Observed associations between COVID denial, anti-vaxxers, and fascism
Introduction
Over the pandemic year, a repeated pattern was seen. People joining aggressive, right wing demonstrations whose slogans include ‘COVID is a myth’, ‘vaccinations kill’, and that there is a ‘swamp’ of power and corruption against ‘the people’. Marx tells us that the validity of observations, is only proved by the test of practice.[1]
Here repetitive observations (often called reproducibility) become a key ‘proof’ of an undeniable association. The repetitive associations between anti-vaxxers and the far right forms a distinct pattern. What binds these groups? This is an international phenomenon. But here I give some thoughts particularly citing examples from the USA and Germany.
The essential backdrop identified by ‘socialists’ of all brands, is the ever more rising obvious class antagonisms. It was untenable that the ruled majority would forever allow themselves to be exploited uncomplainingly. But in the post-austerity, post neo-liberal ‘concensus’ a new high plateau of exploitation has been reached. A mere 1% of the metropolitan countries owns over 95-97%[2] of the country’s wealth, bringing a harsher, more overt class war. This politicises whole layers of society excluded from the supposed ‘gravy train’ and benefits of capitalist society. They develop intense alienation against any authority.
Rana Foroohar, an editor at the Financial Times, puts it this way:
“Anyone with a pulse knows that in the US today the system is rigged in favour of the wealthy and powerful. One particularly illuminating paper published this month by the Institute for New Economic Thinking quantifies the problem. Building on a persuasive 2014 data set, it shows that when opinion shifts among the wealthiest top 10 per cent of the US population, changes in policy become far more likely.
… Look no further than the way in which Uber, Instacart, Lyft and other digital groups this month got their way with Californian labour law. Together they spent $200m to push through Proposition 22, a ballot initiative that exempts many gig workers from benefits. These companies may well now take their efforts to other US states.” [3]
We examine the association between the anti-science deniers and fascism by identifying its separate parts. We start at the simplest and most naïve level to end at the most sinister and conscious. At the outset, we flag an intent to foment a deliberate chaos and sense of crisis.
Continued; click here to read the entire article as a PDF.
[1] Karl Marx, Theses on Feuerbach; Volume 4; 5; p.4; Moscow 1976;
[2] Obviously, in this context, one of exploiter percent overwhelmingly dwarfing the exploited percent, and including the means of production – the exact figure is irrelevant.
[3] Rana Foroohar, ‘Corporate America’s deal with the Devil’; FT, Nov. 23, 2020