Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw the problem clearly in the 1940s. It’s the stupidity, stupid, and stupidity is more subtle and complex than you might think. Keep the MAGA movement in mind while reading this.
Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless. Neither protests nor the use of force accomplish anything here; reasons fall on deaf ears; facts that contradict one’s prejudgment simply need not be believed- in such moments the stupid person even becomes critical – and when facts are irrefutable they are just pushed aside as inconsequential, as incidental. In all this the stupid person, in contrast to the malicious one, is utterly self-satisfied and, being easily irritated, becomes dangerous by going on the attack. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.
If we want to know how to get the better of stupidity, we must seek to understand its nature. This much is certain, that it is in essence not an intellectual defect but a human one. There are human beings who are of remarkably agile intellect yet stupid, and others who are intellectually quite dull yet anything but stupid. We discover this to our surprise in particular situations. The impression one gains is not so much that stupidity is a congenital defect, but that, under certain circumstances, people are made stupid or that they allow this to happen to them. We note further that people who have isolated themselves from others or who live in solitude manifest this defect less frequently than individuals or groups of people inclined or condemned to sociability. And so it would seem that stupidity is perhaps less a psychological than a sociological problem. It is a particular form of the impact of historical circumstances on human beings, a psychological concomitant of certain external conditions. Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity. It would even seem that this is virtually a sociological-psychological law. The power of the one needs the stupidity of the other. The process at work here is not that particular human capacities, for instance, the intellect, suddenly atrophy or fail. Instead, it seems that under the overwhelming impact of rising power, humans are deprived of their inner independence, and, more or less consciously, give up establishing an autonomous position toward the emerging circumstances. The fact that the stupid person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent. In conversation with him, one virtually feels that one is dealing not at all with a person, but with slogans, catchwords and the like that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell, blinded, misused, and abused in his very being. Having thus become a mindless tool, the stupid person will also be capable of any evil and at the same time incapable of seeing that it is evil. This is where the danger of diabolical misuse lurks, for it is this that can once and for all destroy human beings.
Yet at this very point it becomes quite clear that only an act of liberation, not instruction, can overcome stupidity. Here we must come to terms with the fact that in most cases a genuine internal liberation becomes possible only when external liberation has preceded it. Until then we must abandon all attempts to convince the stupid person. This state of affairs explains why in such circumstances our attempts to know what ‘the people’ really think are in vain and why, under these circumstances, this question is so irrelevant for the person who is thinking and acting responsibly. The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity.
But these thoughts about stupidity also offer consolation in that they utterly forbid us to consider the majority of people to be stupid in every circumstance. It really will depend on whether those in power expect more from people’s stupidity than from their inner independence and wisdom.
That describes our current situation perfectly. We have a mob of people who have been incentivized to be stupid — unquestioning, dogmatic, full of certainty, and motivated to rationalize every stupid decision by those in power. Reason and evidence will not dissuade them; those are the tools we always considered the best of our civilized minds, and they’ve completely negated them. Stupidity is the secret weapon underlying fascism.
It’s an effective weapon. Here’s a depressing analysis that says, historically, “Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever.”
The pattern is so consistent it’s almost funny if it weren’t so terrifying. Every single time it goes like this: Conservatives panic about socialism or progressives or whatever. They ally with fascists as the “lesser evil.” Fascists take power. Fascists immediately purge the conservatives who helped them. Then it’s 30-50 years of dictatorship. This happened in Germany, Italy, Spain, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Romania, and Hungary.
Want to know how many times conservatives successfully “controlled” the fascists they allied with? Zero. Want to know how many times fascists purged the conservatives after taking power? All of them. Every single time.
Now consider this: the United States has been taken over by fascist. It is a fascist state, and we don’t even have an effective resistance — the Democratic party is a floundering joke, led by people who are more interested in maintaining their petty powers than in defeating an existential threat. Sure, do write a “strongly worded letter” and give the fascists a good chuckle.
And here’s the part that breaks your heart. Violence works. For them. Fascists use violence while claiming to be victims. They create chaos that “requires” their authoritarian solution. Then they purge anyone who opposes them. Meanwhile, democrats keep insisting on following rules that fascists completely ignore. They file lawsuits. They write editorials. They vote on resolutions. And fascists just laugh and keep consolidating power.
The statistics are brutal. Fascist takeovers prevented after winning power democratically: zero. Average length of fascist rule once established: 31 years. Fascist regimes removed by voting: zero. Fascist regimes removed by asking nicely: zero. Most were removed by war or military coups, and tens of millions died in the process.
Wow. So pessimistic. Also, so realistic. No matter what, it’s going to take a struggle (maybe a futile one, but better that than to accept the coming tyranny) to defeat fascism. Our current leadership lacks the will to fight — as one example look at the packed, corrupt Supreme Court which could have been weakened during the Biden administration…and nothing was done. The Republicans have been building and strengthening oppressive institutions, but imagine, if the Democrats won the next election, would they, for instance, disband ICE? You know they wouldn’t: they’d compromise, at a time when we need decisive ruthlessness.
The only hints of optimism I’m seeing are from Refuse Fascism — they seem to believe that we can actually fight back and take back the country. I agree with Bonhoeffer that argument and debate are not winning tactics against stupidity. What we need is a strong shock to awaken the citizenry and jar them out of their cultivated dogma, and a mass uprising is the only thing we can do at this point to do that. There is a planned march on occupied Washington DC to protest on 5 November, we should all go.
You might want to tune in to the Refuse Fascism podcast to hear from voices that are simultaneously fully aware of how dire our situation is while also believing that mass action might actually help us overcome the current fascist regime. Check it out. If nothing else, Sunsara Taylor gives an invigorating speech in the first five minutes.
We have to get out of the mindset that we can patch it up in the next election.
Here’s a depressing analysis that says, historically, “Once fascists win power democratically, they have never been removed democratically. Not once. Ever.”
Can you call it an analysis when there is not even a single source for the article? This would be grounds for failing a class if it were an undergraduate paper.
Not entirely correct but close.
A lot of Fascist regimes fell after decades when everyone just got tired of brutal, stagnant, corrupt socities going nowhere. There might have been violence but it was minimal. Tens of millions of people didn’t die.
The ones within my lifetime like that were the old USSR, Franco’s Spain after he died, Portugal, Brazil, and Chile.
Then we have the example of Syria, a country completely wrecked by the Assads.
Where millions did die or were displaced.
TL;DR Punch Nazi’s while it can still make a difference.
Can you call it an analysis when there is not even a single source for the article? This would be grounds for failing a class if it were an undergraduate paper.OK.
Since there is a link for the article, you’ve failed and get an F.
There is a link hidden in the text and shown as Red.
Here it is.
https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/i-researched-every-attempt-to-stop
The Existential Republic
I researched every attempt to stop fascism in history. The success rate is 0%.
Once they win elections, it’s already too late.
CHRIS ARMITAGE
AUG 13, 2025
Actually, it is a bit confusing.
You have to see shades of red and realize there is a hidden link in a paragraph.
While the US situation is grim, dismal, and horrible, there are a huge number of things we can do to resist the GOP Fascists.
This article is by the same author PZ Myers quotes in the OP, Chris Amitage and by coincidence I just saw it and bookmarked it yesterday.
It is called Soft Secession.
The Blue states can largely just ignore the Federal government and the Feds can’t do much.
Data and Proof:
The Red states of the Confederacy have been doing this since they lost the Civil War in 1865 to 5 minutes ago.
What has changed in the Confederacy since we freed their slaves?
They’ve changed a little but not that much and fought the Federal government every inch of the way.
Six Red states are now sending military troops to occupy Washington DC.
Most of the people, most of the economy, and most of the freedoms are in the Blue States.
We can just stall, beat around the bush, just say no, refuse to comply and the Feds can’t stop us.
This isn’t theoretical.
It is already happening.
and
and
There it is.
The Blue states have 70% of the US economy.
The Blue states subsidize the Red states by a lot.
We have a lot of power if we choose to use it to simply ignore the Federal government, stall, beat around the bush, and get in the way.
And, this is already happening.
The people who lead the Blue states like Gavin Newsom of California and Pritzker of Illinois are smart enough to figure this out and they are resisting.
At the end of the day, even dictatorships depend to some extent on the…Consent of the Governed. Ask the old USSR or Assad of Syria how that works.
I think the current state of the US is somewhat different in at least one major way – that being that the fascist autocrat at the centre of the cult of personality is already ancient, senile and dying. I don’t know just how significant the whole cult of personality, glorious leader dynamic is in American fascism, but it has traditionally been a very significant factor elsewhere.
Hitler got a good decade before he was killed. Mussolini likewise. Franco many decades. Stalin and Mao too (authoritarian if not actually fascist) lived a long time at the centre of their cults of personality.
It could well be the case that the fat orange idiot’s cult of “personality” (he doesn’t have a personality, just a cluster of toxic neuroses, but it doesn’t seem to put off the cult) doesn’t have time to create a lasting, institutional presence. When he does die (here’s hoping it’s soon), who will take over? Is there anyone else in the wings who could command the kind of unthinking ruminant loyalty he seems to? Sure, there’s the Republican party and its large, wealthy network of pro-fascist institutions and think tanks, but will that sustain the fascism that’s happening now?
I don’t know. But these things very rarely turn into dynasties, and those that do (I’m thinking North Korea particularly) tend to bed in for decades first.
He is feeble and in cognitive decline. But I don’t know what replaces him: JD Vance? Ick. We don’t know what awful creature will step forward to try and replace him.
Would JD Bowman (I generally don’t deadname people, but for him I’ll make an exception) command the same degree of loyalty and obeisance from the MAGA cult though? Or from the Republican senators and congressmen and governors? Would he be able to steer the chaos machine in the same way, or would factional infighting break out? Just look at how quickly Mike Pence got thrown out.
I guess the question I’m asking is does the current US fascism have the coherency and staying power to persist after the death of its cult leader?
I still have no idea why anyone voted for the GOP and Trump.
None of what they claimed as ideals or goals has turned out to be their reasons.
.1. Family values? GOP family values don’t exist except as negatives.
.2. Fiscal Responsibility? They wreck the budgets and increase the deficits.
.3. Lower prices? Food, electricity, and inflation are going up rapidly.
.4. Freedom? They hate freedoms. Armed soldiers in the streets, forced birthing, female slavery, trying to destroy voting and democracy, banning books, censoring museums and libraries.
.5. Free market capitalism? Trump and the GOP are destroying this rapidly by massively picking winners and losers, a lot by tariffs and tariff exceptions. Buying part of Intel etc..
My best guesses.
.1. Sadistic cruelty. They really want to see people suffer. Concentration camps, disappearances, sending people to hellholes like El Salvador and Uganda to be tortured and die. Shooting people in the streets when they protest.
.2. The unrealistic hope that at the end, white male xians will be at the top of the pile. Again.
Which isn’t going to happen.
They will be at the top of the ant hill. And way overhead, will be a very small, very rich oligarchy.
If they are lucky, they will be the modern equivalent of the house slaves, slightly better off than the field slaves.
Tubby the Cheeto Taco is old enough to die, so he could die at any moment. Good riddance. I can’t wait to not hear him spew and splutter now and then. Unfortunately I doubt it will make any goddamn difference. As far as the presidency goes, JD just moves in. JD is just as malicious as Taco, though perhaps he doesn’t have the charisma of Taco. Like Taco, he’s just the front man for a cabal of insidious, greedy assholes. They have spent around 50 years getting in this position and they aren’t going to let go easily.
Frankly, I’m not confident there will be another election, at least not a free election. Putin holds elections which he always wins. The last one was in 2024 and Putin got 88% of the votes. Is that a validation of his regime? Probably not. In any case, that’s the dream of the Neo-cons.
This:
“The impression one gains is not so much that stupidity is a congenital defect, but that, under certain circumstances, people are made stupid or that they allow this to happen to them.”
In Bonhoeffer’s sense, “dummheit” (I found a German source) is not a cognitive defect but a moral one. Better English terms might be “fool” and “folly”.
raven @4
leovigild @1 may have been talking about the Substack article PZ quoted not having any sources for its assertions.
I find that Chile was mentioned just once in the article. If “Fascist regimes removed by voting: zero.” is applicable to the Pinochet regime there’s that 1988 Plebiscite standing out like a sore thumb.
Well, I have made the experience that showing what intelligence can do helps dissuading people with a lesser intellect from their course, though that may not really break them free from their criminality.
Apparently, Chris Armitage has completely forgotten about the various Colour Revolutions that took place in multiple former Soviet controlled countries. Ukraine is one of several who managed to democratically and nonviolently defeat the fascists.
The Arab Spring was also somewhat successful though not exactly non-violent.
yeah this guy shot his thesis in the foot on that one. i know jack about shit, but i also immediately thought of spain.
Fascists generally and military putschists particularly tend to fumble and fail economically; Trump is demonstrating the same incompetence even in process of stealing power.
Unfortunately, given the proclivities of the US populace and media alike, the next recession/depression may fuel the fires of other scapegoating demagogues. How many American people, or pundits, know better than to blame rising rents and food prices on drag queens?
You should not, Bébé. King Juan Carlos I was the designated successor to Franco, and he was the one who then chose political reform and allowed free elections and legalised opposition parties.
He could have carried on the regime more or less as it was, so he deserves some credit for that move.
re: “Fascists generally and military putschists particularly tend to fumble and fail economically”
Franco was a general, and generally did rather well for Spain, economically.
cf. https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/stabilisation-and-growth-under-dictatorships-lessons-francos-spain
I get to experience all of this in my declining years with an unstable existence. A fascist government isn’t going to do anything useful about rent costs or wage increases.
https://boingboing.net/2025/08/25/america-has-already-fallen-into-fascism-under-trump-says-pulitzer-prize-finalist-author.html
FWIW I saw that Chris Armitage analysis piece shared on facebook before it was mentioned here. Fb does have its uses and good people and pages worth following.
Plus posted on the newer thread before I saw this one – my reminder of why the USoA is in this horrific mess here :
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2025/08/25/we-traded-cancer-research-for-a-fancy-new-paint-job/#comment-2275556
Please :
DO NOT EVER LET ANYONE GET AWAY with the EVIL LIE that “the two* USoA parties are suppsoedly the same or even remotely so!
That bulldust has been conclusively disproven over and over and over again by things like that linked OP.
Plus, y’know, a cursory ;look at the respective policies and people.
.* Yes THE only two parties given the shitty awful governance system of the USoA.
Don’t like it? Then work to change it.
Unfortunately Chris Armitage’s piece is too hyperbolic. I’m not going to be too critical because he’s trying to warn against conservative/centrist complacency in the early stages of fascist takeover, and he provides some plausible strategies for fighting back.
But he makes “always” and “never” claims that are contradicted by several historical counterexamples, and he moves the goalposts on several of his own examples (e.g. including Argentina, Chile, Nazi Germany and Orban’s Hungary as fascist states that lasted 30-50 years, when the most enduring of those was Chile [16.5 years] and that dictatorship ended not because Pinochet got old and died, as Armitage implies, but because Chile’s police and military leaders refused Pinochet’s increasingly autocratic demands after the referendum).
@JohnMorales That article is from Vox, the Spanish We’re-not-nazis-honest-we’re-not party. They are absolutely not a trustworthy source of anything.
The years from the end of the Civil War to about 1942 are knownas the “Years of Hunger,” when perhaps 200,000 people died of starvation. Franco blamed the war, the Republican policies during the war, World War II and the weather, and these all contributed, but most of it was down to his land “reform” of giving land to rich people, and making sure that wages stayed low while the cost of living rose and rose. There were also dumb schemes, eg to fishing dolphins at scale. And corruption. You always get great gobs of corruption and stupidity anywhere that rewards whistleblowers with a bullet to the back of the head.
As I understand it, Franco went to the IMF, who gave him a list of reforms. e.g. The Finance Minister should know something about finance, rather than being a hunting buddy.
Franco said, Over my dead body.
The IMF said, OK, bye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Franco said, Oh alright then.
The reforms worked well, and Franco took the credit.
Still and all, shortly after Franco died and Spain became democratic again, Spain had the fastest growing economy in Europe for a while, although it’s easy to have good percentage increases on not-a-lot.
I live on a small Spanish island. It’s noticeable that local people my age (63) and older are tiny. These are people born in the 1960s and earlier. They come up to my shoulder. It’s not genetic, because their children and grandchildren come up are only a little smaller than my 5ft 9″.
@2 raven
The “old USSR” was many things, but it wasn’t fascist. Not by any agreed-upon definition of the term and ideology. Please use the terms properly and responsibly.
Now, modern Russia under Putin does show many of the features of fascism.
Stalín was absolutely fascist, as was the political state formerly called the USSR. There was nothing communal about their misnamed system of communism.
If you institute a state via force, starvation, executions, and military occupation, fascism is entirely accurate.
Just ask Trotsky.