The Coming American Fascism

Abstract

Lawrence Dennis (1893-1977) was one of the most insigtful men and political thinkers during the 20th century. He clearly diagnosed the economic problems of the Great Depression and announced that the "old rules" simply did not work any longer. He accurately predicted that the Americans would adopt fascism and fascist economic policies to restore something close to full imployment. Since 1936, Dennis' predictions have been vindicated.

Dennis stated that the Great Depession was due to overproduction or underconsumption. He clearly saw the problem of the collapse of credit expanion which began during World War I and continued through most of the 1920s. However, installment purchases and high interest rates could not be absorbed forever, and when the "inflation bubble" exploded, it covered a much wider number of people than any previous economic depression in U.S. history.

The problem was not the Great Depression itself. The problem was that few knew what to do. The staunch "conservatives" whined about a planned economy which they claimed would violate their privledged status under laissez-faire. Dennis reminded these conservatives that they were the beneficiaries of government subsidies, high tariffs, protection from honest competition, etc. In other words, the conservatives' protest were hollow and hypocritical in lieu of their begging for previous government favors. Also such talk of laissez-faire was empty when the system did not work and restore full employment.

Dennis' suggestion was that there had to be a planned economic program to prevent expansive credit. He stated that consumers could not and would not pay interest payments forever,and the previous economic expansion had to be halted. He also made clear that increased savings would not necessarily lead to increased investment in a stagnent economy with high umployment. In short, Dennis stated that the old system and the old rules simply did not work any longer, and a new system had to operate before rebellion erupted.

Dennis had some thoughts on "education" and learning. He mentioned that actualy learning had to replace normative "verbalisms." He also argued that the attempts of education "do gooders" to level education to avoid elites was incredibly stupid and inoperable. His one remark sufficed when he stated that civilizations rise and fall, but the elites go on forever. He countered the silliness that under fascism women would not do well. He countered that gifted women were often in elite circles of learning, policy making, etc. He was aware that in a planned economy women would prove their efficiency and usefullness and that marriage was perhaps better because women ruled the men in the domicle of the home.

Dennis was often smeared as "Nazi" and Fascist when he was neither. All Dennis argued was that a dramatic change had to occur to resolve problems. He never joined any Fascist party. He clearly argued against antisemitism as useless and counter productive. He certain was not a "racist" and was in fact raised by mulattoes in Georgia.

This book requires careful reading. Readers should know that Dennis was lucid in his writing style in presenting complex concepts. Readers should also read Willis Carto's preface to have a clearer inisight of this book. While Dennis has largely been consigned to the "Orwellian Memory Hole," he deserves to be read for his insight and accurate prophetic predictions.