The United States is in its Germany 1933, Moment

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"Either this nation shall kill racism, or racism shall kill this nation." (S. Jonas, August, 2018)

"A Vote for 'ABBH' (Any Body But Harris) is a Vote for Trump and Republo-Fascism" (S. Jonas, March, 2024)

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Germany, 1933. The then Weimar Republic was in turmoil. The Depression of the 1930s had taken full hold of the economy, which, in turn was still burdened by the reparations payments that the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, negotiated following the end of the First World War by the victors, at the Central Powers' expense. Germany had had a series of Conservative governments with their respective Prime Minsters, none of which had been able to stay in power for very long. There was increasing "talk" of having the President of the Republic, Paul von Hindenburg, the commander of the Prussian Army in World War I (and an old Prussian --- you can tell by the 'Von"), putting Adolf Hitler, then known as the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP in German), into the Chancellorship. No one knew for sure what he might/would do once placed in that position, other than that the party itself took a right-wing line, further to the right than the conservative coalitions that had occupied the Chancellorship for the years leading up to 1933.

There were fears on the Left of what might happen if Hitler came to power. There were two left-wing parties, the Socialist Party of Germany (the SPD) and the Communist Party of Germany (the KPD). They were both opposed to right-wing policies, whether those of the traditional Conservatives or those of the NSDAP (as abbreviated, the NAZI's). Together they would have held just under a majority of the seats in the Reichstag (the German parliament). Given the growing threat to the fragile democracy of the Weimar Republic coming from the NSDAP, it seemed natural that they would have formed an alliance against it. But the SDP and the KPD had a post-World War One history of antagonism and had never been allies during the period of the Weimar Republic.

As it happened, the KPD was allied with an international organization of left-wing parties called the Third International. It was based in Moscow and during the 30's was effectively controlled by Josef Stalin. Because of its past sins (which, without going into detail here, were real enough --- but they were past)," Stalin labelled the SPD "social fascists," and forbade any alliance between the KPD and the SPD. As it happened, if the two parties had been able to forge an alliance in the Reichstag just to oppose a Hitler Chancellorship, they might (having a strong minority, but not a majority, the word here is "might") have been able to prevent Hitler from coming to the Chancellorship on January 30, 1933. Or at least they might have been able to prevent the passage of the Enabling Act on March 23, 1933, which required a 2/3rds vote to pass, which made Hitler Dictator for Life. But of course, none of that happened. We do know the outcome all too well. (For the definition of "fascism" that I use, please see Appendix I.)

As for the KPD, standing by itself, before it was effectively put out of business almost immediately upon the accession of Hitler to the Chancellorship, shortly before Hitler's appointment, its head Ernst Thaelmann, famously said: "Hitler is joke. Let him be Chancellor for a few months. Then it will be our turn." Thaelmann was arrested by the Nazis on March 3, 1933, held in prison, and was executed at Buchenwald, shortly before Liberation, in 1944.

So, why do I go into that history in such detail? Because our nation is facing its "Jan. 30, 1933 moment." As it happened, although the NSDAP clearly had a program for electoral purposes, they did not spell out at all the terror that they would unleash on the nation, starting with the leadership of the Left, BOTH the KPD and the SPD, starting on the night of Jan. 30, 1933. Trump, of course, has no such qualms. As is well known, he has said that he wants "to be Dictator on Day 1," on which day he likely would appoint himself dictator for some more days, and then more, and more. Then there is Project 2025, the implementation of which would both destroy U.S. Constitutional Democracy by decree, and unleash some really horrible outcomes upon the people of the United States, like mass deportation for anyone the Trumpists decided to deport.

Trump, of course, while trying to distance himself from P2025 which upon having it read and revealed has become very unpopular, is now talking openly about "bloodbaths" and "the enemy within" (like "the Pelosi's," Adam Schiff, and in fact just about anyone who has opposed him either politically or in the media), and loosing on them the National Guards (he likely would have the cooperation of a significant number of Republican Governors in doing that), and the nation's military (that would be tougher at least at the beginning of his term because all the commanders would have been Biden appointees and their Trumpist replacements would not have yet been Senate-confirmed).

And so, given the context, both of what happened in Germany, 1933, when a similar situation was faced, and what we are facing now with an openly Trump-fascist threat to Constitutional Democracy in the United States, we come to the "Jill Stein" problem. The SPD and the KPD were significant political factors in the Weimar Republic, were reduced to insignificance in the Reichstag --- where they might (and I do say might) have been able to prevent the passage of the Enabling Act --- by the refusal of the KPD to establish an anti-Nazi alliance. As is well-known Dr. Stein can wield, and likely has done, not in the legislative branch, but in the electoral system, enormous political power because of that Legacy-of-Slavery-Peculiar-Institution, the Electoral College. As is also well-known, in the 2016 Election in five "swing states" Dr. Stein's 75,000 vote total, which might have otherwise gone to Sec. Clinton, might have swung the election to Trump. And in 2024, the same thing could happen again. (For what a Trump Administration would mean, for openers see Appendix II.)

As it happens there is a group of nominally left-wing voters whose electoral positions, I see all the time on a left-wing list-serve of which I am a member. (I will not embarrass them, or put them at risk of something worse by identifying them here.) Presumably representing "Jill" voters, whether in states in which a "Jill" vote would make a difference or not, they are firmly opposed to voting Democratic. There are two principal reasons for this. One is the position of the Biden Administration in re Israel and the "Gaza Crisis" (which I have referred and written about for quite some time as Israeli Expulsionism, as promoted by the current Israeli Nationalist government).

I am opposed to the Administration's policy too, of course. But given the dependence of the Democratic Party on pro-current-U.S.-Israeli-policy Jewish money and votes. But I have not been able to come up with an alternative-for-the-present, and neither I have seen anyone lese be able to do that. (Actually, Vice-President Harris has lately been hinting at a change of policy should she become President, and just now President Biden has warned Israel about committing inhumane acts and still expecting to receive U.S. aid.) Further, there are some on the Left who label the current Democratic Party "fascist." I'm not sure what definition of the term they are using (see mine below), but clearly it is not the same one that the former Chief-of-Staff Gen. Mark Milley when, in talking with Bob Woodward, he unequivocally labeled Trump as a fascist. BUT, as far as U.S. policy towards what is becoming ever more clearly Israeli Expulsionism (see what anti-Palestinian measures are being carried out by the "Settlers" in the West Bank), does anyone seriously think that Trumpian policy wouldn't be even worse? Clearly "Bibi" is very much hoping for a Trump win.

And so, in any of the swing states, where a small number of votes that might go to Harris but do not, could elect Trump, hopefully enough of "otherwise-Jill-voters" will take heed, and vote for Harris. And do take heed of what a government crisis of close to 100 years ago, that might have been prevented by an alliance-on-the-Left, led to. Yes, contrary to what Sinclair Lewis said at the time, It Can Happen Here.

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Appendix I, the definition of fascism that I use:

"There is a single, all-powerful executive branch of government, in service of a capitalist ruling class that controls, for the most part, the functions of production, distribution, finance, and exchange. There is no separation of the principal governmental powers: executive, legislative, and judicial. There are no independent media. There is a single national ideology, based on some combination of racism, misogyny, religious bigotry and authoritarianism, homophobia, and xenophobia. There is a political party supporting the movement. There is a state propaganda machine using the big and little lie techniques. There may be a full-blown dictatorship, a charismatic leader, engagement in foreign wars, and the use of the mob/private armies to enforce governmental control."

Appendix II, From:

A vote that is not for Kamala Harris is a vote for "the most dangerous person ever."

1. Trump appointed General Milly said, "No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump" He is a total fascist." (See the new book, "War," by Bob Woodward.)

2. In his testimony during the January 6 Committee Hearings conservative Justice Michael Luttig said, "Donald Trump, his allies and his supporters are a clear and present danger to American democracy."

3. Concerning the president, former Republican vice president Mike Pence said, "Donald Trump should never get anywhere near the Oval Office again: I really do believe that anyone who puts themself over the Constitution should never be president of the US."

4. Georgia's Republican Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan said at the Democratic National Convention, "You're not a Democrat if you vote for Kamala Harris; you're a patriot."

5. Former Republican senator Liz Cheney said, while endorsing Kamala Harris for president, "it is our duty to put patriotism ahead of partisanship."

6. In his legal brief, special prosecutor Jack Smith wrote, "Donald Trump conspired against the rights of millions of Americans to vote and have their votes counted."

7. "Trump will use the power of the federal government, and especially DoJ, to intimidate and possibly prosecute all sorts of political opponents he deems hostile to him," said former Republican representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. "That's one of the many reasons he's unfit to be president." Likewise, ex-federal prosecutor Paul Rosenzweig warned: "Trump is threatening to prosecute those who stole the election from him in his warped reality," adding that "his threats to undermine the rule of law have escalated.

8. Donald Trump is a convicted felon and an adjudicated fraud and sex offender.

9. Donald Trump has been a lawbreaker and a supporter of the ultra-rich. Kamala Harris, as prosecutor and attorney general of California, has been a law enforcer and supporter of the poor and middle class.

10. Donald Trump poses a threat to the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, the Department of Education, the EPA and all regulation and provision intended to offset the threat of pollution and global warming. As president, Kamala Harris will continue to support each of these as she always has.

(Article changed on Oct 17, 2024 at 6:32 PM EDT)