology and concrete goals can return America to its version of greatness.  Many of these believers are under the radar billionaires who fund the largest Super PACs for like minded republican candidates.

The exploitation of fear for political ends is the hallmark of fascist gains in power in any democracy.  In this election cycle, the fears of immigration, socialism, terror attacks, economic collapse, lost Christian values, lost gun ownership, and even exotic disease from African countries have driven the conservative republican debate.

In my lifetime, I have never seen these fear issues outweigh the usual calls for hope and positive change.  Add to this fear, an overall disgust with political stagnation among older democrats and independents and the country may be ripe for a sharp, dangerous move toward National Socialism.  The electorate could be ready to give up much of our bogged down messy democracy in return for a strong leader who promises to get things done and provide a safe haven from the bad guys.

How could this happen and why now?  America has always been protected from sharp moves to the left or the right by its sheer size and diversity.  The presidential electoral system is another moderating factor.  But the willingness of far right congressional representatives to not compromise under any circumstances is a strong weapon. if they can continue to threaten governmental paralysis to extract concessions, more liberal dominoes will fall, until a moderate backstop is erected.

In presidential politics three republican candidates with far right or demagogic leanings, Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Ted Cruz are polling a combined 60% of the republican primary electorate.  If one candidate emerges, with the support of the others, a republican nomination for one of these three seems all but assured.  If that candidate were to be elected President and both houses of Congress remained republican, now that would really be something to be frightened about. Excitement over republican infighting and disarray would turn into a democratic nightmare.