Are we slipping into fascism?

This is a very interesting article! It covers just about every angle and it indicates our prospects are grim.

It covers the liberal-fascist connection, as it covers the right wing corporatist connection. One thing is certain: it will give you a new perspective on what fascism is and where we are in relation to it.

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....fascism is highly adaptable to different needs and conditions, just as its opposite, democracy, is similarly flexible. This also suggests that fascism is a viable ideology just like democracy, because it can appear in different guises at different times, even under the same leadership, without losing credibility. In considering Trump and the movement he has sparked, we would be better off looking at the overall aims of the regime, rather than get carried away by feints in one direction or another. Their aim, it should be clear, is to end democracy, since that is the energy fascism feeds on.

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Just as democracy is eternal, so is fascism. There have always been authoritarian or dictatorial responses to democracy since the beginning of modern civilization, but fascism, with its imprint of spectacle, theater and mass communication, was a particular permutation that arose once the Western democracies had been consolidated. Italy and Germany were two of the late bloomers, but democracy had mostly been attained by the time they turned to fascism. Fascism could not have arisen were democracy still an evolving condition, as was true of parts of the West in the 19th century. So fascism is an indication of maturity, once democracy’s initial bloom is off.

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Fascist ideology aims for nothing but to weaken and end democracy.

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What should really concern us is that fascism now seems to have a certain stability that we have not seen in earlier models that relied on a single charismatic leader. Despite the Obama interlude, Trump has resumed where George W. Bush in his most feverish mood had left off. This suggests that fascism has become permanently stabilized in this country. It is the most worrisome aspect of the present situation.

Fascism would never have gotten such traction here had liberalism not already succumbed, over the course of 40 years, to various abridgments of rights in the name of community or security or risk-aversion, which defines much of liberal discourse today.

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It is futile to look for tanks on the street as a marker of fascism; there were no tanks in the streets in fascist Italy either. What is important to notice are the weak spots of liberal democracy, which fascism exploits, such as the gradual loss of faith in our voting and electoral systems.

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Finally, how do you fight fascism? Is there a magic formula, has anything ever worked? .... The press went underground, numerous political activists went into exile, particularly in France, and the communists, socialists, conservatives, liberals, monarchists and Catholics bided their time, engaging in resistance when they could, hoping for an awakening of mass consciousness. ..... Italians tried every form of resistance we can imagine, including getting themselves and their families killed or imprisoned, as countless lives were lost in the fascist tyranny. Nothing worked. Nothing ever works until fascism’s logic, the logic of empire, stands discredited to the point where no denial and no media coverup is possible anymore.

http://www.salon.com/2017/03/05/tru...t-eleven-key-lessons-from-historical-fascism/

 

More total partisan BS. "Despite the obama interlude" LOL what a ridiculous claim. obama was nothing more than the 3rd and 4th terms of Bush 43, and both are on the trail of tyranny.

 

Trump's cult of personality has a lot in common with Hitler's.....

• Make America/Germany great again
• Defeat the enemy within (Jews/Muslims)
• Build up the military

But current conditions in the US are not the same as they were in Germany in the 1930s. We have checks and balances on a potential fascist dictator that Germany didn't have. We also have a tradition of democracy that would not easily allow a fascist takeover.

 

As my therapist once told me one man's fascist could be another man's Barack Obama.

 

I can't believe any rational person would associate Barack Obama with fascism.

 

Yeahrightok try reading the article instead of winging it.

 

Well, that sounds pretty defeatist.

Maybe you should just give up.

 

I think we were headed for Fascism had Clinton won. However I think Trump will save us from the Fascism that was coming.

You only have to look at the latest statement from the Former Attorney General Loretta Lynch:

 

Alternate news is growing giving people the option of having various opinions. The diversity of opinion and thought is what will prevent facism. Progressives, MSN, and democrats are against diversity of thought and opinion even trying to shame minorities who stray from this facist-progressive ideology. There are classical liberals on the left but they no longer run the party or are the loudest voice in the party.

 

No. Just more butthurt liberalism. You guys are at least entertaining.

 

Nor can I believe any rational person would associate Fascism with Democracy. Total lunacy, no?

 

I can't believe any rational person could look at Mr. I have a Pen and a Phone who spied on several news organizations not limited to Fox News who pursued leakers with a fervor even Nixon eschewed and not think Fascist.

 

Seriously, how about the silly left ask James Rosen if he knows of anyone that was personally tapped/investigated under the Obarry administration! What makes it even more devious, it was done to influence/muscle an agent of a news organization not in line with there brand of propaganda!

Ya I'm sure the democrats are innocent of any sort of underhanded tactics, right!

 

IMO, fascism has been in existence to some degree since before WWII. It got quieter, but never disappeared. Right wingers get their tv news from Fox primarily, and never listen to any other news on the tube. Left wingers typically listen to a wide variety of news sources on tv. That is why people on the right think things that can't possibly be true are. They heard it on Fox.

 

I was just having this argument today with a neighbor.

My belief that is strengthen more by this thread is people seem to have a different definition depending who they think will benefit or not and things they fear. Certainly shaped by their worldview and what they think of other religions, races, genders and sexual preferences.

To a Democrat Republicans are facist. To Republicans Democrats are.

IMHO people supporting Trump by the dictionary definition of the word are more likely to support a fascist government.

Definition of fascism

1. 1often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
   
   
2. 2: a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
   

Trump ran on an America 1st platform.

Trump got a lot of KKK, neo-Nazis excited. Has people he picked in the Whitehouse who at the very least has shown signs of support for white nationalist.

Trump certainly and people in the Whitehouse have said things like "the President's power will not be questioned", "they do not care about the people who did not vote for them", "...in the old days that guy would be carried out on a stretcher", "press is the enemy of the American people"

Trump supporters liked that he was aggressive and overbearing towards others.

Trump does his best to discredit any source that says negative things about him. Part of the problem he has had with staffing is he has rejected people because they have said something negative about him.

 

Are we slipping into fascism?
No. We are exiting eight years of the same sort of twisted agenda only Obama faded in the stretch thank God.

 

Yes, blame Fox. That will get you far. What a world.

 

The democrat media more reflects the Soviet Union propaganda of the past. You reject pointing out the lies of the media which means you support the propaganda.

 

So Trump did not run on an America 1st platform?

So the people on video saying stuff I pointed out were faked? Keep in mind some of this statements were either made on Fox while I was watching.

People who have voted for him did not respond to his aggressive and overbearing attitude? Did you watch any of his rallies or debates?

Trump does not attack anyone who says something negative or does not agree with him?

 

One can dream

 

You're right!

 

The conflation of nationalism with fascism is bullshit. Americans were nationalist and patriotic for most of the country's existence and America was at the same time the world's model democracy. EVERY country should pursue their own interests first, and there's nothing wrong with that

 

The left are fascist. We probably need to become fascist only temporarily to fight off the threat. Fight fire with fire.

Once we're in the green zone we can chill out again.

 

Fascist aren't rational.

Inside every liberal and Alinkyite there's a Fascist Totalitarian Screaming to Get Out