Letter: US is like Weimar Germany
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.To describe the right-wing militia groups that may have been behind the Atlanta bomb as "losers" and disaffected is understated ("Revenge of 'losers' in the American dream", 28 July). In any other country they would be depicted as nascent fascists. The United States is entering the world of Weimar Germany in the hostility felt by the right towards liberal democracy; the private militias, the hate campaigns, the propaganda of the Huegenberg press empire, and the rabble-rousing diatribes against the marginalised totems of a liberal society (so-called decadent groups and "scroungers"). Vast disparities of wealth and influence, leading to an emasculated democracy pursuing ideologically-inspired public spending cuts and tax reductions, were very evident in Weimar.
They are "losers" in the sense that democratic representation seems to have abandoned them in favour of salon politics favouring particular elites. Perhaps, like the Michael Douglas character in Falling Down, many of these people feel they did all the right things, but somehow the rules changed. It is better to recognise that these outrageous acts are inspired by alienation and frustration with the political process, but in their wake they bring a risk of increased fascist violence.
One of the features of our culture - from Dr Who to Star Wars - is the portrayal in fiction of technologically advanced societies combining medieval forms of social organisation with a sort of futuristic feudalism. It may be that many Western societies have made that vision reality or, to many, appear to have done so.
Fortunately, these groups are not yet as "professional" as the IRA or Eta, but is that not merely a question of practice?
Peter D Williamson
Baildon, West Yorkshire
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments