Friends often ask me why people don\u2019t see the threats coming from the White House. It\u2019s as plain as the noses on our faces, blatant and incessant, they say. What can be wrong with Americans that they don\u2019t stand up and quit supporting Trump and his MAGA lieutenants? What\u2019s the matter with the Republicans? Why don\u2019t the vocal anti-Trump critics rise up and protest more vigorously? What\u2019s with the Democrats, they seem listless in their opposition?<\/p>\n
Increasingly, I\u2019ve become convinced that we are experiencing the beginnings of fascism, much as it unfolded in history since its inception with Benito Mussolini in Italy after World War I. All the ideological tenets of fascism are presently being pursued or acted on by Trump administration. These include authoritarianism, nationalism (racial and religious), hierarchy, elitism and militarism. Fascists preach populism, suggesting that they represent the real people who are deceived and kept down by the elites. Further, fascism promotes \u2018corporatism,\u201d stressing unity and class cooperation. Above all, fascism is non-democratic, using state terrorism, racism and imperialism to create an all-powerful government.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, Trump, MAGA pundits, and supporters are, for the most part, not ideologically driven; most, like Trump, have no ideology per se but act on their prejudices and partisanship to make their way. They are pragmatists who keep trying until they get their way. All rebuke those who call them fascists and argue that they are simply fighting to return to an earlier time when America was pure and ruled by common sense. The reality is that they hold a mythical understanding of what America ever was or is today, but the fascism they have adopted is frighteningly real.<\/p>\n
Take stock of what has happened since the 2024 election.
\nSince taking office Trump has attacked major institutions such as the media, universities, large law firms and
\nuncooperative corporations. He has purged military leadership, fired government officials and scores of federal workers, ordered the National Guard and army to American cities, disregarded court decisions and sought vengeance against political opponents as well as former associates who dare to cross him. He has tirelessly attacked the Democrats, refusing all compromise, in an effort to destroy the party, making the Republicans the sole party beholden to him. And, most revealing, Trump like tyrants before him foments crises so he can declare a national emergencies to take action, much like the burning of the Reichstag in Germany in 1933.<\/p>\n
Why don\u2019t we see this? I\u2019m afraid many people are apolitical and are not paying attention. Some don\u2019t take note unless a specific government policy negatively affects them. The truth is that many Americans approve of much of what Trump has done: securing the border, cutting foreign aid, staying out of foreign wars, doing away with affirmative action and eschewing \u201cpolitical correctness\u201d resonate with much of the electorate. As does promises of balancing the budget, nurturing a strong economy and celebrating all things American.<\/p>\n
It should also be noted that Trump\u2019s rhetoric and disparagement of what is perceived as the elites has endeared him and his policies to a large group of previously disenfranchised and marginalized people who have always been out there – racists, bigots, white supremacists, jingoists and Christian nationalists. He has given them hope.<\/p>\n
Lastly, Democrats have not helped themselves. Their zeal has frequently gotten ahead of their goals, whether it be in defending gender rights, human rights, internationalism, environmental laws or immigration restriction.<\/p>\n
Paradoxically perhaps, many of these observations were also true of Germany in the 1930s. Germany, as a nation, marched into the abyss of disaster to promises of making Germany great again. The elites, corporations, universities, good and bad Germans all had reasons to either ignore or promote the rise of the Nazi party.<\/p>\n
We need to wake up before it is too late.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Friends often ask me why people don\u2019t see the threats coming from the White House. It\u2019s as plain as the noses on our faces, blatant and incessant, they say. What can be wrong with Americans that they don\u2019t stand up and quit supporting Trump and his MAGA lieutenants? What\u2019s the matter with the Republicans? Why…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-by-robert-fischer"],"yoast_head":"\n