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Lyndon LaRouche

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Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr. (born September 8, 1922) is an American politician, and a perennial candidate for President of the United States. While he associates himself with the Democratic Party, he has never been that party's nominee for office and he is not accepted within the mainstream or fringes of the party, and is widely characterized in the press as a paranoiac. He is a candidate in the 2004 US Presidential Election. In his early political career LaRouche often used the pseudonym Lyn Marcus.

His political views are extremely controversial and are characterized by his belief in a number of complex conspiracy theories, involving global plots to establish a frightening New World Order, involving such figures as the British Royal Family (especially the Duke of Edinburgh) and George H.W. Bush and other circles of international bankers engaging in what he has characterized as a "synarchist" political movement of the oligarchy. A typical claim is that the U.S. government framed the murder of Swedish prime minister Palme on him, as a way to silence his supposedly intimidating intellect. His opponents on the political conservative right have characterized him as a fascist and a communist, his opponents on the political liberal and socialist left have characterized him as a fascist, Bonapartist, and a right-wing populist.

Early Marxist career

LaRouche began his career within the Marxist left. He was a member of the (Trotskyist) Socialist Workers Party (SWP) from 1948 until 1965. In 1965, he left the SWP and was briefly associated with Tim Wohlforth's American Committee of the Fourth International and then Jim Robertson's Spartacist League. Both groups had recently left the Socialist Worker's Party over the issue of Cuba and Castro.

LaRouche then declared the Fourth International to be bankrupt and left the Trotskyist factions of the Marxist-Socialist movement. This was not unusual for people to do at the time, as the post WWII era created much confusion and factionalism within the Trotskyist movement due to the success of Stalinism. Gradually, LaRouche moved into the allegedly opportunist and rightward drifting elements within the New Left, calling for a 5th International.

LaRouche was involved in the highly activist and volantarist "vanguard" element in 20th century "Leninist" Marxism, which is considered by other Marxist schools as anything ranging from a slight defect to a complete and total break with Marxism - given Marxism's self proclaimed historical grounding as an egalitarian worker's movement.

LaRouche's beliefs were similar to Trotsky's: vanguardist, but opposed in principle to Stalinism. LaRouche considers himself, and has proclaimed publicly, to possess superior mental capacities that make him the best qualified to lead, claiming that he is at the peak of his mental prowess at the age of 81. This put him at odds with Wolforth and Robertson. Notably, Wolforth and Robertson had the same falling out for the same reasons, as is typical of the leadership of most Trotskyist organizations past and present.

It was here that LaRouche, whose name at the time was Lyn Marcus, was impressed and shaped by the notion that history is made by great men, Leaders of Men, and not by the struggle of contending classes as Marx had said. Though this was never stated in any of the Trotskyist's works, since Trotskyism considers itself to be Marxism, LaRouche was shaped by how these organizations existed in fact. He was influenced into thinking that he was in fact the great man who could save history because he subscribed to the belief that the individual Trotsky could have had the power to set the USSR on a historical journey completely alien to what we know of and consider to be 'Stalinism'.

NCLC

After these entanglements, he formed his own National Committee of Labor Committees, recruiting members from the collapsing New Left. The NCLC was very strongly catastrophist claiming that economic crisis was on the immediate horizon. For this reason, the NCLC had to build a leadership to prepare for the onrushing crisis. This led them to act in a very sectarian fashion towards rival leftist groups. This culminated in Operation Mop Up in which the NCLC decided to eliminate the Communist Party by attacking their meetings. After this, no one regarded the NCLC as a legitimate part of the left. This is because there is an understanding among the various factions of the Marxist-Socialist movement and among radical leftists in general that organized violence is prohibited between them.

LaRouche distanced himself from the left, and claimed that his new socio-political movement transcends all traditional categories of left (socialist/liberal) and right (nationalist/hierarchical/conservative).

In addition, most left groups have formally characterized his movement and ideology as fascist or neo-fascist. This is because his ideas and movement follow closely in form with what some call a fascist litmus test. These include, firstly, organized physical attacks on left groups, in particular the Socialist Worker's Party (of which he was a member for several decades) and the Communist Party.

Financial base

LaRouche's financial base of support, outside of many five and ten dollar contributions gathered by LaRouche organizers in public places like schools and shopping areas, comes from smaller proprietors and family businesses. Some from this social class feel uniquely pressured from both above and below - above by the multinational corporations and international bankers, who have more capital and strength - squeezing mom and pop operations out of business. From this, we understand the special attention that LaRouche has paid to Walmart, and pandering their propaganda to appeal to those most likely to despise Walmart. Walmart, along with large trusts and banks, represent ruin to the small proprietors, these mom and pop operations.

From below, this class of small proprietors and producers also is threatened by the propertyless mob, the many, the masses who also threaten small business owners because these masses often demand the same wages and benefits that only the large multinational firms can afford to pay (like the auto industry or other industrial sectors).

Theory of elites

LaRouche has publicly outlined a strategy to eventually garner support from the large and wealthy domestic industrialist firms, what Larouche considers the base of the 'physical economy' (see more on physical economy below). LaRouche divides the powerful and wealthy groupings of the elite into two categories - industrialists and usurers. Banking and usury are considered by LaRouche two of the causes of social ills, holding back the progress and rational decisions of the industrialists. Examples of industrialist firms would be General Motors or General Electric, whereas examples of usurers would be J.P Morgan or the Rothchilds, Chase Manhattan Bank, or any family or grouping of bankers, investors, stock traders, in any sort of consortium.

LaRouche has also attempted to create a mass or popular movement from below which would push LaRouche into the position of being considered someone to take seriously, someone the industrialist side of the bourgeoisie would embrace and get behind in their struggle against their debtors (usurers).

Simultaneously, LaRouche would have the power and authority to check any other mass or popular movements which would hostile to the entire elite - both industrial firms and usury firms.

His philosophy (which he claims is not an ideology) is premised upon what some may call an idealization of the European Civilization of the 15th and 16th centuries, in particular the Renaissance, and states that he holds itself to be opposed to the Enlightenment Rationalists of the 18th century, as well as the modern socialisms of the 19th and 20th century.

LaRouche is opposed to racism and his political organization is ethnically diverse.

Accusations of fascism

Most left groups have characterized LaRouche's movement and ideology as fascist or neo-fascist. This is because his ideas and movement conform to a series of qualifiers, qualifiers understood and determined by left groups long before the emergence of LaRouche as an independant, anti-communist political agitator. These include, firstly, organized physical attacks on left groups, in particular the Socialist Worker's Party (of which he was a member for several devades)and the Communist Party. This sort of political violence against left groups is a hallmark of fascism, exemplified historically by Mussolini's Black shirts and Hitler's Brown shirts who also engaged in the same sort of political violence on socialists and communists.

His financial base of support comes from smaller proprietors and family businesses. This was the same base of support that Hitler and Mussolini initially based themselves upon before their movement picked up momentum. After Hitler and Mussolini were recognized by their respective nations largest productive and investment firms as salvation from and a bulwark against the anarchy and left-socialism of the masses below, their base of support also later then came to include the largest and wealthiest firms.

Similarly, LaRouche has also publically outlined a strategy to eventually garner support from the large and wealthy domestic industrialist firms, what Larouche considers the base of the "physical economy" (see more on physical economy below). Of course they will not pay any real attention to him until and unless his popular movement takes root.

Thirdly, there is the attempt to create a mass or popular movement from below which would push LaRouche into the position of being considered someone to take seriously; someone the industrialist side of the bourgeoisie would embrace and get behind in their struggle against their debtors (usurers). Simultaneously, they would have the power and authority to check any other mass or popular movements which would hostile to the entire elite - both industrial firms and usery firms. These movements would typically be left groups, so the fact that LaRouche is willing to have his 'shirts' engage in physical attacks on leftists in the present and past is meant as an indicator to the ruling sectors that 'he' has what it takes to get the job done. Critics of LaRouch argue that this is meant as code for 'hey, GM, GE, Ford, i'm your facsist, trust in me to control and contain a mass movement in your interests while crushing opposition mass movements'. Any reading in depth of LaRouche's platform, available through the link below, will confirm this.

Lastly, it is premised upon an idealization of the European Civilization of the 15th and 16th centuries, and holds itself to be opposed to the Enlightenment Rationalists of the 18th century, as well as the modern socialisms of the 19th and 20th century. This is all consistent with the basic fascist prototype.

The 'LaRouche as crypto-fascist' argument holds that LaRouche understands that facsism has a bad name, and the American psychology is very anti-fascist in name. This means that a fascist movement in the U.S would have to, as one of its platforms, state they are anti-fascists and produce a number of coherent theoretical works opposing fascism. Clearly, no mass movement in the U.S will spring up around the proclaimed banner of fascism. The industrialist sector of the ruling class which LaRouche seeks to ally himself with would also have nothing to do with any group that called itself fascist. Also, and this part is earnest, LaRouche is opposed to racism and his political organization is ethnically diverse. This makes it hard to tag him a fascist, but it should be noted historically that the original fascist movement - Mussolini in Italy - was not based on a theory of racial superiority. The racism associated with Fascism is largely due to the influence of National Socialism and Hitler. However, after the rise of Hitler and the alliance with Nazi Germany, the Fascists and Mussolini were compelled to adopt Germany's racial hygene laws and help with the Holocaust.

When people judge political movements, some look at proclaimations and theory, not at actions, while others pay close attention to actions and not to theory or statements. Many do not take the necessary step of comparing words to actions. The LaRouche organization is primarily recruited out of the personality types associated with political cults; leaders (intellectuals, talkers) and followers (believers, listeners). LaRouche's approach to the intellectuals has been to invent a theory and method which would captivate their minds and set them upon a course of thinking and viewing the world which can only confirm the statements and ideas of LaRouche. LaRouche creates an ideology primarily out of those philosophers who had nothing or little to do with the intellectual roots of classical fascism (e.g Nietzsche, social darwinism) but also those who had little to do with, or historically farther removed from, the intellectual roots of marxism - which LaRouche had reinvented himself as a staunch opponent.

Whereas classical fascism, in its general theory of who now rules the world, entails an elaborate conspiracy of International Bankers who simultanously support the most of evil of the capitalists and the most dangerous of the left-socialists (or communists, or anarchists). The classical fascist (conspiracy) theory then, is that the apparent forces of left and right are an illussion created by a single ruling elite of International Bankers. In the Hiterite version of this theory, these International Bankers are themselves either mostly or totally controlled by International Jewry.

LaRouche seperates himself from classical fascism and totalitarianism on the one hand, but to also create a theory which is consistent with the premise of fascism since function dictates form; LaRouche requires the same function from his theory as classical fascism has, and so this dictates the form. LaRouche's revised and updated version of fascism is pallatable to the American sensibility and is based not upon the ideas of Nietchze or Hitler, but rather 'based' on Alexander Hamilton and Plato.

Anti-Semitism

Critics of LaRouche argue that his anti-Semitism is often well-hidden through convoluted conspiracy theories and obscure terminology, but despite its coded nature, a thorough reading of the LaRouchite literature reveals the central role a global and age-old conspriacy of "bad" Jews play in the LaRouchite worldview.

LaRouche followers and representatives of the Nation of Islam have joined to present anti-Semitic public presentation describing an alleged conspiracy of Freemasons and the B"nai B"Rith to create and control the Ku Klux Klan. The LaRouche conspiracy theory links together Freemasons, the Ku Klux Klan and the Mafia in a conspiracy against Christian economics and science.

For LaRouche the conspiracy starts with [[Jews] in Babylon.

"Before Christianity, there were established some very vicious Oriental cults in the area near Babylon. These cults led to the various manifestations of a particular form of cult called Manichaenism. The cult was spread by Venetian bankers...This pseudo- alchemic cult later called Freemasonic."

LaRouche and his folowers elaborate on the conspiracy theory by tracing its alleged roots backwards through history. "The evidence assembled from best sources also proves conclusively that all U.S. professional anthropology, as it is presently constituted, is an irreparable and willful hoax."

"Most of the so-called primitive cultures are permeated with philological and other characteristics which are degeneracies a case of massive degeneration of these peoples from and earlier, higher level of cultural existence."

"The conquest of advanced maritime-citybuilder cultures by backward "hordes" of relatively bestialized, more primitive, rural-pastoral people tended to occur whenever catastrophes weakened the maritime-littoral culture."

An ad in one magazine, claimed:

"The laws of Moses and related materials in the Old Testament are not part of Israelite religious tradition, but the product of international counterinsurgency operations in sixth and fifth century BC Babylon."

Now according to LaRouche, one of the vicious cults that came out of Babylon was modern Judaism:

"Although A.D. Judaism is an outgrowth of the development of Christianity there was a preceding Hebrew faith OF SORTS [emphasis in the original].The earlier, Hebrew doctrine is itself a syncretic hodge-podge of chiefly Mesopotamian legends. [Rabbi] Ezra"s Persian version of Hebrewism was, in turn, significantly influenced by an earlier, pre-Pentateuch version created in conformity with Babylonian edicts."

"From Ezra onwards, and even before, Hebrewism was an assimilationist doctrine developed to provide special juridical status (and ideological self-image) for a caste of merchant-userers within a pre-capitalist society."

"Judaism is not a true religion, but only a half-religion, a curious appendage and sub-species of Christianity." "Judaism is ideological abstraction of the secular life of Christianity's Jew, the Roman merchant-userer who had not yet evolved to the state of Papal enlightenment, a half-Christian, who had not developed a Christian conscience."

"Judaism is the religion of a caste of subjects of Christianity, entirely molded by ingenious rabbis to fit into the ideological and secular life of Christianity. In short, a self- sustaining Judaism never existed and never could exist. As for Jewish culture otherwise, it is merely the residue left to the Jewish home after everything saleable has been marketed to the Goyim."

The LaRouche discourse above is designed to suggest that Jews are a "caste of merchant-userers" who have not yet developed a whole "Christian conscience" through "Papal enlightenment."

Cult

Some, including numerous former members, have stated that the LaRouche organization is a cult. Many families have attempted interventions and in a few cases, youth who associated with the LaRouche group have disappeared and are still missing. The LaRouche organization is said to be primarily recruited out of the personality types associated with political cults; lonely older people, alienated younger people. What takes shape in the organization is that there are two types; leaders (intellectuals, talkers) and followers (believers, listeners). LaRouche's approach to the intellectuals has been to invent a theory and method which would captivate their minds and set them upon a course of thinking and viewing the world which can only confirm the statements and ideas of LaRouche. LaRouche creates an ideology primarily out of those philosophers who had little if anythng to do with the intellectual roots of classical fascism (e.g Nietzsche and social darwinism) but also those who had little to do with, or historically farther removed from, the intellectual roots of marxism--which LaRouche had reinvented himself as a staunch opponent.

LaRouche's ideas are intended to be palatable and friendly to the American sensibility and are not stated to be upon the ideas of Nietchze, Hitler, or Marx, but rather based on Alexander Hamilton, Plato, Gauss, and others.

In his theory, classical fascism is the apparent right wing thrust of what he calls a synarchist (literally, 'against anarchy') movement of International Bankers, and socialism/marxism/liberalism is it's left wing. Therefore, any other world leader, mass movement, or individual activist, could be accused by LaRouche of being a patsy or co-conspirator for either the left socialist or right fascist wing of the International Bankers conspiracy. This would mean that he alone, and this he states publicly, stands as the only legitimate opposition 'from among the people'.

"Propaganda"

The propaganda of LaRouche is often both anti-capitalist and patriotic or nationalist, appealing to those layers of society, mostly, as mentioned above, small proprietors, but also the unemployed, students, and wage workers. The political organization they are allied with in Russia are the Nationalists, and in Italy LaRouche has the "Italian Solidarity Movement", MSI. However, their end goal, they claim, is to save 'real' capitalism, to salvage and rescue that sector of the owning class which makes actual goods, industrialists (as opposed to money markets, speculation, and banking, which create no actual wealth). This economic form is called by LaRouche 'Hamiltonian economics' or 'Federalism', but historically it has been called 'state-capitalism' by Lenin and Keynes or 'coporatism' by Mussolini. The State - LaRouche in the White House - would take over and expropriate - what fascists call nationalize, what socialists call socialize, what LaRouche calls 'federalize' - the banks and userers and other 'parasitic' layers, waging total war on all "infections and diseases" which ail the "physical economy". Basically, he will divide the owning class between those who he will expropriate 'federalize' (bankers), and those who will support him and share in the spoils (industrialists).

The complex domain

The germ of all his publicly stated political views since his reinvention as an anti-communist, is an understanding of what he terms "the complex domain". By this, scientists such as Carl Friedrich Gauss and Bernhard Riemann mean the domain of the universal physical principles, or natural laws, pertaining to both science and art, the interaction of which with man's sense organs produces the apparent, but paradoxical sensible universe. The resolution of such paradoxes by the method of creative hypothesis and proof-of-principle experiment, is the source of all knowledge.

From this platonic understanding, LaRouche identifies the only true political conflict, as that between oligarchism, which declares man a kind of domesticable herd animal, and government based on the general welfare, which declares him made in the mental image of the Creator. In the latter, the only efficient agenda is the development of mankind's characteristic faculty for discovering, transmitting, and employing universal physical principles.

Criminal Record

In December of 1988, LaRouche was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud in regards to the methods used by his organization to solicit approximately $34 million in loans. He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in Minnesota, though he was given an early release in 1993 after serving five years. He ran his 1992 electoral campaign from prison. Prominent radical political figure and former statesman, Ramsey Clark, has helped to try to clear LaRouche's name, arguing that investigators and political opponents had gone overboard in their accusations.

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