Salon says Donald Trump is a fascist:
In the political discussion of today, there always comes a risk of being discounted as a crackpot when using a word like “fascist” to describe a political opponent. The word, much like “socialist,” has been so abused since the fall of fascism that it lost its meaning quite some time ago. Comparisons of modern leaders to Hitler tend to be completely void of any substance, and there is even an Internet adage, “Godwin’s law,” that says, “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.”
In a recent article by Jeffrey Tucker, however, it is argued, quite justly in my opinion, that Donald Trump, whether he knows it or not, is a fascist (or is at least acting like one). Much like Mussolini and Hitler, Trump is a demagogue dedicated to riling up the people (particularly conservatives) with race baiting, traditionalism and strongman tough talk — and, according to polls, it’s working — for now.
Donald Trump triggers leftist amygdalae. That is a good thing, because in their hyper-agitated state, they can say and do reckless things, like say, “We know only a crackpot derides their opponent as a fascist, but Donald Trump is a fascist.”
Interestingly, they try to define fascism later in the piece:
The GOP are obviously not fascists, but they share a family resemblance. As stated above, the base have many similar passions — traditionalism, nationalism, intolerance towards immigrants or minorities. They react with hostility towards the social progress of others and largely believe in a ‘survival of the fittest’ ideology.
All K-selected traits. Also known as love of what produced the nation’s greatness, patriotism, and loyalty to fellow citizens before foreigners, and opposition to forcible government redistribution, and an idea that there is either freedom, where if you don’t strive you lose, or an intrusive, oppressive government that punishes success and rewards failure.
Nothing is said about fascism including gun control, a joint corporate-oligarchy croniest government, big-government authoritarianism used to punish political enemies, secret police, hatred for any citizens who oppose their government’s control, or a desperate desire to see themselves as intellectually superior, morally superior, or the future incarnation of man?
Finally, Aurini asked for a post about fascism vs conservatism, but I doubt I could do better than Bill Whittle did here.
