It Can Happen Here

The title is based on the antithetical viewpoint expressed in Sinclair Lewis' 1935 novel It Can't Happen Here (describing right-wing politicians and their fundamentalist supporters who tried to take over the US government). Lowe maintains that danger is real in contemporary America. US religious fundamentalists control many politicians so their biblical views are linked to Reagan's and Bush II's Star Wars, SDI, and ABM plans. These are manifestations of their quest to allow saved, born-again Americans to experience the rapture and survive a nuclear strike against the "rogues" in Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia. When the Chinese captured the US spy plane, "Dubya" Bush (a born-again) seemed more concerned about whether the crew had their Bibles than in maintaining cordial diplomatic relations with the PRC.Reagan believed in literal biblical truths. His wife, astrologer, and advisors had to coax him from his Evil Empire obsessions. Lowe concludes, "If we are not to be subjected to another and even more dangerous president, it is imperative that the intellectual, political, and journalistic leaders of our imperiled nation closely examine the lessons of this book" (Lowe, 2000, p. 14). This book explores traditionalists vs. fundamentalists, Nazi precedents for Christian fascism, what a fascist Christian America looks like, old and new doctrines like anti-Semitism such as in the New (versus the "Jew") World Order, and other heresies necessary to understand why and how America is moving toward fascist authoritarianism. This book is an eye opener and a good read.