Hitchens/ Rush/ Milosevic/Adolph/ Bush/ Vond ?charm?

[Michael Bailey]

Joseph Tracy wrote:
> I wonder if we could turn this conversation for a round or 2  anyway to
> Sasha's premise about the charm of fascists.
>
> This is kind of awful but do those of us who despise fascism miss something
> about the phenomena by focusing on the monstrous violence  of the fascist
> and the question of what is the proper military or geopolitical response and
> missing the twinkle in his eye  earlier in his career that makes his success
> possible
> Is there a cultural response that  can heal  this  communicable disease at
> the pre-pubescent  ambitious charm stage?
>

that is a whole group of questions...
a) maybe to broaden "fascist" to "authoritarian leader" would make sense.

b) cutting the Gordian knot of bureaucratic procedures (such as the
rule of law, minority rights, contracts, representative government,
parliamentary procedure, for instance) with the Alexandrian sword of
dictatorial power is the chief attraction of the "strongman" type of
leader.  And if you find yourself a beneficiary of this, what's not to
like?  "We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you"

c) the suggestion that being loyal to an individual will save you from
having to learn all those nasty business/survival/human relations
skills - so much easier to just lean on Big Daddy


-- 
 - "Be groovy or B movie" - the old 24fps signoff