We might think that Donald Trump is a new phenomenon in American politics, the likes of which we haven’t seen before. This is false. There was Huey Long.
Nearly a century before Trump descended the escalator, Long showed the power of a politician who is cunning and charismatic and establishes a dynamic whereby the hatred and accusations directed at him by the opposition – no matter how justified – are considered validation by his deeply committed loyalists.
As Governor of Louisiana, then as a U.S. Senator, Long’s targets were the Louisiana Democratic Party machine, the New Orleans political elite, large corporations, oil companies, and what would now be called the mainstream media. His central political message, aimed at the state’s poor, dispossessed, and marginalized, was his “Share our Wealth” program offering voters a promised land in which “every man a king.”
Long generally steered clear of the race-baiting common in the Southern politics of his time, while Trump openly vilifies immigrants. Long pursued a more progressive agenda, particularly regarding economic policies; Trump aligns himself with conservative Republican ideology. Both rose to prominence with populist messages that resonated with many voters, particularly those who felt ignored by the political establishment. They positioned themselves as outsiders fighting against entrenched elites, promising to “drain the swamp” or reform corrupt systems. They were known for their bombastic rhetoric, narcissistic personalities, and ability to command media attention.
Trump brags about his degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He claims he knows better about the effects of high tariffs on the economy than actual economists and continues to tout his plan to impose 10 to 20 percent tariffs on goods entering the country. However, Trump does not have a prestigious MBA; he simply has an undergraduate degree.
If he had been paying attention in class, Trump would have learned about the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act which significantly increased tariffs on imported goods into the United States, leading to a trade war that significantly reduced global trade. Foreign countries retaliated by imposing tariffs on American agricultural products, making it more difficult for farmers to sell their goods overseas and reducing their income. This contributed to the decline of the agricultural sector and increased economic hardship in rural areas. Foreign tariffs also made it more difficult for American exporters to sell their goods overseas, contributing to the decline of the American economy. The tariffs raised the cost of imported goods, including materials necessary to produce goods here. This led to higher costs for consumers and businesses, reducing their purchasing power and contributing to economic stagnation
The tariffs are widely considered to have exacerbated the Great Depression, contributing to a downward spiral in the economy and mass unemployment. The resulting hardship caused by the Smoot-Hawley tariffs contributed to political instability around the world. In some countries, the economic crisis led to a breakdown of democratic institutions and the rise of fascist regimes in Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. Overall, the Smoot-Hawley tariffs are widely regarded as a major policy mistake that had a devastating impact on the global economy.
If there were no other reason to not vote for Trump, his failure to understand basic economics should alone disqualify him for the presidency. But wait, there’s more!
Despite what Trump says, illegal border crossings have plunged under Biden’s watch; the numbers of murders, rapes, and other violent crimes have fallen; fentanyl overdose deaths are declining sharply; inflation has been tamed (September’s consumer price index was just a 2.4 percent annual rate); mortgage rates are falling; employment is still booming; the stock markets have been setting records; and the U.S. produced more crude oil in 2023 than any other country, ever.
Fewer U.S. troops have died in hostile action under the Biden administration than under the Trump administration. While Biden has rallied the world to defend Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, Trump has had as many as seven phone calls with Russian President Putin since leaving the White House, and we now know that he sent Putin Covid-19 test machines for his personal use even as the virus began spreading in 2020, killing more than 400,000 Americans during Trump’s time as president.
Fascists reject the notion that violence is inherently negative or pointless, and advocate for the establishment of a totalitarian one-party state. They express a belief in racial supremacy blended with a touch of racism, and demonize “others” such as Jews, transgender people, ethnic minorities, and of course, immigrants. Both Long and Trump fit the definition of a fascist.
Mark Berg is a community activist in Adams County and a proud Liberal. His email address is MABerg175@Comcast.net.