Originally posted at RefuseFascism.org:
A Response to Naomi Klein
Without Saying NO! to the Fascist Trump/Pence Regime, There Will Be No YES! to a Better World
June 9, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
Naomi Klein says at this moment, with the election of Trump, it is not enough to merely resist, to say “no.” She says this moment demands more: “a credible and inspiring ‘yes,’ a roadmap to reclaiming the populist ground from those who would divide us.”
Klein, in the introduction to her new book, No Is Not Enough, outlines the “main pillars of Trump’s political and economic project,” as attacks on regulations, the welfare state, the environment, immigrants, and Muslims, among others. These attacks are real, vicious, and need to be resisted in their own right.
But what Klein downplays is that the Trump/Pence regime is more than the sum of its reactionary program, it is not just the worst of racist reactionary administrations. REFUSE FASCISM, which has put forward the NO! We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America posters that are in most every protest against the Trump Regime, says in its Call to Action:
"Fascism is not just a gross combination of horrific reactionary policies. It is a qualitative change in how society is governed… What is crucial to understand is that once in power fascism essentially eliminates traditional democratic rights."
This essential quality of fascism, the tearing up of democratic rights, will undermine the ability of the people to fight back. Already immigrant communities are terrorized, new laws impose draconian penalties for protest, and the rule of law itself is under attack. Fascism makes the larger struggle for a better world—however people may conceive of that—much more difficult. Without the NO! to this fascist regime, there is no YES! to a better world.
Every difficulty that the Trump/Pence regime confronts both throws a roadblock in front of aspects of their program, and increases their necessity and compulsion to lock in a fully fascist society. From the Call: “The character of fascism is that it can absorb separate acts of resistance while continually throwing the opposition off balance by rapidly moving its agenda forward. The Trump/Pence regime will repeatedly launch new highly repressive measures, eventually clamping down on all resistance and remaking the law… IF THEY ARE NOT DRIVEN FROM POWER.”
The whole regime must go. This is necessary and possible.
“We must ORGANIZE: working with all our creativity and determination toward the time when millions of people can be moved to fill the streets of cities and towns day after day and night after night, declaring this whole regime illegitimate—Demanding, and Not Stopping, Until the Trump/Pence Regime Is Driven from Power.”
A better world is needed and possible. As we unite and struggle together to drive out this regime, we embody the values that we seek in a just and better world, and we should discuss, debate, struggle over our visions and strategies for getting beyond the madness and horror of the world today. We invite all to stand together in this process.
We close with this from the Refuse Fascism Call to Action:
“Let it not be said that we did not move heaven and earth to drive out this regime. This must be a moment in history when millions stand together with conviction and courage, overcoming fear and uncertainty, to resist and say NO! Not just for ourselves, but in the name of humanity.”
RefuseFascism.org *** @RefuseFascism *** Facebook.com/RefuseFascism.org *** 917-407-1286
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