One of the questions bugging me is if the Trump regime is fascist and deserves that title. Are we there yet? Can we really say Trump has established a fascist government in his first 100 days? So, what are the characteristics of a fascist government? Google AI has some clues in lay terms. Let's use that as a test: I did. Except for two, he has begun the process or accomplished it. Those are the development of a fascist youth corps and glorifying the military, though he has ordered a military parade like Hitler or the Soviets once did, and North Korea still does. Being proposed is probably not any civics we were taught in school. The military he supports is one that does his bidding to exercise domination over US citizens, contrary to law. The answer to my own question is that we are already on the road to fascism, or we are already there.
To take your own test, search defnition of fascism: https://www.google.com/search?q=google+AI+definition+of+fascism&rlz=1CAJFMC_enUS1016US1016&oq=google+AI+definition+of+fascism&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRhA0gEKMTEwNjJqMGoxNagCCLACAfEFitMtejzjcfg&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Here is the Google AI definition, and my informally stated answers to the test are in italics. Most of the answers have been addressed in prior blog postings and can be found by keyword searching this blog.
On to the Google AI definition test.....
"A government exhibits fascist tendencies when it displays authoritarianism, ultranationalism, a cult of personality around a leader, suppression of dissent, and a disregard for human rights, often coupled with militarism and a tendency to scapegoat minority groups. Key indicators include strong nationalism, a focus on perceived national decline or humiliation, and a glorification of youth and the military.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Fascist regimes are characterized by a strong, centralized government, often ruled by a single, charismatic leader who is often viewed as infallible. This leader may suppress opposition and maintain power through force or intimidation.
- A bout 80% of the GOP is likely denying this one. Trump can do no wrong, and if it is a little rocky now, he'll fix it; just be patient. MAGA believes it and those who sweara alliance to Trump, who is always right, show no defection in the polls. Democrats and Independents are about 90% sure he fits this element of the description. In fact, this is the goal of Project 2025 which is being implemented now..to form a unitary government, subjugating the former independendence of the legislative and judicial branches to their will and domination. The only branch not yet bowing down: the judicial. Trump rules by fear and revenge using all of the levers of power at his control, from the bully pulpit, to threats of prosecution by the DOJ without any probable cause or evidence, and any party members who do not express loyalty to his edicts will face primary opposition well funded by his loyal oligarchs. Businesses needing contracts or being free from regulation or seeking approval for mergers have been cowed.
- Fascism is fueled by a strong sense of national identity and pride, often to the exclusion of other cultures or groups. This can manifest as xenophobia and a belief in the inherent superiority of the nation.
- The white Christian nationalist advocates permeate the ideological thinking in the Trump administration, leading to singling out Hispanics and Black people as not competent or capable to administer a government and are by their nature a threat to the ability of white people to lead by virtue of their race and culture in military and in government positions of power.. This rationalizes cruel treatment and dehumanization of the minority groups, demanding that businesses and educational institutions scrub ranks of those who administer, promote DEI, the triple evils of diversity, equality, and inclusion, of those of race, religion, and gender identification.
- Where this deviates from the definition is that it also states nationalist pride in America First and isolation from leading the world in trade and security issues. Some of the extremists are also claiming the US is a white nation whose blood should not be adulterated by brown and black immigrants.
- Fascist leaders often cultivate a cult of personality, presenting themselves as powerful and charismatic figures who embody the nation's spirit. They may use propaganda and rhetoric to create an image of themselves as a savior or a strong leader.
- Trump is a master of this, beating his 80-year-old chest and make up for TV face and hair, demonstrating vigor daily. He revels in bullying and threatening to annex nearby countries or parts of countries; he claims he is the ruler of the US and the world, and half jokingly would like to be pope, too. His megalomaniac, joking or not, has no boundaries.
- Fascist governments are highly intolerant of any opposition to their ideology or rule. They may use violence, censorship, and other methods to silence critics and maintain control.
- How much room do I have left for this one? From book banning to threatening and
- imprisoning judges, and threatening and delincensing media, and now denying them
- access to reporting from the White House. Violence? One of his first acts was to pardon violent
- criminals imprisoned after the violence ofJanuary 6 and he has a long history of
- advocating it.
- Fascist movements often identify "enemies" or scapegoats (e.g., minority groups, political opponents) to blame for the nation's problems, uniting the population against a common foe/Enemy.
- Immigrants for south of the border are murders and rapists and gang bangers. (Never mind any statistics that show migrants commit fewer crimes than citizens; the purpose is to fear them. They are your enemy, not Russians interfering in US politics or even the Chinese, who are trying to control South East Asia. (China is just a bad actor in trade, right?)
- Fascism often glorifies the military and military values, portraying war as a positive force and emphasizing discipline and obedience
- The glorification part depends on how you define it, but the obedience to him is an obsession, and he has fired any Pentagon brass who he thinks may put loyalty to the Constitution ahead of loyalty to him.. He just wants to control it and he ridicules, disdains military heroes and does what he can to remove veteran benefits..
- He, however, is seeking ways to use it against US citizens, once advocating shooting Black Lives Matter protestors in the legs, and now wants it to be domestic law enforcers against criminals and undocumented migrants, as if his use of DEA, US Marshals and the FBI and local policieare not capable to act. This is in defiance of the Posse Comitatus Act forbidding this. Watch him declare a bogus national emergency in all instances as a way to get around this.
- Fascist movements often target young people, portraying them as strong, idealistic, and willing to sacrifice for the nation.
- Nope, this does not fit either, and polls show young people return the favor. His DOGE boys and more have been quite happy to take away school lunches and Head Start programs, or SNAP programs that benefit poor families with children.
- However, now one of Trump's top advisors only wants funds to go to educating IIDs that reflect the Trumpian philosophy. Stephen Miller claims that children are being taught to be 'communist' in schools | Irish Star Now one of Trump's top advisors only wants funds to go to educating kids who reflect his view of democracy. Stephen Miller claims that children are being taught to be 'communist' in schools. What's communist about it?|Spell it out. How about teaching kids American history and why we have a separation of powers, the Bill of Rights, and how we fought fascist ideas and their methods.If anything, Miller's contribution to the Trump regime is his anti-immigrant stance, including using the cruelty of family separation as a tool and in deporting immigrants without due process. He is viewed as an extremist in these sensitive matters. Given his anti-immigrant reputation, I doubt if the Bill of Rights and the civil rights-related amendments would be high on his required list of curriculum topics. The Southern Poverty Law Center tags him as an extremist.https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/stephen-miller/.
- Fascist regimes often exhibit a lack of respect for human rights and freedoms, prioritizing the perceived needs of the nation over individual liberties.
- This is number one on the charts. Due process, the rule of law, the first ten amendments
- be hanged. The ACLU is the busiest law firm in the nation at this time. His attempt to defy
- freedom of the press and the requirements of the 5th Amendment, due process, habeas
- corpus, snatching those on student visas who dared write something in school newspapers,
- is the stuff that have been headline grabbing .
- Fascist governments often control or heavily influence the media to spread their propaganda and suppress opposing viewpoints.
- Everyone but FOX is lying and disloyal. Only loyal to him media gets access ot the Oval Office. He threatens to delicense broadcast media and even cable media that does not require a license if they report news that makes him look bad.
- Obsession with National Security Fascist regimes tend to be obsessed with national security, often portraying the nation as under threat or attack.
- He sabotages cybersecurity defense and cozies up to and flatters those who should be our adversaries. He has no scruples and will appease and throw those who stand in the way of his dealings under the bus. He withdraws into the 1930s style of isolationism and tries to undermine the alliances we have groomed for 50 years, including NATO.
- Fascist movements often intertwine religious and political ideologies, using religious symbols and rhetoric to legitimize their rule.
- While the most transactional person with what is right is what is good for him and his deals ever to occupy the White House, a lifetime of womanizing and infidelity, religion is just another power center to him. Religion is useful, like the folks at Project 2025, who advance their own brand of white Christian nationalism. Both he and they believe strongly in governance by an autocracy.
- Fascist regimes often favor corporate power over labor unions and workers' rights, suppressing any challenges to their economic policies.
His fawning over and surrounding him self with billionaires and oligarchs, from Musk to
cabinet members, is part of his brand. He considers them his peer group. However,
his dismantling of the NLRB is not kind to unions. His stiffing subcontractors in construction projects before becoming president
is legendary.
No comments:
Post a Comment