The most dangerous man in Europe
In the Swiss magazine Weltwoche, British journalist Nicholas Farrell draws a comparison between Grillo and another famous Italian who founded his own populist movement nearly a hundred years ago: Benito Mussolini. Farrell is an expert on the fascist dictator, having written a much cited 2003 biography of Il Duce.
Mussolini also claimed that his fascist group “Fasci di Combattimento” was not a party but a movement, because political parties were the problem, not the solution. He too saw himself and his followers as cleansers who would finally clean up the frail and corrupt system. And he likewise claimed to represent the youth and freethinkers, those who no longer believed in programs and statutes but in rejuvinating action.
Farrell even finds similarities in the two men’s choice of words. Whereas Mussolini spoke of parliament as a “deaf, gray hall” that he refused to enter, Grillo describes his refusal to cooperate in a similar style: “The old parties are coming to an end. They should give back what they stole, and leave. Either they follow us, or they are doomed.” The mockery of the parliamentary system under the guise of true democracy is a trick that all opponents of democracy espouse, regardless of where they come from.
It is easily overlooked nowadays, but fascism at its heart was a leftist movement. Mussolini never made a secret of his orgins: “I am and always will be a socialist. My convictions will never change. They are implanted into my bones,” he told his comrades as they expelled him from the party at the outbreak of war in 1914 because of his pro-war stance. Farrell concludes that “Mussolini’s fascism was black, Grillo’s is green, but they both have a red heart.”
Blowback
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Is it worse than the porno chick they elected a few years ago?
Blake on March 16, 2013 at 5:16 PM
Since Italian tanks are made with six gears – one forward, and five reverse, I don’t see a problem.
OldEnglish on March 16, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Only by idiot leftists. But I repeat myself.
Fenris on March 16, 2013 at 5:22 PM
Sounds familiar.
forest on March 16, 2013 at 5:25 PM
I’ve seen several articles on this very topic, comparing Beppe Grillo to Mussolini in the past. Hopefully we don’t let it get as far as it did 80 years ago.
vegconservative on March 16, 2013 at 5:30 PM
Or Italians don’t much trust the ECB (European Central Bank), the ESM (European Stabilization Mechanism) or those who “know best” but got things the way they are.
And they are coming not to trust the euro as a currency and the EU as an entity.
Questions? Cyprus just socialized (confiscated without warning) about 10% of every bank depositor’s savings on deposit with their banks. Why? To pay for the excellent job the leftist status quo in the EU has brought on.
And you ask why Italians don’t trust the status quo?
65droptop on March 16, 2013 at 5:46 PM
Either overlooked or lied about.
When the Left calls conservatives “fascists” or “Hitleresque,” they reveal either their ignorance or utter dishonesty.
itsnotaboutme on March 16, 2013 at 5:53 PM
Considering how neutered Europe is, the most dangerous person there is about as dangerous as a wet paper bag.
astonerii on March 16, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Europe is ripe for revolution. Socialism is failing everywhere. Energy prices and food prices are sky high. Unemployment is chronically high.
And then there is this.
tom daschle concerned on March 16, 2013 at 6:27 PM
Grillo’s political strength is cut from the same cloth as our own “Dear Leader” Obama. It’s a politics of resentment and anger. It sends voters to the polls in a fit of “I’ll show you!”
The consequence, sadly, is that by electing a leader based on animus you get that animus to boomerang right back and wreak havoc.
Italy was a mess before this idiot. He’s going to make it a much worse mess. The United States, while not the perfect political paradigm, was far more structurally sound before we elected our own clown. We might well survive because our federal republic model, though not running on all cylinders at the moment, may still allow for some repair and tune-up (2014…).
Italy’s parliamentary system creates a fractured pile of different interests that begs for tyranny to spring in the absence of a strong and opposing democratic coalition (strong opposition that would check Grillo’s fervor).
I become more bummed about the future everyday.
ironbill on March 16, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Just like Soviet-era Romania.
MadisonConservative on March 16, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Not completely accurate.
National Socialism is a political movement that is concentrated about race and the furthering the success of that race, with individualism admired and exalted. Hitler’s hatred of the Jews was not that they were not contributors to German society, but that they were “a race that hides behind a religion”, as confirmed by the Jews themselves when they say that one who hates the Jew is not “anti-jewish” i.e. anti a religion, but Anti-Semitic, i.e. a race. He saw Marxism as a Jewish philosophy, destructive to German interests of Free Enterprise (Capitalism within a Country), vs Global Capitalism.
Global Communism dismisses race and nations entirely, regarding everyone as a economic unit whose value was solely view as part of the great class struggle. This is why religion, family and the individual was targeted to be destroyed under communism, to be replaced by the State. People are reduced to consuming, economic units. Race is irrelevant in terms of production. Creatures like George Soros are interesting examples of MarxoCapitalists*
Global capitalism wants free access to markets and labor without regards to race or borders. Shipping manufacturing base overseas is seen as a smart business decision. If the nation that fostered it fails, that is ok as once it is a Multinational, as its market is the world. Multinationals only worry about country of origin come tax time, or if they make a mess. If they need cheap labor, like when Tyson chicken needs workers, they encourage illegal immigration or build plants overseas and promote “Amnesty” at home (which brings in more illegals).
It could be stated that Japan is strongly National Socialist.
* Soros collaborated with the Nazis rounding up the Jews to send to the camps, and confiscating their property and belongings, and said he had “no sense of guilt” about what he did, and found it “exhilarating”, and liked the feeling of “absolute power”.
Bulletchaser on March 16, 2013 at 6:53 PM
Good God! They are just reaching into a persons bank account and taking 10% right off the top!
Bulletchaser on March 16, 2013 at 6:59 PM
The second lowest tax rate in Cyprus is 20% (if you fall into Cyprus’ “poverty bracket” it’s 0).
That means that the money sitting in that account has already been filtered through a minimum 20% levy.
There’s no “just 10%.” The beast will continue to devour till it’s 100%.
ironbill on March 16, 2013 at 7:12 PM
Coming soon to our 401Ks. Did you really think that was your money?
slickwillie2001 on March 16, 2013 at 7:13 PM
Yep it is pretty scary. All your investments and deposits are not physical. They are just ones and zeros that can be wiped out by politicians and banksters whims.
tom daschle concerned on March 16, 2013 at 7:45 PM