A few days ago, while reading Vijay Prashad's speech, delivered at the World Gathering for An Alternative Social Agenda, I paused over a question he posed. Prashad is discussing political leadership in the US, which seems attracted to the pursue of power. Power for the sake of power! Pomp and Ceremony!
Occasionally, a political leader might think of their legacy . The presidential library , filled with documents and artifacts"
But there are self-serving political leaders. And nuts, such as the former President Nixon or, worse, dangerous nuts like the former President Trump who want to crown their existence atop a golden throne with a seal displaying the fasces-- an "assemblage," writes professor T. Corey Brennan in The Fasces: A History of Ancient Rome's Most Dangerous Political Symbol, "of wooden rods" bound by leather straps together with a singled-headed axe." The fasces was used "to inflict either corporal or capital punishment."
Why is it that this nation, claiming itself "great," won't allow itself to think out of the box? To think like someone with intelligence. West countries, writes Prashad, such as Germany, England, and the US produce "mediocre" leadership. Prashad asks the question, "'How is it possible that these countries with immense wealth cannot produce even one intelligent leader?'"
Why is it the mediocre, the dangerous, the fascist?
In the year, 1932, Franz von Papen is ordered by Paul von Hindenburg to extend "an olive branch" to Hitler, writes Timothy W. Ryback, author of Takeover: Hitler's Final Rise to Power. Hindenburg is thinking about building "the widest possible coalition of nationalist parties." With the usual suspects! As Ryback writes, Hitler "smelled blood." He was insulted. As far as he was concerned nothing short of the chancellorship will do. Papen and Hindenburg are old school. Hitler thinks himself a new breed of politician. A few days later, he sends Papen an extended letter saying thanks, but no thanks! What's the point in meeting "if his demand for absolute power were not met."
The letter sounds as if penned by a child in the throes of a tandem. Hitler writes of what he's learned in the 13 of his "struggle for Germany." His struggle to "put the great cause" he serves "above" himself. After all, he is suffering right along with the people as he watches Papen squander "the vast amounts of 'hope, belief, and trust' that the Germany people had placed in him as chancellor." He, Hitler, has been watching all that goodwill turn "'to pain and grief.'" He suffers with the people of Germany!
Ryback recounts how Hitler railed against the German leaders, condemning them for betraying "the public trust." It's this betrayal, Hitler argues, that has convinced him to run for the chancellorship. He, and he alone, could "overcome the crisis in the country." He could turn German around.
And, as Ryback writes, Hitler turned around and sends a copy of the letter to the press.
For the German leadership, there is a crisis, and its name is Hitler. Dr. Alfred Hugenberg, offers to met with Hindenburg. What to do with the clown? The loose screw? What to do next if Germany isn't to fall to Hitler?
Papen decides to resign. It was unthinkable to serve in a Hitler cabinet.
Hugenburg points to a wobbling Hitler. One day, when questioned, Hitler declares he doesn't want the presidency or the chancellorship, and, on the next day, he demands the chancellorship. And the chancellorship-- only! "'I don't believe Hitler honors the agreement he makes,'" Hugenburg tells Hindenburg. Besides, it's difficult to work with someone like Hitler if "'given any political leadership.'"
As Ryback shows, Hitler is straightforward, for in seeking a "dictatorship without constraints," Hitler, as the Vossische Zeitung noted, means to be out of the reach of the authority of the Reich and the Reichstag. Very straightforward.
When Hindenburg meets with Hitler, Ryback writes, he wants to calm the violence already evident on the streets thanks to Hitler's storm troopers. In acknowledging the newcomer's leadership of a large movement, he tries to urge the younger man to consider the Fatherland . "'Set aside past animosities'" and "'personal interests.'" The German leadership, Hindenburg argues, must unite. I can only imagine the would-be-dictator's face when he hears that phrase. For Hitler has no intentions of uniting with the Germany leadership! As Ryback writes, Hitler states that he has "a claim to the chancellorship." Anyway!
Hindenburg continues appeal to Hitler's "intelligence," if not his duty to return German to "a constitutional" society "with the majority rule." To which Hitler reiterates his position: He must have "absolute authority." He doesn't wish to work in a coalition with 18 million Marxists and some 14 to 25 million communists. He believes in "' Fuhrung. '" He believes in a leadership "that could provide guidance and direction."
Perhaps too Hitler sees the fasces everywhere, acknowledging his political power.
Could Hindenburg trust Hitler with a single party (Parteikabinett)?
As Ryback writes, the meeting was over, with neither men coming to an agreement, the next day, Hitler returns to Hindenburg's office with a 3-page letter, "detailing his conditions for assuming the chancellorship."
The older man losses his patience and, through Meissner, sends off a letter to Hitler. "'The Reich president fears that a presidal cabinet led by you would inevitably lead to a party dictatorship with all the attendant consequences of a dangerous exacerbation of the polarization among the German people, which he cannot justify before his oath or conscience.'"
Meissner releases the letter to the press after sending Hitler the original.
In a meeting with his henchmen, Hitler, writes Ryback. declares that the "system" must be "smashed if the German nation is not to be destroyed." That is, democracy must be destroyed! This allowance of difference! Racial, sexual, religious, ethnic"
There will be no debates about how to improve democracy to include justice and freedom for all citizens. It's democracy or fascism! Period!
It appears that thinking on what's best for humanity is just too difficult.
And so the fight goes on"
