The intellectual origins of America-Bashing

[Paul Mackin]

On Fri, 2003-10-24 at 15:21, Otto wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ghetta Life" <ghetta_outta at hotmail.com>
> To: <KXX4493553 at aol.com>; <ottosell at yahoo.de>; <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 7:59 PM
> Subject: Re: The intellectual origins of America-Bashing
> >
> > Well Harris was sticking to Marx's "realism" (miseration brought on by
> > capitalism leading to socialism), so how does this fascism phase work with
> > Marx's theory?
> 
> Sticking to Marx is Harris' neocon flaw.
> 
> Marx is the 19th century description and analysis of the history of Das
> Kapital. But history went on, the German example showed that "miseration
> brought on by capitalism" not necessarily and automatically lead to
> socialism. In the 20th century fascism was the answer of the "imperialist
> bourgeosie" to the "socialist" revolution in Russia. In the 21st century we
> have another definition (against totalitarianism of any kind) brought to us
> by one of the finest living authors (guess who):
> 
> "those of fascistic disposition--or merely those among us who remain all too
> ready to justify any government action, whether right or wrong"


What are you saying, Otto, that the prospect for socialism doesn't even
have Marx to lean on anymore. Certainly Orwell isn't a pillar of hope.
Neither the Orwell characterized by Pynchon or the one described by the
biographers. A fine writer and good man but a bit muddled as a thinker.

Socialists need at least the essence--if not the details--of Marx.
Fascism as some kind of a substitute for the required contradiction in
capitalism is pretty feeble. Should all the faithful now go out and
start building fascism. First they would have to decide whether
universal fascism is required or can it be fascism in one country,.

The Fresh Air fascism piece (by the Stanford linguists professor) was
still going when I arrived home in the car. I sat there until it was
over waiting for Orwell's name to come up. Every other use and misuse of
the term seemed to get coverage, even the Fox News Network's, but not
Orwell. Of course it was not a serious offering. Funny though.