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Class Struggle can Save America; Why Trump has Declared War on the Government [1]

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Date: 2025-04-11

FDR’s definition of fascism has not changed into the present time.

American electoral politics, like in any other country, is in effect disguised class struggle representing the collisions and antagonisms between the haves and have nots.

In America and other advanced capitalist countries, the ruling elite classes are rarely challenged as to their class’s right to rule and dominate society.

Historically speaking, Liberals and Conservatives did NOT disagree as to which classes should rule the country. And that class is the corporate, banking and individual mega wealthy classes. Whether it’s Clinton, Hillary, Obama, Harris or Biden or anyone else allowed into the Party Leadership group, they all are joined at the hip to the market capitalist altar.

The Obvious Goal of Republican/Trumpian Fascism

The newly energized progressive movements beginning in the 50s and through the 80s when they reached their zenith created fundamental but incomplete changes in America. The wealthy classes still maintained government control, but were forced to make numerous reforms, big and small. Patriarchy and militarism were not defeated, but severely challenged. African Americans gained increased civil and human rights. So did gays, lesbians and women.

Why Government is Targeted for Destruction

The Republicans have won this battle in many areas of the country.

Government expanded to offer many additional benefits, controlling many times more wealth than any corporation or wealthy individual. But victory is far from complete and was never secured institutionally. Government itself was viewed by the dominant party of the wealthy as a potential political enemy as represented by the Republican Party.

Government, while far from perfect, was essential to protecting these newly won benefits and rights, and the right raged and despised it because of this. The influence of mega money increasing took hold of government since then, undermining democracy and increasing the corruption of Congress since the late 1980s.

Demonizing Democrats is a Republican Industry.

Today, Trump’s Regime has revealed this ugly fact ten times over. His strategy seems aimed at weakening and corrupting/controlling each government agency and department so he can either eliminate it or privatize it. His excuse will be, once he makes them dysfunctional, to blame the liberals for the dysfunction and then privatize them.

Many government agencies and departments were also under staffed and insufficiently financed even before Trump’s second term. His massive layoffs and cuts are just what Trump wants to destabilize them before decimating them.

Destroying, savaging and privatizing government is likely his number one goal.

A Truly Evil Agenda

No caption is needed for this MAGA attack on January 6th.

It has been made much easier because the Republicans have been demonizing government for decades, especially the departments, policies and programs of government that actually help people. Ones that only progressives, the left and the Democrats have come to support and defend.

Republicans have, in nearly half the country, been successful at both deflecting hatred aimed at their own Party and pushing it back on the Democrats for the very things about government that assists and benefit these same people that comprise their supporters. Quite an accomplishment, done through incessant reactionary pandering to the many biases that infect American today. Combined with exploiting the masses wide spread apathy, angers, social dysfunctions, political ignorance and alienation.

Waiting for the Mid-Terms Might be too Late

Trump is a great bluffer, he has gone all in, Texas Holdem style, with losing cards in the hole if his bluff is called.

It seems as if the primary Democratic leadership strategy against Trump remains solely an electoral one. In normal times one can legitimately pursue such a strategy. But these are not normal times.

The Republican Party backing Trump has gone all in on both Trump and fascism. They have bet everything on it and their own futures in politics. They will not bend or compromise, they must be broken.

Two more years of Trump’s

maniacal efforts will only demoralize the progressive movements against him if the Leadership pursues a mainly electoral strategy. Combine that with Trump and Republican efforts to increase their voter suppression strategy and there will be no “blue wave” victories in 2026.

Class/Mass Struggle are Essential for Combating Fascism

One of thousands of 2020 demonstrations against Trump.

The real lesson of 2020 escaped the Democratic Leadership in 2024. They seemingly did not grasp the factors that led to victory in 2020, and never considered what the reasons were that Biden’s approval ratings were consistently low. which seemed due mainly to the lack of real popularity of Joe Biden among many in their own base.

Yes, Joe did get some good legislation passed but was never sold that well or was not that popular with his own base. The insane response of Netanyahu in Gaza which got laid upon Biden’s shoulders also did not help him among progressive and left voters.

Largely due to his inability or unwillingness to do anything significant to stop the mass carpet-style bombing and killing of almost 50,000 Gazans. Largely made possible by American made bombs and military aid. The Republicans were also aided by massive gerrymandering and voter disqualification campaigns aimed at Democratic voters.

2020 Versus 2024

The massive WWII level bombing of Gaza brought up reminders of Vietnam and did not help Democratic chances in 2024.

Perhaps the main victory factor was not so much Biden’s popularity in 2020, nor was it his rhetorical abilities. I suspect strongly the main factor that led to an almost 7 million vote victory was literally the thousands of mass demonstrations by both anti-Trump forces and Black Life Matters, many combined together, which helped lead to a huge Democratic turnout. All this combined with many other factors, such as Joe’s late pull out after his debate meltdown and a huge media advantage for the Republicans, to propel Trump into the White House.

There were no such demonstrations before the 2024 election. Perhaps a turn out across the country 3 or 3 weeks before the 2024 election like on April 5th of this year would have made a difference. We will never know.

But I think what has become clear to most of us is that the Democrats need new, more class conscious leadership and even greater turnouts like April 5th. I seriously doubt you can depend on elections alone to turn things around. What Trump has revealed is the “natural occurring” dark side of the ruling elite. You see it in the Wall Street Stock exchange every day. There, you find little evidence of liberalism and few progressives.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/11/2315675/-Class-Struggle-can-Save-America-Why-Trump-has-Declared-War-on-the-Government?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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