If communism is the dictatorship of the proletariat, then fascism is the dictatorship of the bourgeosie. As the middle class declines, it will lash out to maintain its central position and majority in the society. It cannot blame the aristocracy (the corporate elite) because it aspires to that level itself, so it finds other enemies: the immigrants, the left, the intelligentsia, the arts, the press, even the Bohemian fringe. The genius of the American Right is that it has managed to enlist a substantial portion of the proletariat in their program. The working poor in this country know that things are getting worse for them by the hour and they're desparate for someone or something to blame. They can't use the Jews, or the blacks, or the Reds, and the Capitalists are off-limits, so who's left? The rhetoric coming out of the blogosphere and talk radio and the think tanks is tailor-made for them, and directed directly at them. Just mark who they are singling out for attack.

This state of affairs is not a massive conspiracy directed by a cabal of evil manipulators, it is the result of social forces and economic currents that have always existed throughout history, in some form or another. The danger is that these conditions will help precipitate a leader with the charisma and ruthlessness necessary to exploit these conditions, jell these forces together and seize power. It happened that way in Spain, Italy and Germany and it could easily happen here.

When Ronald Reagan was elected I recall I reflected on what it would take to bring fascism to America. My conclusion at the time was that it would require an embattled but popular President, a divided nation, a declining economy at home and a military humiliation abroad. I also felt that as long as the Constitution remained in force, we were safe. But for the first time in my life, I see it all coming together.