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Forget "almost semi-fascism": Proto-fascist Trump wants FULL-FLEDGED FASCISM with MAGA GOP help!!! [1]
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Date: 2022-09-02
1. What is Fascism?
Note that there are many different aspects to fascism, and the definition is quite broad; again from Wikipedia:
What constitutes a definition of fascism and fascist governments has been a complicated and highly disputed subject concerning the exact nature of fascism and its core tenets debated amongst historians, political scientists, and other scholars since Benito Mussolini first used the term in 1915. Historian Ian Kershaw once wrote that "trying to define 'fascism' is like trying to nail jelly to the wall".
Given the amorphous nature of fascism, let’s follow the Encyclopedia Brittanica explanation of fascism:
fascism, political ideology and mass movement that dominated many parts of central, southern, and eastern Europe between 1919 and 1945 and that also had adherents in western Europe, the United States, South Africa, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East. Europe’s first fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, took the name of his party from the Latin word fasces, which referred to a bundle of elm or birch rods (usually containing an ax) used as a symbol of penal authority in ancient Rome. Although fascist parties and movements differed significantly from one another, they had many characteristics in common, including extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, and the desire to create a Volksgemeinschaft (German: “people’s community”), in which individual interests would be subordinated to the good of the nation.
Summary:
Extreme militaristic nationalism, Contempt for electoral democracy, Contempt for political and cultural liberalism, The belief in the natural social hierarchy and the rule of elites, Desire to create a “people’s community” in which individual interests are subordinated.
2. How are we going to analyze MAGA Fascism?
We’ll catalog observable characteristic behaviors the same way that psychologists do.
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung
Past psychoanalysis used to follow almost exclusively the theoretical teachings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung which examined early developmental life experiences, the subconscious, the unconscious, and several other psychological concepts. The approach we’re going to take to analyze MAGA Fascism is a similar approach that diverted somewhat from the Freudian and Jungian methods, and simplified diagnosis.
It’s equally if not more so difficult to get one’s arms around psychoanalysis as it is with the definition of fascism. In the second half of the 20th Century, instead of focusing on Freudian and Jungian analysis, psychologists developed a methodology that focused on empirically observable behavior. They developed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Of course, the diagnosis of psychological disorders requires professional analysis. However, by examining the DSM-5 symptoms for a Narcissistic Personality Disorder as described on the Mayo Clinic website, we can exemplify how observable behavior in a well-known former President is symptomatic of a Narcissistic Personality Disorder My observations tell me Trump checks nearly every box:
Mayo Clinic Website: Signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder and the severity of symptoms vary. People with the disorder can: Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration
Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
Exaggerate achievements and talents
Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
Take advantage of others to get what they want
Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
Be envious of others and believe others envy them
Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can: Become impatient or angry when they don't receive special treatment
Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation
Trump? [eyes roll]
3. Trump’s MAGA GOP Fascism correlates perfectly with Laurence Britt’s 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism.
Trump & the 14 Warning Signs of Fascism. Poster
Designed and sold by lauriepink
The previously mentioned definitions of fascism are abstract and theoretical. Instead of discussing fascism theory, we’re going to follow the example of DSM and look at the specific and observable characteristics of fascism. In 2003, Laurence Britt (frequently misspelled as Lawrence), wrote an Op-Ed titled “Fascism Anyone?” for a secular humanist magazine called Free Inquiry. Britt’s short bio on the Free Inquiry website explains how the article has become ubiquitous as one of the most recognized explanations of fascism:
Laurence W. Britt Laurence W. Britt is a retired international businessperson, writer, and commentator. He is the author of “ Fascism, Anyone ?” (FI, Spring 2003), the most reprinted — and most pirated — article in the magazine’s history .
To compile his list, Britt studied the regimes of Hitler’s Germany, Mussolini’s Italy, Suharto’s Indonesia, Salazar’s Portugal, Pinochet’s Chile, and other authoritarian fascists. Britt’s complete explanations of each of the 14 characteristics are comprehensive and too lengthy to include in this diary, but there are shorter versions reprinted and pirated. I’ll pirate one of those lists and to keep it brief. We’ll show just a few examples of how the MAGA GOP correlates with each characteristic. Undoubtedly, you’ll be able to add countless more examples. Everyone would love to see them in the comments section.
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
MAGA, “Lock ‘er Up”, “Build that Wall”, red truckers’ hats, Trump flags, Confederate flags, Gadsden Flags, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
Muslim database; border cages; separating small children from their families
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic, or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
Mexicans, Muslims, Chinese, Deep State, RINOS, Liberals, MSM, Every Democrat, BLM
4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread
domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
Increasing the military budget by $133 billion (23%) over 3 years;
5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion, and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
“… you can grab ‘em by the puzzy...”; “[women] You have to treat them like shit.”; bye bye Roe v Wade
6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in wartime, is very common.
“Enemy of the people”; “take away their FCC licenses”; MSM; Twitter addiction; Truth Social
7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
See 1,3,4
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology are common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
Sycophants like disgraced Jerry Falwell Jr., disgraced Jim Bakker, and Franklin Graham; holding up a Bible as a marketing prop; packing the court with Catholic Justices recommended by the Catholic-affiliated Federalist Society.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
Tax cuts for corporations; sabotaging the EPA with Scott Pruitt, who was a plaintiff in 14 lawsuits against the EPA; getting DeSantis to declare WWE an “essential business” because Vince McMahon is one of Trump’s top donors;
10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely or severely suppressed.
“Having a low minimum wage is not a bad thing for this thing”; Supporting police unions while disparaging all other unions.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
“I know more about viruses than anyone.”; Demonizing Fauci, CDC, NIH, and WHO; the only musical artists Trump likes are Kanye, the pedophilic dumb as a Rock Kid, and a country music star or two, and it isn’t because he likes their music
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
“Law and order President”; “lock ‘er up”; Central Park Five
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
Trump’s pardon palooza; bin Salman extorting Qataris to bail out Clown Prince Jared’s 666 5th Ave. debacle; bin Salman giving Jared’s fledgling Affinity Fund $2 billion, overruling Saudi Sovereign Fund analysts despite their warnings: “inexperience”, fees “seem excessive”, responsible for “the bulk of the investment and risk”, “public relations risk”, “ unsatisfactory in all aspects ”;
14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Voter suppression; replacing state election officials with Trump sycophants; redistricting; Stop the Steal; Big Lie; “we should just cancel the election and declare me the winner”
4. Trump's admiration for fascist authoritarians reveals his own aspirations to be a fascist authoritarian.
admiration of Putin
“My people came to me, [Director of National Intelligence] Dan Coats came to me and some others saying they think it's Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be… I have great confidence in my intelligence people but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.
in his denial today. “I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘ This is genius. ’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine—of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. How smart is that? And he’s going to go in and be a peacekeeper, that’s the strongest peace force—we could use that on our southern border”
admiration of Lil’ Kim
“You've got to give that 'maniac' in North Korea some credit… And all of a sudden — and you know it's pretty amazing when you think of it — how does he do that? Even though it is a culture and it's a cultural thing, he goes in, he takes over, and he's the boss… And you've got to give him credit. How many young guys — he was like 26 or 25 when his father died — take over these tough generals, and all of a sudden ... he goes in, he takes over, and he’s the boss. It's incredible . He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one .”
He’s the head of a country, and I mean, he’s the strong head, don’t let anyone think anything different...He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same .
Admiration of Chinese Fascism
"When the students poured into Tiananmen Square, the Chinese government almost blew it. Then they were vicious, they were horrible , but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength . Our country is right now perceived as weak…”
In summary:
Trump wants America to be a full-fledged fascist country
with himself as Glorious Leader and God EmperOR
and the MAGA GOP wants to HAND AMERICA OVER to him.
The only things stopping him are patriotic, thinking Americans !!!
VOTE DEMOCRATIC !!!
[END]
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[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/2/2119379/-Forget-almost-semi-fascism-Proto-fascist-Trump-wants-FULL-FLEDGED-FASCISM-with-MAGA-GOP-help
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