Al Stefanelli

by Dave the Sandman, Guest columnist

A society can best be judged by how it cares for its weakest citizens.

I find US politics fascinating, but in that same way you just cant seem to avoid sneaking a look at the crumpled wrecks in a crash as you slowly creep by in your car. I watch carefully, for a lifetime of experience has taught me that whatever goes on in the US soon reaches the green and pleasant land of my birth, the UK[1].  I admire the great politicians and presidents of your past and like one of those, Franklin D Roosevelt, thought maybe its time for a little “fireside chat”.  Also like him I’d like to discuss something my US cousins seem to find controversial: socialism.[2] 

Recently I read an excellent book about the rise of the religious right in the US and its corrosive effect on your democracy – American Fascists by Chris Hedges[3]. That title may seem extreme, but consider the way that Al Stefanelli and his family, and maybe others you know, were not only shunned but driven out of their homes and jobs by their friends, neighbours and employers once their atheism became public knowledge.  Look at what has happened to two brave schoolkids who stood up to protest against 1^st Amendment abuses – Jessica Ahlquhist and Damon Fowler. Or the little 10 year old who refused to recite the Pledge because “Liberty and Justice for All” didn’t apparently include LGBT people. Or….and that list gets longer every day.

Read the book – the reason for using such an extreme descriptor as “fascism” to describe the US religious right is not only in there but fully justified.

Chris’ book seeks to try to explain why the US is still so raddled by the religious, and one of the potential reasons he sets out particularly struck home. The US is truly “exceptional” compared to the rest of the industrialised west in that it has no real comprehensive social welfare systems, and certainly no universal social health and medical coverage such as the National Health Services of European states.  These were things Roosevelt proposed in his Second Bill Of Rights, instituted by the European states, and ignored by his own. And the end result? A society of fear and uncertainty, where any fall from full employment and good health means potentially your bank account goes bye bye, your ass is out on the street and it’s Kraft Macaroni Dinners till kingdom come.  If you are a member of a church you can go beg them for help till the government throws you some stale crusts. If you aren’t… well just book yourself a cardboard box on Skid Row.

Shabby GOP liars like Gingrich, Romney and Santorum rail against a “European style welfare state society”, and by constant repetition of that dishonest meme make it a common perception amongst my US cousins that European welfare systems have resulted in poverty for Europeans and relative prosperity for Americans. They conveniently ignore respected research by the EU Organization for Economic and Cooperation Development showing that in 2011 the level of poverty in the United States was worse than that of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Norway, Finland, Sweden,  Switzerland,  Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Poland, Britain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain[4].

Now, look at the faith map of the USA. Where the people are poorest and least protected there the faiths thrive and spread like a bad dose of clap. Throw into that witches brew the GOP and religious rights attacks on public schooling resulting in an ill educated and ill informed population unaware of their rights. Add almost total control of a mainstream media constantly screaming about the evils of socialism and how it is “un-Christian” and “un-American” and you have the perfect Petri dish for religiosity. It allows politicians and other corporate shills to go on TV or stand on a rally stage and denounce the Occupy protesters seeking the barest form of social justice as socialist/Marxist/Nazi /Commie/Un-American scum whilst prefacing their selfishness and stupidity with that threadbare and idiotic canard “As a Christian…”

Really? I must re-read the Bible as I must have skipped the bits where Jesus sneeringly told the beggar to get a job then gave the moneylenders in the Temple a bail out.

As for socialism….well the US loves socialism[5]. You love your Medicaid, your farm subsides, your market price controls, economic protection measures, public education, food stamps and welfare support- all of which are pure socialism[6].  The problem I think, as a commie pinko Brit, is of course not that you have socialism in the US, it’s that you just don’t have enough of it in the right places. I think that may be the underpinning reason that, unlike the rest of the west which does have comprehensive systems, you’re still stuck in the religion trap.

My reasons for thinking this? Which party is it that is most lock tied to the extremist religious right? Which party most loves to wave its Big Tent Christian credentials and Holier Than Thou cards the most? Which party reads the Constitution out loud, tearily bleats “With Liberty And Justice For All”, then denies the rights of others such as minorities, women and LGBT citizens to live happily and peacefully with equality under the law? Which party is it that frustrates and compromises measures to protect the weak, ill and poor thus driving them into the hands of their churchy mates? Which party is it that supports ramming their own brand of ugly Bronze Age faith and “values” down your necks, between your legs, and into your classrooms?

You got it – the ones who scream loudest about the evils of socialism whilst bilking the government for every farm subsidy and pray away the gay Medicaid payment they can pocket on the sly, at the same time guaranteeing big fat socialist tax subsides for their corporate pay masters.  The party that constantly refers to its “Christian” moral credentials. The rosy specs flag wrapped fact challenged Bible waving arch-revisionists of the GOP.

So, the log is burning low and my pipe and brandy are calling. Ponder on this my American friends.

Had Franklin D Roosevelt staved off illness just a few more months and got his way, instituting his Second Bill Of Rights, how religious do you think the US would have been 60 years later? As in Europe, where his ideas and principles took root and thrived, would the churches now stand empty and the pews and hymnals be gathering dust?

Have a good long hard think about things that could be. Do you want a safer, more secure, more egalitarian and religion free public life and society? Do you want “freedom of” to include “freedom from”? Common Sense and compassion in your politics? Liberty and Justice For ALL? You don’t need to stick on the Che Guevara beret and adopt a thousand yard stare of destiny my friends.  “Small s” or what you Americans term “progressive” socialism is not Stalinism, Marxism, Maoism, nor is it Nazi-ism. European style socialism is just making sure the weak, the poor and the ill aren’t forced to beg for charity, and everybody gets a fair crack at success and happiness through a decent education and health support. It is an “ism”…..its ALTRUISM. Its answering the question “Am I my brothers keeper” with a YES. Its being the Good Samaritan on a religion free impartial state level, and that’s what FDR knew to be true.

Like taking down any tent you start with the loosening the guy ropes and kicking out the tent pegs. If you want to take down US Big Tent Christianity, best you just listen to Franklin D Roosevelt…. We in Europe did. 

ABHOR THE WHORE….TEAR DOWN THAT BIG TENT!