A recent social media post by a British citizen went something like this:
“I’m British. We have a king, and he hasn’t done any of the kinds of things Trump has been doing in the U.S. What you have in the U.S. is a dictator.”
A dictator is the leader of a fascist government. A fascist government is a far-right, ultranationalist political ideology and movement in which a cult of personality surrounds the leader that presents him as not just a hero, but an almost god-like figure. A fascist government combines authoritarianism with militarism and inculcates fear of the leader. It is also characterized by nativism, xenophobia, expressed belief in the complete supremacy and importance of one’s own nation, excessive support for one’s own group while scapegoating minorities, and using the power of government to suppress opposition to its leader, the dictator.
The Brit was right.
“No Kings Day” should have more correctly been called “No Fascists Day.”
The above video was made just over year ago, on March 19, 2024. It contains not only important information on how to recognize the onset of fascism, but one year later we can see Trump has already implemented many of the elements of fascism in the U.S., just six short months into his second presidency. He and his administration’s rapid timetable for implementing fascism in our country means the amount of time remaining for American citizens to recognize, acknowledge it and fight it is short.
Conferring with family members, we are all in agreement that Jews in particular, who suffered massively at the hands of Hitler, a fascist whom Europe permitted to gain power in Germany in 1933, have a duty to warn others in the country about how to recognize the onset of fascism, and urge people to fight it tooth and nail, with all we’ve got, before the worst occurs — again.
Consider this my warning.
This article only focuses upon the social/cultural aspects of how fascist power works. It neglected to unpack the fiscal/monetary facets of fascism.
In short, fascism is a ghastly merger of two branches of society which should ideally be kept separate from each other. On the one hand, we have the legislative power and law enforcement might of a society’s government. And on the other hand we have the industrious output and logistical organization of a society’s corporations.
When those two branches of society get together (big gov and big biz) the resulting monstrosity is an inhuman machine of magnificent and terrifying industrial output, protected by the fierce firepower of the military. THIS is precisely what Eisenhower warnrd about when he spoke of the dangers of the “military industrial complex.” When the two become one, you have instant fascism.
The government of a newly formed fascist regime has been transformed so that it no longer serves and protects the citizens. Instead it now serves and protects the corporations. The citizens are reduced to being nothing more than (at best) fodder for the ever-turning wheels of industry, and (at worst) vermin mucking up the works and in need of pest control. The fiscal policy of a fascist regime is one which prioritizes the financial well being of the corporations at all times. Also, a fascist regime picks winners and losers in the marketplace, giving government contracts to preferred corporations. And worst of all, a fascist regime crafts a heinously stark class system of an elite and highly-pampered upper class, contrasted against an impoverished and cruelly neglected lower class. The tiny middle-class is a thin and meager buffer between the two classes, trapped as mid-level managers beholden to the elites, each of them always terrified of being stripped of their middle-class status and downgraded into the wretched ranks of the enslaved lower class.
Fascism is ultimately a financial system which caters to large corporations via a marriage of convenience between the corporations and the government. The beautiful and terrible machinery of massive and profitable industrial output becomes the sole focus of the government’s legislative and military resources. Everything else takes a back seat to the smooth-running of that powerful economic engine.
The opposition to this administration is just getting started. No Kings Day was one of the largest mass protest in US history. From what I’ve seen, the people out there are protesting for a stronger Democracy, and for a country that isn’t corrupted by a narcissistic sociopath and felon.
Current disapproval of 47 is at 53% or -13% since he started. Bummer. Wonder how his “America First” followers will feel if he drags the US into another war?
The organizers of your “actions” have been masterful.
They have millions of people convinced that they are actually doing something. Did you know that these people have been working on this since 2016?
Eventually the George Floyd riots supplanted their efforts, but they were back at it well before the election. Someday look up Norm Eisen and Marc Elias.
I know you probably think your hair will fall out if you look at anything other than liberal media but if someday you have a wild hair, you might want to have a look at other sources. Everyone knows that polls change and results are quite dependent on the pollsters.
If you were actually interested, you’d see there is a variety of thinking on the right. Some are dead set against getting involved in the Iran/Isreal conflict (as if we aren’t already), others want to go all in, while others think there is a middle ground. That’s the great thing about us…we think for ourselves (unlike the protest sign holders) .
Trump is keenly aware of all the sides/opinions…even within his own administration. In fact he chose them for that reason. So far, I think Trump is doing well and the last thing he will do is drag us into another war.
Lastly, above Anne suggested you enlist all the Jews you know to warn the country about the Trump fascism because he so resembles Hitler.
I wonder is she is aware that Trump has been called Israel’s greatest friend.
Regarding diplomacy, it appears Trump has squandered America’s political hard and soft power capital and furthered distrust with tariffs. Disapproval will increase because there is no path back to increased approval. But in the end, you get a bad, though fairly elected, president followed by no transformational leadership from the left or right. So, Trump becomes quite ineffective no matter what he posts. Maybe we should look to grass roots leadership to solve people problems and starting with health and wellness and mitigation of Medicaid and Medicare reforms. The midterms could change if the left and right understand that their is no real political capital by aligning with MAGA in the former or complaining about the past in the latter.
I may be considered to be “overposting”…but I’m a risk taker.
So, Trump has squandered the US hard and soft power capital?
Is it because he let some pages fall out of the folder with the UK-US trade deal at the G7?
You know that Trump left early to attend to other matters. …Probably putting the finishing touches on his dictator plans.
I think rumors of the loss of “hard and soft power capital” are greatly exaggerated. Everyone looks to the US for leadership and will for the foreseeable future. Who the hell wants to be the leader of the free world?
I like Republicans’ chances in 2028. Lots of people have gained toughness from Trump and won’t let Martha Radditz interrupt him/her at the debates. However, I am ready for a more articulate version of Trump and I think there are many to fill that role ( not a democrat).
I agree that Congress needs to get to work on fixing the myriad real problems we have, instead of making speeches in front of the assembled reporters.
Fat chance…but maybe?
Robert Reich is an insufferable boob. He’s been on the wrong side of almost every issue but he persists as a left wing prognosticator.
However he did happen to get his head out of his posterior when he said this:
“Biden may not be cutting through to the public like Trump does right now, “but elections have a way of concentrating the public’s mind,” said Reich. “As the 2024 contest draws closer, more Americans will decide they prefer competence to chaos.”
I hope you are all having your hearts and blood pressure checked regularly. This Trump thingy is really getting to you!
And, although I do see the occasional Trump assassination threat t-shirt, I don’t see that any of you have a clue how to get rid of him. Just remember…more than three more years. YIKES!
It’s amazing how people who say they are followers of Christ can delude themselves….