Hi, Frank Cocozzelli here. Many of you have read my posts over the years dealing with the religious right, necons and economics. Now I am about to self-publish a book that takes aim at movement conservatism’s infatuation with radical libertarian economics. It is entitled Commissar Conservatives: How Laissez-faire Libertarianism Is Disturbingly Similar to Communism.
I am a progressive liberal who just got tired of being called a Marxist. Well, I did some research and guess what I found? Movement conservatism is actually engaged in a bit of projection. It is today’s right that represents that the true threat to capitalism and democracy. This book not only refutes the right’s silly Red-baiting but also provides the counter argument. Here is a sample:
“But it is neither socialism, nor communism that libertarian conservatives fear. Instead, their nightmare is the emergence of a better capitalism, one that is made fair and just through reform; one that is less prone to the tyranny of those only interested in pursuing reckless, unreasonable self-interest. …
The right’s real boogeyman is not Karl Marx, but a better understood Adam Smith. It is this anxiety that drives the right to slander as Marxism any attempt to strengthen capitalism through progressive reform.” – Page 5
I also discuss the following issues:
- Why the more likely path to authoritarian socialism does not run through progressive liberal economics but through an increasingly libertarian conservatism.
- Americans need to know how today’s movement conservatism has more in common with the worst of communist regimes, past and present. This is because of their embrace of Austrian School economics and the disturbing teachings of Dark Enlightenment ideology.
- Why when many of today’s libertarian conservatives talk of “freedom and liberty” they actually mean the right to oppress.
- How neoliberal “centrism” has led to the rise of MAGA libertarianism – and what to do about it!
- How the public’s understanding of what constitutes “the center” has become distorted by the banal acceptance of discredited laissez-faire economic theories.
- Why progressives need to learn how to refute that old time Red-baiting. We have done it before and we can do it again.
I need to raise $5,000 to prepare a website, do press releases and buy advertising to get the word out. A $50 donation gets a paperback copy of the book; a $100 gift gets you a hard copy. Here is the Go Fund Me link.
Here is my premise behind writing this book: Laissez-faire libertarianism is the hub of modern movement conservatism; the other agenda issues – restricting voting rights, economic inequality, environmental disregard - are but spokes that eminent from that center. Discredit laissez-faire and the spokes collapse.
Thank you kindly for whatever help that can be given! -Frank