Fascist dictatorships never last for very long. Because fascism is essentially sociopathic, sane people get tired of it quickly. People may have bought into a fascists’ campaign propaganda because it appeals on some level that’s not particularly mentally healthy, like a secretly held prejudice or anxiety. They get drawn into the fascist’s rhetoric without ever imagining the sociopath’s behavior, but then it’s too late: things like world wars are fought to get rid of fascists. Sometimes it takes a while to weed them out, but eventually, they’re gone, or in deep hiding. Endless chaos and cruelty grow tiresome for most people, who just want to live a comfortable, loving life.
One big problem with fascism is that sociopaths, the kind of personality type required, are often very charming. It’s their act, masking behavior without a shred of authenticity, that engages people who aren’t paying attention. CEOs are often sociopaths, because their jobs require doing whatever is necessary to make massive profits, even if it means letting people die for lack of health care or lying to us about the environmental hazards of their products. And once people realize they’ve been duped by someone who seems like he’s on your side, but really could care less whether you live or die, it’s infuriating. It’s as if fascists have a death wish; in some spider-webbed circuit in their brains, they want to be punished for being so awful.
But they are awful, and their days are always numbered. While we may be in shock about the devastation they leave behind when they’re finally gone, it would do a literal world of good to start thinking, in advance, of what to do next, and how we’re going to do it. Obviously, the Constitution needs upgrading and another batch of amendments that bring it into the modern age. But who gets to do that? And who gets to decide who decides?
Obviously, we’re not that far removed from saner days, and the first thing we could do is restore all the agencies that did a very decent job of handling the country’s needs. We could give everyone back their jobs, if they want them, and add more jobs so the agencies could do more for the people they serve. We could start the post-fascist years with things just about everyone except the sociopaths would probably welcome, like universal basic income, Medicare for All, free education, and environmental restoration. How do we prioritize actions for the common good, and make them happen? How do we placate those who are somehow denied luxurious incomes by actions for the common good, like medical insurance CEOs?
The aftermath of our current situation is complicated. It’s possible that some changes would make things much better than before, and we need to come up with ideas that are both practical and visionary. This needs to be a national discussion, with a wealth of smart people coming up with ideas and ways to read the public’s support for the options. Although it’s democratic to give everyone a voice in what happens next, some people have disqualified themselves by making horrible decisions or belonging to a group that is not interested in actual democracy, like the hate-fueled religious cults. The decision-makers need to have a CV of work for the common good. There will be arguments over this. Members of Congress, for example, would have to show that their constituents’ lives have gotten better under their leadership.
We need to have plans ready before the moment arrives when we need them. We don’t know how things are going to play out or when. If we apply the 3.5% solution, as I discussed in a previous post, “The Sweet Power of Outrage,“ all it would take is for 12 million people to protest at the same time to bring a dictatorship down. That could happen any day, so the planning should start yesterday.
A lot has been done already, actually, like the 60-page plan Bernie Sanders wrote for Medicare for All. Medical care for profit doesn’t need to be outlawed, as so many people will be anxious about change. We just need to make much better options available and, as the capitalists recommend, let the market decide.
It would be great for knowledgeable professionals in all the areas of public concern to gather and discuss the best ways to fix damages and devise programs for improvements. Having a broad spectrum of viable plans ready to go when needed will save a whole lot of floundering under pressure.
It may feel as though the current nightmares will never end, but of course they will— because, as Proust said,
“Nothing lasts, not even grief.”
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Proust Said That 