It can't happen here
Nov 24, 2024
The novel It Can't Happen Here, written by Sinclair Lewis was published in 1935 during the rise of fascism in Europe. It tells the story of Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, a demagogue who is elected President of the United States , after fomenting fear, and promising drastic economic and social reforms while promoting a return to patriotism and traditional values. After his election, Windrip takes complete control of the government via a self-coup and imposes totalitarian rule with the help of a ruthless paramilitary force.
Does this sound familiar? (More)
The Age chose to report the election of the next US President on its front page by referencing The Shining, a horror film starring Jack Nicholson, with Trump's smiling visage tearing through a map of the United States: HERE'S DONNY.
The sub-headline read 'He is a man guilty of 34 felonies, twice impeached, accused of racism, misogyny and inciting a riot. But Donald J. Trump has secured a second term as president of the United States of America.'
Could such political turmoil happen in Australia? So far, our moral compass seems more resilient. Looking back, a scandal rocked our country in 1982 when two Ministers in the Fraser government had to quit over a declaration to customs that a colour television was black and white. Labor Minister Mick Young created another scandal in 2013 when his wife carried through customs an undeclared Paddington Bear. Today the Prime Minister has lost favour for buying a big house on a beachside cliff and getting upgrades on his flights. The man, some call Mr Potato Head, is growing in favour.
We have experienced bigger scandals than these in Australia, but nothing we know, can compare to the phenomenon of the election as President, of a vile, aggressive, lying, convicted felon who exudes revenge.
How did it happen? The reported explanations don't suffice. The rural vs the urban, the poor vs the privileged, the woke vs the populists, the young vs the old, the podcasters vs the legacy media, the men vs the women, the black and brown vs the white. Put them all together. But there is more at work here.
Indeed, the wealthiest citizens are among Trump's supporters, not only the disadvantaged; white women came out for him along with Latino and black men; he has won the popular vote as well as the electoral college, the House and the Senate. Part of the explanation may well be entrenched sexism and misogyny in men and women when it comes to electing a female as Commander in Chief, and Kamala Harris had a late start, encumbered by an old frail man who would not accept his time was up. One third of eligible voters didn't vote and the total turnout was fewer than the 2020 election.
Yet a majority of voters have embraced Trump. You can see the adoration on their faces at rallies. They see him as a heroic image for contemporary America, the essence of the great American myth which has been marketed over decades by the Hollywood dream factory. His supporters don't care about his transgressions. He gives them hope. He will get things done.
Initially the film studios from the thirties on, delineated good from bad characters, black hats vs white. John Wayne cleaned up the West and won wars (with his six gun) in dozens of films; superheroes like Superman, Spiderman and even Batman in his earlier incarnations were men of integrity: noble, moral, ethical. They were paragons of virtue. They fought for justice and 'the American way'. They taught Americans to believe in heroes.
Across the years as globalisation, neoliberalism, the technology revolution, the crash, the income gap, and ongoing global conflicts brought darker times a new type of hero emerged - the antihero, perhaps best personified by Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) the murderous, ruthless, mafia boss who loved his family and had anxiety problems. Tony redefined the attributes considered necessary to be a leading character. He garnered a devoted following from 1999-2007 across nine series. The role took a toll on Gandolfini who found the characteristics he had to build within himself to play Tony Soprano - rage and brooding aggression - consumed him, so he wanted to quit. But he was caught in a system where success and the employment of others depended on him. It possibly led to his early death of a heart attack at 51.
Dexter the gentle, courteous but serial killer arrived in 2006 for eight series until 2013. He was a forensic blood spatter analyst who in his spare time, targeted other murderers who had evaded the justice system. Breaking Bad with Walter White emerged in 2008. He was a nondescript chemistry teacher, suffering incurable cancer which motivated him to make and sell methamphetamines leading him to become a killer. But he was working to take care of his family. In 2013, Breaking Bad was entered in the Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed TV show of all-time.
The audience loved these morally ambiguous, flawed and complex characters. Their motivations were good so they could be forgiven for their criminal actions. Circumstances demanded they do what they do. They were likeable, interesting and through them viewers saw life in more complicated ways.
During this same period Gotham City became progressively darker, and reality television took off. A precocious real estate developer in New York city fronted The Apprentice in 2004-15. The show depicted young people competing for a $250,000 contract to run one of Trump's real estate companies. For more than a decade Trump promoted his brand and his image on prime time. He became ingrained in the American psyche as the powerful, successful property magnate; an iconic bully who got things done in ruthless style. 'You're fired', he pronounced. Trump made his fortune through The Apprentice and was glorified as the businessman with the golden touch; he epitomised the American can-do myth. Many believed that the man on television over those years was real. Trump believed it too and in June 2015 he announced his run for President of the United States of America. Racist comments in his campaign speech led NBC to fire him. Trump claims he quit.
And nine years on Trump is on repeat, 'the immigrants are eating the dogs, cats and the ducks.' His early appointments to senior posts suggest Trump means what he says, and his rhetoric will be policy. America first. Drill baby drill. Build tariff walls. Round up the illegals and send them back - somewhere. Rollback red tape. Reshape the Federal Government. Sack the public servants. Kill health reforms. Abolish the department of Education. And pardon the January 6th rioters who caused injury and death.
History suggests, like all antiheroes, Trump will come to a sticky, inglorious end. The question is, will he take us all down with him? Can it happen here?
Or will we keep our distance?