Modernism, Fascism, America

When I return to grad school, I hope to study British Modernism, a literary period that corresponds with the rise of European fascism. There was a time, before WWII, when "fascism" wasn't just a catch-all for whatever action of government you didn't like, but was in fact considered a viable alternative to aristocracy, communism, and democracy. Democracy in particular was seen to have failed, due to its tendency to elect weak, substance-less leaders, to elevate mediocrity, to play to its citizens' basest tendencies, and for its governmental deadlock, waste, and inefficiency--all things we still rail against the U.S. govt. today.

Fascism was seen to resolve all those problems inherent to democracy--Adolph Hitler, for example, really did fix the failing German economy; Benito Mussolini is to date the only Italian head-of-state to successfully challenge the mafia and make the trains run on time; General Franco did in fact stamp out communism in Spain.

In sum, the fascists fixed the economy, eliminated govt. inefficiency and waste, battled communism, cut down on crime, increased prosperity, patriotism and national unity--and committed some of the most horrific atrocities in human history.

I bring this all up because, more so than usual, America's govt. is lately bogged down in deadlock and indecision, amid accusations of massive govt. waste and inefficiency. If we had a strong, decisive, uncompromising leader, (so goes the argument on both sides), we wouldn't have this problem--no, we'd instead have far worst problems, those of fascism.

For you know why America is deadlocked right now? Because we disagree; because in America, dissenting voices are in fact heard. Deadlock is ironically a sign of a healthy democracy. Whatever else America's sins may be, freedom of expression is still real here. This freedom is at once our greatest strength and greatest weakness.

I sometimes see asinine window stickers sporting eagles in front of American flags, reading "freedom ain't free." I merely offer that perhaps deadlock and inefficiency is in fact that price we pay for freedom.