Do people think the BNP could ever take power?
I'm not sure why so many people are so definate that it couldn't happen. Fascist organisations have taken power over many different decades in countries all around the world. So can't see a reason it couldn't happen here.
Nah... it won't happen ever. One of the big differences between us and our fellow Europeans is our inclination not to comply, we are an unruly non -complying lot.
I recently went on a trip to Germany (been there several times in my life) and I was struck by several things ;
1. Pelican lights, without exception in the whole two weeks I did not see one person cross when the red man light was on. That don't happen here
2. Railway/metro (Was in Kohn) no ticket barriers, no ticket checks this is due to the fact they comply - they get tickets they pay their way. They are trusted to because the vast majority of Germans comply with the 'rules'
3. Cameras in our Country they are everywhere. In Kohn a fairly sizeable city I did not see one camera - why?
The Germans will do as they are told, that's why, they comply it is easy to understand how and why Nazism took control over there when you consider that aspect of their psyche . Whereas over here we are lying bunch of thieving scumbags who don't like being told what to do! Bendy buses - I would reckon half the people that go on these buses don't swipe their oyster card or pay the fare! The Germans do as the state tells them, they don't need cameras in Kohn in the way we have, I rather suspect that every person pays the fare in Kohn despite the opportunity to simply walk through with very little checks and no barriers, (apart from British tourists !)
There is a huge difference in the psyche of the people in this country and those of Germans /Italians and the Spanish the main three European countries that have flirted with the far right.
Fascism will not rule our shores and the same goes for Communism. It just won't happen.
If you really look at the BNP and Nick Griffin you can see the pysche difference in them, they may have racist/sexist/homophobic views and a warped take on things the majority of us are ok with, but most of the BNP are disaffected and ignorant ex Tory voters longing for the return of Thatcher there is not the absolutism in there views in the way there was with Hitler and the rest of the merry bunch of Fascist. I got the impression that Griffin was trying to moderate his stance in order to be liked more, I just don't see him as a 'Hitler', a vile knob of a human being yes, but not capable of genocidal thoughts or actions in the way the Nazis truly were.
The irony of all this is the fact the BNP will see a rise in their membership, all as a result of the recent furore and press coverage and for the reasons I stated above , the BNP have been so lambasted within the media that a certain section of the public are backlashing at the image of the BNP being thrust upon them as something you must not go near or vote for. The best way to get us to vote for something is to tell us we mustn't vote for something.
The fact remains that in the twenties/thirties Fascism exploded most notably Germany/Italy/Spain. and whilst yes we had Mosely (Who went from Tory to Labour party to sucking Mussolinis knob) and the BUF/brownshirts, Fascism did not take a real hold here then - did it? And it is not going to happen now or in the future -is it?
The whole "obedient German" trope has its roots in the Prussian Junkers, not in the willing actions of the German people. One should always take care to distinguish between the two.
