Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Waco_Kid
cite all the facts you can find. until then it's just your opinion and a hypothetical one at that.
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This is a
res ipsa notion. The basic elements are broadly understood by any historian worth even his pepper, never mind his salt. However, in the interest of time, I put the query to Google Gemini, which did a good job hitting the key points. You can quibble with certain counterarguments-lack of a true totalitarian ideology and an embrace of crony capitalism instead of a statist economic model-but the parallels are far too numerous to brush off. So, here you go, with credit to Google Gemini for highlighting the important and substantial analogs between "Trumpism" and historical Fascism under Hitler and Mussolini:
"1. Rhetoric and Dehumanization
A primary source of the comparison lies in the rhetoric used to mobilize supporters and attack opponents.
The Cult of Personality and Strongman Image: Like historical fascist leaders (Mussolini, Hitler), Trump cultivated a public image as a unique, indispensable leader—a "strongman" who alone can fix the country's problems, creating a cult of personality among his dedicated base.
Dehumanizing Language and Scapegoating: Critics note a clear parallel in the use of language that dehumanizes opponents and specific groups, painting them as existential threats to the nation.
External Enemies: Trump has repeatedly used charged language to describe immigrants, particularly undocumented ones, as "poisoning the blood of our country" or an "invasion," echoing the scapegoating of groups in historical fascist movements (e.g., the Nazis' anti-Semitism).
Internal Enemies: He has referred to political opponents, the media ("enemies of the people"), and left-wing groups as "vermin" to be "rooted out," a type of othering and vilification seen in fascist propaganda.
Emphasis on Political Violence: Trump has, at times, supported, condoned, or minimized political violence against opponents, praising individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol attack as "political prisoners" and warning of potential chaos if his political agenda is opposed.
2. Anti-Democratic and Authoritarian Tendencies
Experts highlight several actions and statements that show an antagonism toward liberal democratic norms and institutions.
Attacks on Institutions: Historical fascism is defined by an effort to dismantle or weaken democratic institutions. Trump has consistently attacked the independence and legitimacy of the judiciary, the intelligence community, and the electoral process, often claiming that any outcome that does not favor him is "rigged."
Focus on Loyalty Over Competence: A key characteristic of authoritarianism is demanding absolute personal loyalty. Trump has a history of prioritizing personal loyalty to him over adherence to constitutional principles or professional competence when selecting officials and staff.
Media and Truth: Like fascist regimes that controlled information, Trump's frequent use of the term "fake news" and his attempts to discredit critical media outlets align with an authoritarian playbook to erode public trust in independent sources of information. His attempt to control the news is 100% in line with classical fascism.
Centralization of Power: Critics point to efforts, such as plans outlined in "Project 2025," that aim to vastly expand executive power and restrict the independence of the civil service and other government bodies.
3. Nationalist and Mass Movement Characteristics
Hyper-Nationalism: The emphasis on "Make America Great Again" and "America First" is a form of aggressive nationalism that often suggests the current nation is in a state of decay and requires a drastic, strong-willed leader to restore a mythical past glory.
The Independent Base: Like early fascist movements, Trump is backed by a highly energized, passionate base that functions somewhat independently of the traditional political party structure. This mass movement, often engaging in highly charged rallies, mirrors the street politics that characterized the rise of fascism."
The overwhelming weight of the evidence supports the proposition that, if Trump had his druthers, the U.S.'s Constitutional democratic republic would be replaced by a lifetime, illegal-under-our-present-laws, fascist, monarchic, crony capitalistic, it-isn't-corrupt-or-illegal-so-long-as-Trump-does-it, "Trumpian" system of government: no judiciary, no free press, no checks and balances, no independant legislature (of course a rubber-stamp Reichstag is fine for looks), a DOJ whose only job it is to prosecute Trump's perceived enemies, an all-powerful executive, truth is what I say it is, the military is my personal militia, if you oppose me you have committed sedition punishable by death, and an "I am the state" sort and kind of government.
Your rebuttal? (If I can use AI to save time, so should you be able to. What's fair is fair.)
back on the primary topic: Antifa has its place, one important duty of which to counter Trump's MAGA-approved alt-right militias whenever the occasion calls for it. (see my hypo.)
As far as copping to fake charges-"we're card-carrying members of the terrorist 'organization' Antifa to which we pledge our undying allegiance"-gee, that's never happened before..
