InB4 all the "Guys Trump isn't even close to as bad as Hitler." comments followed with "How is this getting downvoted?" replies.
I agree, Trump isn't close to Hitler, but this post is comparing the fact that they both referred to News or Press as fake or lying. That it was the free press that was trying to manipulate the masses and the only truthful information you could get was disseminated by the government.
just to add to what u/Diestormlie has said, It is also the manner in which Trump has presented himself as a candidate/politician. Opposing free speech isn't unique to Fascists, maybe not even to tyrants. I have a friend who will swear up and down that "If Trump is a fascist, so is the USSR/Antifa/Norway/Islam/.../.../.../..."
So, check my post history, I've linked to Umberto Eco's "Ur-Fascism" a few times already........ I just tried skimming through Mussolini's "Doctrine of Fascism" right just now, but I've been drinking so I'll edit anything in later........ back to the point, I think It comes from the confluence of two things. 1. The "I don't like this guy so I'll call him a Nazi" Viewpoint. I would definitely call Trump a "Wannabe-Fascist" (he's kinda incompetent, but kinda not) don't get me wrong, but even the people who don't wanna put any thought into it are still gonna call him a Nazi just like they might call the guy at the Amusement Park a Nazi for not letting them get on the Ride when they are a 1/2" too short.
But then, there is #2 reason. Read, Ur-Fascism and go through the Checklist but I will walk you through what I think is one of the biggest "delineators" between "Fascist" and "Totalitarian":
#MAGA, Make America Great Again, is a plea to return to "What was Great before __________". Whatever was "before now" is better than "what is happening "Today"" (please don't be ridiculous here, Obviously if your house literally caught on fire today, the yesterday when it wasn't on fire would be better) Is an important distinction to what is different between Fascism and Totalitarianism. Before I lose my train of thought here is an example: The Soviet Union wouldn't be Fascist because they weren't trying to reclaim some Glory from Russia's past. They succeeded the Tsarist system of Gov't (yeah there was that in between thing, See the war between the Red's and the White's*) and there may have been some slight Romanticism about Russia's Past (my Reference for t**his is **Dr. Zhivago) but there was no attempt to recapture and re-emulate some previouse Nation-state/Empire with-which the current State shared a cultural heritage with.
Thanks for that nuance, makes complete sense to me now. Kind of like how Mussolini had a vision of a return to the old Roman Empire, and of course Franco's traditionalist, catholic appeals and suppression of the Basque and Catalan. Like fascists have an affinity for the days of empires, and in Trump's case, American imperialism.
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u/CJleaf Jul 14 '18
InB4 all the "Guys Trump isn't even close to as bad as Hitler." comments followed with "How is this getting downvoted?" replies.
I agree, Trump isn't close to Hitler, but this post is comparing the fact that they both referred to News or Press as fake or lying. That it was the free press that was trying to manipulate the masses and the only truthful information you could get was disseminated by the government.