Thanks for your thoughtful reply. These are important
questions and all discussion is welcome.

> Is it just "compelling material interest"
> that leads the ruling class to install fascism,
> or is it more complicated than that?

99 percent of the complication lies in accurately
understanding the compelling material interest at
stake.

The changes we have seen since 9-11 (ie: the wars
in Afganistan and Iraq, the increasing repression
at home, the refusal of the Democratic Party to
lift a finger to oppose any of this) are a clear
reflection of the class interest of the bourgeoisie.

The Soviet Union collapsed. Now is the time for
U.S. imperialism to establish unrivalled hegemony
over the Middle East and the world's oil supply
in order to better compete against European
imperialism and what is left of Russian power
and to prepare for inevitable conflict with the
rising power of China. Oil is the most strategic
of commodities and control of the largest oil
reserves in the world (ie: permanent military
bases in the heart of the Middle East next to
Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc) will give
U.S. imperialism immense leverage for decades
against both India and China which need oil for
development.

But the bourgeoisie does not have a compelling
need for fascism at this time. Bush will push,
of course, but will not exceed the limits of
his leash. Bush is irritated at the confines
of his leash -- but if he failed to respect
this leash he would be bounced around like a
rubber ball.

The bourgeoisie has much to _lose_ by unleashing
fascism. I advanced three arguments in my essay
above. I repeat them here:

Such a desperate course of action by the bourgeoisie would:
(a) instantly politicize tens of millions of people,
(b) destablize the entire system of bourgeois rule and
(c) destroy illusions in the bourgeois political system
. that the bourgeoisie has carefully crafted and
. painstakingly cultivated over many decades.

We need to understand these arguments concretely.
A good start would be to recognize that they require
a reply.

> What about the Christian fundamentalists who are
> largely running the Pentagon? What about the purges
> of the CIA?

What about them? What do these things prove? Different
sections of the bourgeoisie will have squabbles with
one another. It is fine to be aware of these squabbles
but we should be careful not to exaggerate their
significance. The main thing to keep in mind -- is
that the bourgeoisie is united by its common class
interest -- and this common class interest requires
keeping society running in a smooth and stable way.
Fascism is notoriously unstable. Bourgeois class
interests are better served (under present circumstances)
by a system that keeps the majority of the population
complacent and under the illusion that they live in a
"democracy".

In my view, browser, your thinking tends to overlook
the fact that the bourgeoisie cannot rule by force
alone -- cannot rule without political deception.

If the Christian fundamentalists even thought about
slipping their leash -- they would be disciplined
and humiliated. The general who recently talked
about how much fun it is to kill people, for example,
was told to shut up. The bourgeoisie as a whole
(and in particular the section which specializes
in political deception -- the liberals) understands
that a ounce of political deception can be more
effective (and cheaper) than a ton of force -- and
that the fascist-minded who talk too loud must
have their mouths washed out with soap lest they
give the game away.

It is important to undertand how our society really
works and to understand that the bourgeoisie would
not be able to maintain their class rule for very
long without the effective use of political
deception. Understanding this will energize and
motivate activists -- because as we build a
conscious movement we will build with it an
increasing powerful weapon that will puncture the
political deception of the bourgeoisie.

And this will change everything.

> The distribution of the RCP paper is also
> something to take note of. It's not enough
> to put flyers up in hip bars and East Village
> bathrooms. People need to be thinking in the
> millions with everything they do.

Yes it is a very good thing that the RCP is
developing a machine that can distribute a
million leaflets independent of the mainstream
bourgeois media. But this cannot amount to much
if the RCP is unable to defend its views in forums
such as this one.

Finally, browser, since you have made the same post
in response to my article on Indymedia sites in
New York, Chicago, DC and Denver -- I will make it
easier for you if you want to expand your challenge.

I have posted on the following theads:

seattle.indymedia.org/en/2005/01/244358.shtml
portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/02/310064.shtml
la.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/122188.php
www.indybay.org/news/2005/02/1719881.php
sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/1710707.php
madison.indymedia.org/newswire/display/21620/index.php
houston.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/37243.php
colorado.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10161/index.php
boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display/33323/index.php
atlanta.indymedia.org/newswire/display/36407/index.php
buffalo.indymedia.org/display.php3
chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/52350/index.php
michiganimc.org/newswire/display/9305/index.php
dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/116938/index.php
nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/140883/index.php
cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/14568.php
www.phillyimc.org/article.pl

Go ahead. Reply to me elsewhere (I think that supporters
of the RCP may need a little help, if not adult supervision,
in Atlanta). I am in favor of wider discussion.

Sincerely and revolutionary regards,
Ben Seattle
struggle.net/ben