It's Time, Once Again, To Play "How Fascist Is America's Current President?" Episode: Biden

Is "it" happening here and, if so, how bad is it?

Does this image of contemporary immigrants being held in El Paso seem more believable as an illustration of fascism because it is in black-and-white, as nearly all pictures from Nazi Germany are? What other markers and associations do our minds superficially use to distinguish between what is fascist and what is not? (See color photo plus other El Paso photos at the end of this article)

Six and a half years ago (good grief, I can’t decide whether I’m more shocked at how long ago it was or how short a time it feels it’s been since then) I wrote a column comparing Donald Trump’s administration to Laurence Britt’s widely-used fourteen-point definition of fascism after Trump’s first year in office.

With recent conversations on the social media platform formerly known as “Twitter” (X) swirling in reaction to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s interview in which he said he could make a case that Joe Biden is more of a threat to democracy than Donald Trump, I’ve found myself circulating my old article and getting pushback from people, some because they feel Biden is just as deserving of being compared to fascism and others because they think Biden is so far superior to Trump that no such comparison is called for.

It’s not that I haven’t thought of writing up Biden’s traits with regard to fascism before. I’ve considered it for some time without writing about it because it’s a more complex comparison than it was with Trump for a few reasons.

First, Trump was enough of an outsider to Washington D.C., that we could evaluate him individually or, at most, with the small cadre of similarly-minded staff he brought to the White House and Mar-A-Lago with him. Biden, as a denizen of D.C. for over fifty years, is familiar with and part of an establishment that has some fascistic characteristics, but is much more diffuse. Some aspects of fascism seem to be baked into the federal government as part of a permanent culture that is immune to change from administration to administration and functions both outside the purview (and sometimes even above the purview) of Presidents. With Biden, one has to look at how the whole government functions, not just how he, as President, functions.

Secondly, Laurence Britt’s definition of fascism is a collection of the traits of 20th century examples of fascism. It is as unrealistic to expect no evolution or innovation in fascistic technology now that we’re nearly 25 years into the 21st century as it would be to expect no technological progress in smart phone technology in the same period (and please, dear readers, give it more than a little thought before you react saying fascism and smart phones have nothing in common!)

Thirdly, it isn’t just that fascism has evolved beyond 20th century forms, it’s that the entities in power, who exert the most control over our socioeconomic/political systems are no longer really even interested in something as quaint as fascism. What they’re working on today is far beyond fascism. First, it isn’t nationalist, it’s globalist. Second, it isn’t an expression of a form of government— it’s an expression of emergent patterns of multi-national networks of corporations and investment groups that view national governments as mere sock-puppets to be encapsulated like archaic software systems and “wrapped” in new APIs to make them useful as services to higher level AI systems of control.

In 2011, Chris Hedges spoke much about Sheldon Wolin’s political philosophy of inverted totalitarianism. Wolin’s and Hedge’s message had to do with the cryptocracy of corporate interests posing as subordinate to government but which, in fact, actually exert control over even the very agencies they’re supposedly regulated by. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken at length about how completely America’s regulatory agencies have been captured by the industries they supposedly regulate and he has made related reforms some of the most important changes he hopes to bring about if elected President. His criticisms are studiously dismissed as mere “conspiracy theory”, but he has won many a court case by proving such conspiracies in court.

But even “Inverted Totalitarianism” doesn’t quite capture the nature of today’s new model of fascism. To a degree few have really imagined or articulated, the system is no longer a human system as much as it’s a machine-matrix that uses humans as components, certainly, but operates more like a techno-leviathan of integrated business functions that seek to optimize nothing resembling human quality of life, but, simply, the accumulation and concentration of ownership and control of all of the Earth’s assets. Whereas such ambitions were previously considered the means toward some more human end as envisioned by a robber baron or multi-billionaire, today, the means itself is the end. Most are surprised to learn that Israel’s systems for selecting military targets within the Gaza strip are driven by AI, but this military application of AI (the details of which we’re not allowed to know due to national security constraints) is only one aspect of emerging AI influences over our daily lives. Doubtless hundreds of investment firms are using AI to move capital around the globe in pursuit of near-instant returns. Generally, we’re not allowed to know the extent to which stock and currency trades are AI-driven because their operation are trade secrets carefully guarded by their owners. Thus, we have an emerging system of global resource control that relies on a network of interconnected proprietary and classified AI systems with less and less human oversight over time.

Be that as it may. Techno-fascism will probably have to be another column entirely. For today’s purposes, simply recognize that the forms of fascism today are radically different from forms of the past.

In this column, my task is simply to review the Biden administration’s track record and compare it to Laurence Britt’s definition of fascism. At the outset, I thought it a rather interesting subject, but now that I’m a few “pages” into the task of writing this column and have considered how obsolete fascism has become in the 21st century, it seems a rather menial and boring chore, so I decided to see what the AI system known as ChatGPT would have to say about it. I’ll put my query in bold and ChatGPT’s responses in italic. It’s interesting to see what AI comes up with, but you are forgiven in advance if you skim down past the italics once you’ve got a sufficient taste of it:

MT: Please compare the U.S. Government, as it operates during the Biden administration, to Laurence Britt's 14-point definition of fascism to determine which traits of fascism are present under the Biden administration and which are not.

ChatGPT: Analyzing the U.S. government under the Biden administration against Laurence Britt's 14-point definition of fascism requires careful consideration and is subject to interpretation. Here's an attempt to compare:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: While nationalism exists in American politics, it's not necessarily to the extreme witnessed in historical fascist regimes. The Biden administration's rhetoric emphasizes unity and inclusivity rather than a narrow, exclusionary nationalism.

2. Disdain for Human Rights: The Biden administration has generally shown support for human rights domestically and internationally. However, some critics argue that issues like mass surveillance, immigration policies, and racial disparities in the criminal justice system are areas of concern.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats: There's less overt identification of specific groups as enemies by the Biden administration compared to historical fascist regimes. However, political polarization has led to demonization of political opponents, though not to the same extent as in fascist regimes.

4. Supremacy of the Military: The U.S. military holds significant influence, but civilian control remains a fundamental principle. While defense spending is high, there's no indication of the military supplanting civilian authority.

5. Rampant Sexism: The Biden administration has made efforts to promote gender equality and diversity. However, sexism remains a societal issue, and there are ongoing debates regarding policies related to gender equality and reproductive rights.

6. Controlled Mass Media: The media landscape in the U.S. is diverse, with a range of perspectives and outlets. While concerns about media consolidation and misinformation exist, the Biden administration has not taken overt steps to control the media.

7. Obsession with National Security: The U.S. has a strong emphasis on national security, particularly after events like 9/11. While concerns about terrorism persist, the Biden administration has also prioritized issues like climate change and healthcare.

8. Religion and Government Intertwined: While religion plays a role in American politics, there's a clear separation of church and state enshrined in the Constitution. The Biden administration has advocated for religious freedom while respecting secular governance.

9. Corporate Power Protected: There are concerns about corporate influence in politics, including through lobbying and campaign contributions. However, there are also efforts to regulate corporate behavior and promote economic equity.

10. Labor Power Suppressed: Labor unions face challenges, but there are ongoing debates about labor rights and protections. The Biden administration has expressed support for unions and workers' rights.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: While there may be occasional rhetoric critical of intellectuals or artists, there's no systematic suppression of intellectual or artistic expression by the Biden administration.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment: There are ongoing debates about criminal justice reform, with efforts to address issues like mass incarceration and police brutality. The Biden administration has advocated for criminal justice reforms.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: While concerns about corruption exist in American politics, there's a system of checks and balances and mechanisms for accountability. The Biden administration has pledged to address corruption and conflicts of interest.

14. Fraudulent Elections: There's no evidence to suggest that elections under the Biden administration have been fraudulent. The democratic process remains intact, with elections being held regularly and results being accepted by the majority.

In summary, while some elements of Britt's 14-point model may resonate with aspects of U.S. politics under the Biden administration, the overall context differs significantly from historical fascist regimes. The U.S. political system has mechanisms for accountability, a robust civil society, and a commitment to democratic principles, even amid ongoing challenges and debates.

Resuming human thought and verbiage…

So that, in a nutshell, is the crux of the problem. AI doesn’t really think. It copies answers from virtual humans that are composites of thousands of authors and puts what its training set suggests are “the correct answers” into sequences of words that no one can definitively say aren’t original. In other words, AI is bullshitting us.

And we, the collective known as humanity, that is, in fact, for all economic intents and purposes, in the process of being replaced by machines, trust AI to make decisions about who should be killed in a war or where our pension funds should be invested.

So, let me offer my NI (Natural Intelligence) take on the Biden administration’s score relative to Laurence Britt’s 14 points:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism: Biden is not a nationalist. He is a globalist. This is probably the primary reason that so many Americans prefer Trump, who IS a nationalist. They want a President who talks about getting a “good deal” for America. They want a President who will secure the border against immigration. They want a President who won’t outsource American military resources as techno-mercenary services to global interests. They don’t want a President who abdicates military decisions to NATO, health decisions to the WHO, trade decisions to the WTO or energy decisions to the IPCC. If one entertains the idea that an emerging world/globalist government might be conceptualized as a new “nation”, then globalism may actually be a new form of nationalism and, probably, an even worse one. (Score: 0.5)

2. Disdain for Human Rights: Most people aren’t even aware of what human rights are or are supposed to be. The U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) still stands as perhaps the greatest elucidation of human rights in history. I defy anyone to read it and then name any country in the world that doesn’t have disdain for human rights relative to how they are described in the UN UDHR. It goes without saying that the USA, far from being a leader in human rights, denies most human rights to most people both internationally and domestically.
   But, perhaps more to the point, is America’s own formulation of human rights known as the Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to the constitution). Freedom of speech is being censored. The right to bear arms is likely to be compromised. Freedom of assembly is under threat. Freedom of religion was in peril during the pandemic. Freedom of the press is under threat (Julian Assange case). Fourth amendment rights to security of body and possessions is under threat because of vaccine mandates by employers, unreasonable search and seizure, monitoring and surveillance of phone calls, online communications, e-mails, etc. all compromise a person’s right to privacy.
   Suffice is to say that even the subset of human rights enshrined in the U.S. constitution can no longer be taken for granted. (Score 1.0)

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats: If we don’t all vote for Big Brother, Goldstein could win and that would be the end of our democracy! Trump supporters, RFK Jr. supporters, conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, Russians, Hamas and Iran have all served as convenient enemies and scapegoats under the Biden administration. (Score 1.0)

4. Supremacy of the Military: America still spends more on the military as the next 10 high military budget countries combined. As I write this (14 APR 2024), the U.S. Congress is in the process of securing funding for additional military misadventures in Ukraine and Israel-Palestine. A larger war with Iran appears to be in the offing in the aftermath of today’s attacks on Israel by Iran. In the USA, the military remains the highest priority for funding and political attention. (Score 1.0)

5. Rampant Sexism: Politically, Biden (and the U.S. under Biden) is not significantly sexist. This is one of several aspects of fascism that has changed since the 20th century. (Score 0.0)

6. Controlled Mass Media: One has only to look at how vociferously Robert F. Kennedy is disparaged as an “anti-vaxxer” and “conspiracy theorist” to know how controlled the mass media are. Unless you still believe that all vaccines are safe and effective and all conspiracy theories are false. In that case, you have a lot of homework to do. It may seem beyond the pale to claim that there is a growing body of evidence showing that many vaccines do more harm than good and that the mainstream media are lying about what they call “conspiracy theories”, but, that is the case and I urge everyone to dig deeper and research these matter for yourselves as if your lives depend on it, because, for many of these issues, they very well may. Biden is not behind this control of the mass media. More likely, it’s the CIA’s Operation Mockingbird or whatever the current descendent of that initiative is. (Score 1.0)

7. Obsession with National Security: When two Presidents in a row refuse to obey statutory law that requires them to reveal documents related to the JFK assassination; when Edward Snowden, the greatest whistleblower who ever exposed the agenda of the NSA (National Security Administration) has to live in exile in Russia to avoid the same fate that Wikileaks editor Julian Assange appears to be facing, you can conclude beyond all reasonable doubt that America’s prioritization of National Security interests is intense enough to be fairly described as an “obsession”. (Score 1.0)

8. Religion and Government Intertwined: Religion is no longer relevant to fascism because it is no longer central to the lives of enough people to make it worth manipulating from the perspective of power and control over people. During the pandemic, churches were not deemed “essential services”, they were shut down along with so many small businesses and other concerns not owned by Wall Street investors. This is one of several aspects of fascism that has changed since the 20th century. (Score: 0.0)

9. Corporate Power Protected: More than ever. “That government of the Black Rock, for the Black Rock and by the Black Rock shall not perish from the Earth”. The BBC published a study ten years ago showing that the U.S. government functions more as an oligarchy than anything else. An oligarchy, of course, functions for the benefit of human oligarchs primarily, but also, secondarily for the corporations and other businesses they own or maintain controlling interests in. (Score 1.0)

10. Labor Power Suppressed: Obviously, despite the valiant efforts of a number of Starbucks, Walmart and Amazon employees, labor power only continues to decline in 21st century America. The accelerating automation of remaining jobs and careers with robotics and AI only creates additional downward pressure on wages. Labor is a buyer’s market. Workers are forced to compete against each other for non-unionized jobs and, because they are hungry, they’ll cross any picket lines that might pop up on their way to getting a better job. (Score: 1.0)

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts: I would argue that censorship and suppression of free speech on social media is the worst expression of disdain for intellectuals and the arts in American history. (Score 1.0)

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment:
    ”With nearly two million people behind bars at any given time, the United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world.

    We spend about $182 billion every year — not to mention the significant social cost — to lock up nearly 1% of our adult population.” — https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/US.html (Score 1.0)

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes the case that corruption is rampant in the U.S. better than I can:

    (Score: 1.0)

14. Fraudulent Elections: Biden and DNC’s manipulations of the Democratic primary schedule and how delegates from New Hampshire, Iowa, Georgia and Florida would or would not be counted made it impossible for an outsider candidate to win. Whatever grief may come from RFK Jr being forced to run an independent campaign is on them. Litigation teams to keep RFK Jr. off of various state ballots are unconscionable.
    I have seen no evidence that the 2020 election was fraudulent. I am, however, convinced that the 2000 and 2004 elections were both fraudulent, as evidenced by huge discrepancies between official results and exit polls. Nothing has been done to fix elections since the early 2000’s so it is likely today’s systems are still subject to manipulation. E-voting is inherently unverifiable. Election systems with integrity and verifiability have been designed and are actually more economical than current systems, but they are not being implemented.
    So, in sum, we have blatant tampering with the primaries, obstructionism with regard to ballot access for opponents and widespread use of unverifiable elections systems in the U.S. (Score: 1.0)

In summary, I rate the U.S. government as it is currently operating under the Biden administration as 11.5 out of 14 on Britt’s fascism scale. It is hard for people to square such a dire assessment with their stereotypes of fascism.

Aldous Huxley, in his novel “Brave New World” hinted that future dystopias would be something more like fascism with a happy face on it. It is easier and cheaper to manage a population if they believe they are free. As Frank Zappa once put it,

“The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.” — Frank Zappa

If you take color pictures of contemporary immigrant holding facilities with their makeshift cyclone fencing and razor wire and convert them to gray-scale black-and-white photos, you can begin to sense that the difference between 20th century concentration camps and today’s immigrant holding facilities is sometimes not much more than what kind of “film” was used in the camera.

Does a homeless person not seem so desperate if they’re wearing fashionable tennis shoes and talking on an iPhone? Is a hungry person who hasn’t eaten in a few days any less hungry if they have a few extra pounds on their frame?

We tell ourselves that things today aren’t so bad as in the old days. After all, we have these markers of affluence and modernity that our minds lean into as symbolic proof that we’re better off than that.

But people are still suffering even while they’re surrounded by markers of affluence. People go without medical care because they can’t afford it. Some of them die. People get sick without a warm bed to sleep in. An old woman in a wheel chair sleeping wrapped in a comforter outside a grocery store because she was evicted is not long for this world. Just because there’s no gray lieutenant with a revolver taking homeless people out with a bullet to the head, doesn’t mean they are in any less danger— doesn’t mean they’re not dying— doesn’t mean that their supposed “freedoms” are meaningful anymore under these economic conditions.

And it doesn’t mean the system we’re living under is any less fascist.