We.ve danced around this word. We.ve expressed our concern in print. We.ve made jokes about it. But until now I.ve only used the word as a warning about what might be coming our way. Until now I.ve stopped short of saying that our wonderful country, the bulwark of democracy for nearly 230 years, is turning into a fascist state. But I can hesitate no longer.

All the signs are in place. Giant corporations control our politicians, assuring that the rights of the working class are eroded while those of the rich and Big Business are strengthened. Consider the new bankruptcy bill, recently signed into law by Bush. The rich and the corporations can still obtain bankruptcy protection, but you can.t.

More ominous is the Republicans. attack against our judiciary, led by Congressman Tom DeLay and Senator Bill Frist in lockstep with the fundamentalist Religious Right. They have made it clear that they mean to discredit and destroy the judiciary. Without the judiciary, we will lose the protection of the courts. Without the courts, we stand defenseless against a government that believes Christ was a Republican. In America, fascism has a Christian face.

It.s not enough for the Progressive Left to man the barricades. We need the political middle, sane Right and rational Christians at our side as well. Surely, whatever other differences we may have, we must all come together in an effort to push back the tide of fascism in this country. The truth is, it can happen here. It is happening here.

Larry Flynt
Publisher,
HUSTLER Magazine