There was a fascist in power in the U.S.? Going to have to explain that one.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism
Fascism: fas·cism | \ ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi- \ a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such 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.
I assume you're referring to Trump? He had his faults, and could legitimately be labeled a nationalist, but he wasn't nearly as fascist as the left leaning tech oligarchies that have been actively suppressing free speech lately, or the administration that tried to arrest or disappear the likes of Julian Assange or Edward Snowden. It's not people on the right who are cancelling anyone they disagree with at the drop of a hat, destroying careers, or burning down entire city blocks for months on end without consequence while people gathering for church were arrested even when practicing social distancing. Yes, Trump’s words were inspiration for the Jan 6 rioters as he echoed a growing sentiment of mistrust, despite him imploring with them to go home and be peaceful. But he’s not a fascist, by its very definition.
Conservativism exalts individualism and personal responsibility, regardless of race or creed, where individual freedom is more important than a group’s. That's the opposite of fascism. It's the left who lumps people into social and racial groups and tries to divide them by playing them off each other. It's the left that's brought racially-based cultural movements and policies back into play like critical race theory and identity politics, and who actively suppresses an entire segment of the population by trying to convince them they aren’t capable as individuals and require government assistance to succeed in life solely because they happen to be born with a darker tone of skin, while telling another group that they’re inherently racist because they happen to be born with a lighter skin tone.
Liberals used to stand for something meaningful, but in recent years have become more and more fascist in nature and don't even realize it. Many liberals have fallen into this trap of escalating confirmation bias. Fascists used to abhor liberalism, but liberalism has evolved into something very different, something that seeks to control the rest of the population through shaming, “cancel culture”, social control, etc., and many are falling right in lock step with this paradigm shift, oblivious to just how hate-filled they have become.
Having said all that, that’s just the current state of affairs. The same type of shift could just as easily happen on the right, and eventually probably will as the cultural pendulum swings the other way in a few decades or so, after a brief respite of sanity.
Informed, legitimate voting is imperative.
https://www.livescience.com/57622-fascism.html
Paxton, author of several books, including "The Anatomy of Fascism" (Vintage, 2005), said fascism is based more on feelings than philosophical ideas. In his 1988 essay "The Five Stages of Fascism," he defined seven feelings that act as "mobilizing passions":
1. The primacy of the group. Supporting the group feels more important than maintaining either individual or universal rights.
2. Believing that one's group is a victim. This justifies any behavior against the group's enemies.
3. The belief that individualism and liberalism enable dangerous decadence and have a negative effect on the group.
4. A brotherhood for which "unity and purity are forged by common conviction, if possible, or by exclusionary violence if necessary."
5. Individual self-esteem is tied up in the grandeur of the group. Paxton called this an "enhanced sense of identity and belonging."
6. Extreme support of a "natural" leader, who is always male. This results in one man taking on the role of national savior.
7. "The beauty of violence and of will, when they are devoted to the group's success in a Darwinian struggle," Paxton wrote.
Six of the above seven criteria fit the current version of the left to a tee, indicating the left is no longer liberal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/21/how-fascist-is-donald-trump-theres-actually-a-formula-for-that/
https://financialpost.com/opinion/philip-cross-the-anti-fascist-left-were-the-real-fascists-all-along
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/02/donald-trump-fascist-nazi-right-wing/
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/fascism-definitions-world-war-2-hitler-mussolini-nazism-right-wing-revolutionary-left
https://thetandd.com/opinion/columnist/the-lie-about-fascism/article_a52a03d1-c63e-5dbd-bc1d-6db9a1ed285c.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/americans-have-lost-sight-what-fascism-means/616846/
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chilone (17262)
3 years ago
Fascists, racists, homophobes, xenophobes, etc., etc., etc. They're all leftist false flags.
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warrior-poet (1333)
3 years ago
What the hell, dude, you trying to channel me or something? Couldn't have said it better myself.
Although, I would argue that die-hard Trumpers hit on several of those seven feelings as well, which to me denotes a cultural feedback loop of opposing radical extremism that somehow needs to be curtailed (but I'd agree this phenomenon on the Right is much smaller and less pervasive in scope than the Left at this point, in part due to their more conservative, reserved natures).
Dave Rubin addressed quite well back in 2017 the evolution of the Left from Liberalism to something much more destructive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq86Beh3T70
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc6CWxSYRsc
https://theconversation.com/the-difference-between-left-and-liberal-and-why-voters-need-to-know-120273
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-the-democrats-have-shifted-left-over-the-last-30-years/
_________________________________________
Never believe. Always question. Rebuke belief, a.k.a. bias, a.k.a. groupthink, a.k.a. ideology, the bane of skeptical, logical reason.
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kspkap (13027)
3 years ago
You are aware the alt-left ceased reading your very thoughtful and intelligent post after reading the definition of Fascism. You have to understand when the truth is put before them they begin to wither akin to holding a cross before a vampire. Intelligent rational thought is a foreign concept to the alt-left.
”It's not people on the right who are cancelling anyone they disagree with at the drop of a hat, destroying careers, or burning down entire city blocks for months on end without consequence while people gathering for church were arrested even when practicing social distancing.”
I have been saying the above for months. In fact I refer to Antifa as the new “Brown Shirts”. Both Antifa and BLM are domestic terrorist groups. The alt-left on this board and elsewhere dismiss such talk. They shout Free Speech until the Speech disagrees with them.
It’s not the Right who suppresses speech…it’s the left who controls our government. As soon as Biden took office Pelosi stopped a procedure which has been used since the 1st Congress…the Motion To Recommit.
” The GOP never made a similar move when they controlled the majority, with Republican Rep. Tom Cole pointing out that “This is a right that has been guaranteed to the minority for well over a century. With today’s changes, the majority is seeking to silence views they are afraid of.”
The Biden administration stated it would also partner up with tech companies on “increased information sharing” to help stop radicalization. In other words, they’ll spy on you through what you search online.
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