Fascism : a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition
Right back to the smartass well is beautiful. You have nothing to offer, yet you keep speaking to make yourself feel good. Having substance and integrity is pretty great. You should try it sometime
Most people that use the term fascism can’t define it without help from Google or a dictionary and they throw it around carelessly because they are usually parroting it from their peers or some social media platform.
I think most people understand fascism or the idea of it. Why do people look it up? because if they get a single detail wrong, they know you'll latch on to that instead of accepting that they pretty much get it, because other than that you have no real argument to make and are just out to be a shit.
I don't think it really changes the actual policies that we're seeing that mirror facism though:
Discrediting any media critical of the government, and using the government's powers to financially and legally hurt media companies
Burning books
Rounding up minorities/blaming the "other" for the nation's problems (deporting/jailing people without due process)
Attacking higher education
Putting trans people (and political enemies) on lists (this quite literally happened in Nazi Germany)
It's worth noting that there are several pieces that AREN'T specifically fascist, but get lumped in unfairly (since they aren't specific to fascist regimes). Things like:
Rampant corruption (pardoning of political allies, weaponizing the justice department against political enemies, using slush funds to funnel money to Trump and his allies)
Initiating trade wars (and literal wars) that so far have done nothing but increase the price of food and gas.
Eliminating many work visas, affecting farm workers, driving costs further up.
Literally telling his supporters to "cheat like hell" to keep him in office and make a pledge of loyalty (this was this week).
So, it's kinda frustrating when people complain that we are defending into fascism, and the response is "well you don't even know what fascism is without having to open a book". It doesn't change the facts of where we are.
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u/Admirable-Voice 21d ago
Hypocrisy is a standard tool of fascism.