One of the most notable lines in film history, for those of us old enough to remember and appreciate, is found in John Huston’s The Treasure of Sierra Madre. The plot takes place in Mexico and involves some gold hunters including Fred C. Dobbs (played by Humphrey Bogart) who are confronted by clutch of banditos trying to masquerade as Federales and respond indignantly when proof of their identities is demanded: “If you’re the police, then where are your badges?” Dobbs asked. “Badges!” came the response. “We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!” At that point, a gunfight broke out, a squad of real Federales came on the scene, and the banditos were chased away. In the film, the banditos lost; in real life, however, they win all the time.

In fact, all one has to do with this great phrase is to alter it in a way that gets to the heart of fascism, allowing us further to avoid the definitional problems covered by Jonah Goldberg’s excellent treatment in Liberal Fascism. So it goes like this: “Congress! We don’t need no stinkin’ Congress!” And while we’re at it: “We don’t need no stinkin’ courts! Or laws! Or constitutions! Or public approval!  Or any of that antiquated, democratic garbage!” In other words, fascist rule is all about the state and the whims of its leader; there are no restrictions on governmental dictates, and nothing else matters……

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