Ok, that subtitle might be a little harsh. Well then maybe not. I guess like your defintion of “is” it depends on your defintion of fascism. Now granted fascism is defined by Merriam-Webster as;
a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.
However, fascism can take on many different forms. From the political parties that actually call themselves fascist, to those who try to drape themselves in democracy, yet in practice they are authoritarian with a dictatorial bent. In fact, it was the habit of communist nations to put the word “democrat, or democratic” in their national name even though the last thing they exhibited was any semblance of freedom. (Bernie’s support notwithstanding, the Soviet Union was a fucking hellhole. In fact, the only difference with Putin’s Russia, is that at least now, people don’t have to stand in line for toilet paper, which seems to make Tucker happy.)
Additionally, the word “fascist” has been bantered around so much in the past few decades, much like the word “nazis” that it takes on almost no meaning whatsoever. The minute you disagree with someone politically suddenly you are a fascist. The opposition uses it to destroy, denigrate, or devalue your position simply because it doesn’t adhere to some stricture of what the “good” side says you are supposed to think, say, or believe. Honestly, now if that isn’t fascist I don’t know what is….
The truth of the matter is that when someone is a fascist it has a historical meaning, much like when someone was a nazi, or someone was a communist. We have seen these political dogmas through the 20th century cause untold horrors and evils. To suddenly decide that someone is a fascist because they don’t come to the same political conclusions as you do is not only disingenuous, lazy, and pathetic, it does a great disservice to those who suffered at the hands of these totalitarian ideologies.
So why do we need to talk about fascist then if we don’t actually want to use the word to describe political disagreement. Because the biggest use of the word is by those who want to gaslight us into thinking what we see right before our eyes did not happen and is not happening. They call people names be it racist, ableist, homophobic, and any number of insulting words simply because it can be pointed out that the emperor has no clothes. The powers that be debank you. The powers that be ban you from social media. The powers that be get you fired from your job. The powers that be ruin your reputation. The powers that be harass your children. The powers that be SWAT your home. The powers that be assault you in the street.
All of these things have happened to those who have disagreed with the accepted cultural perception over the last decade. But somehow you, who hold an unpopular opinion, are the fascist. It is as if political discourse is no longer allowed, permitted, or acceptable. This is not to say that someone who spouts nazi ideology shouldn’t be called a nazi; That someone who supports Stalin, shouldn’t be called out as supporting mass murder (if you doubt that the communist regime was bad look up the word Holodomor); That someone who stands for the unquestioned absolute rule of a government shouldn’t be called a fascist. But simply because you have a disagreement over the length and breath of a constitutional amendment doesn’t make you a fascist. It makes you an American with the right to question, dissent, and fight for the path you would like this country to take.
What I get so annoyed about is the time we waste calling each other names. The idea that dinkybrains are leaving the US because they say Trump is a fascist is beyond asinine. Firstly, we have a constitution that embodies our rights and purposefully limits the reach of the government. We have a viable judiciary who is not beholden to any political party for their livelihood. They are robust, intellectual, and independent. That little thing in the Constitution that created them to be the 3rd branch of government is taken very seriously by these jurists no matter what anyone who complains about their rulings think. I have yet to read any opinion in the last 4 months that is not well thought out. You don’t have to agree with their conclusion. But it doesn’t mean they are part of a secret fascist cabal.
Secondly, but even more importantly, where the fuck are you going? Canada, where they debanked people who disagreed politically with the government over COVID? To the UK, where they are putting people in prison for hurty tweets or facebook posts? To Germany, where they imprison you if you say mean things about politicians? This they think is not fascist?
Listen, I get it. People are upset about Trump and what he is doing. But are they actually accomplishing anything or is it performative? (Really storming an ICE detention center- talk about infantile) Was it just something for the evening news? I mean if they actually wanted to make a statement, other than going to court, they need to actually talk to the people they want to vote for them. And that goes for the republicans too. Seriously, telling people not to hold Townhalls because someone might yell at you is childish. So what if paid agitators are coming to cause trouble, Big deal. You asked for this political moment, so lean in and do your jobs.
It could also be that maybe, just maybe there are no actual answers and that some of the things being done in your name (ahem republican, ahem) are beyond the pale. The politicos cant actually defend what is going on. What they need to remember is that the People have a right to have their say. Heck, its even in the Constitution, that little first amendment, where we are allowed to petition our government. Now granted that may simply be lobbying efforts, which can go beyond acceptable norms, but somehow I don’t think the founding fathers were against being yelled at by their constituents. In fact, I think it was de rigueur of the time that politicians not only got yelled at, but they probably had quite alot of rotten food thrown at them, along with a punch or two.
Listen, America is a rough and tumble place. Anyone who thinks we are tea an crumpets, good manners, and Emily Post don’t really know us very well, and know very little about American history. And no this really isn’t about Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of the Untied States (that so many on the right point to as the demarcation point of when the US went to hell in a hand basket).
By the way, I did though have him as a professor when I attended Boston University. I mean everyone in the polisci department took his classes. It was actually fun and interesting. Back then no one really was scared of different ideas, questions and being able to think through issues. You should have seen his face though when in describing a project I wanted to do about hunting nazis war criminals in the US, I let him know my father was a Reagan political appointee who helped with that. (A girlfriend assisted me with that discussion. I seriously thought the man was going to fall through the floor when I mentioned Reagan. But as one of the dieing breed of true professors, I did get an A in that class. OK, in truth everyone who did the work got an A in that class.) But that class also holds a special place in my heart, not because of Zinn, but because that is where I met my husband to be. So say what you will about Zinn’s politics, he did cause a 42 year marriage to happen.
Meanwhile, back to the concept of fascism and gaslighting.
Let me begin by saying, I wish Joe Biden godspeed. Cancer is a horror and bone cancer is the worst. So if they cannot provide him a cure, I hope they at least keep him as comfortable as possible.
(Interestingly. Ezekiel Emmanuel, one of the architects of Obamacare was on Morning Joe, saying that there was no way that this cancer just happened. That prostate cancer is the slowest growing form of cancer- even the aggressive type- and they could have known about this for 10 years. Meaning, he had this diagnosis as VP, and President, and told no one.)
But in the interim, finally, the media is letting everyone know that they did not know about Biden’s infirmities. That somehow they were lied to and gaslit by his administration. Bueller? Bueller? Listen, I really like Jake Tapper despite him being with CNN. I tended to find him to be a pretty honest journalist. Yes I said it, honest and journalist in the same breath. But this latest book about him just learning about Biden’s mental and physical issues is ridiculous. Did the man not see what the rest of us saw over the past 4 years? Did he not see Biden struggle? I truly hate being lied to. I truly hate (and yes I know I try to teach my son not to hate as it is a useless emotion) when someone tries to gaslight me.
Listen, if you are a politician a large part of your job is to gaslight in some way. Tell people what you want them to know, while hiding the stuff that will get you in trouble. We all figure that when a politician speaks, 75% of what they are saying is bullshit (ok maybe more than 75%).
But what happened with Joe Biden was so egregious, so calculated, so insulting to the American People, and the news media, Tapper included just went along with it. I want to know who was in charge over the 4 years of Biden’s term. I want to know who made the major decisions. I want to know who ran foreign and domestic policy. (No I don’t care about the stupid autopen, I cared who was signing everything in his name or simply telling him to sign things.) I’m sorry but there has to be a broken law in there somewhere, don’t you think?
The biggest question too, was why didn’t they use the 25th amendment to get Biden to step down. Kamala would have been president. They did push her as the candidate this past election cycle. If she was the choice then, why wasn’t she the choice over the Biden 4 years. It’s not like the policies would have been any different. Or was it because those who were actually running the Biden show, felt that if Kamala was around they wouldn’t be. (By the way, she did promote the lie that he was fine just like the rest of the administration.)
And now of course, you hear (from David Axelrod and other democratic poobahs) how we aren’t supposed to be talking about the gaslighting because Biden has stage 4 cancer. Leading to speculation that they released this information to try to stem the flood that is coming because of the Tapper book. Well considering one thing has nothing to do with the other, the question is, what the hell was really going on in that White House that they don’t want us to know about.
Honestly, I don’t think its all about Tapper’s book. I think they are afraid of the FBI coming to their door with warrants. That’s what I think they are trying to stop. And warrants not just those who served in the White House, but for the upper echelon of the democratic party as well.
Then the question becomes how far down the rabbit hole does this conspiracy go?
So here is my question: if the governing authority gaslights the public with disinformation and the media is in on the scam, is this fascism where the government uses the means of communication to not only promote a perspective, but punish those who fight back. Because those who questioned what was happening in the White House were punished, in much the same way those who disagreed with the Biden COVID policies were punished. (Watch Sam Harris talk with Jake Tapper about his findings if you doubt this statement.)
When does gaslighting become fascism or does it ever become fascism? Are we mixing metaphors again, just because we see a political opportunity? Are we being hysterical over nothing? Well I am not hysterical, I am generally really pissed off and I want someone to go to prison for subverting the US Constitution. (Honestly, I don’t know if there is a law that covers any of this, but there damn well should be.)
And before you answer the question, think if this was your side of the aisle doing any of this would you be ok with it? (I figure the answer would be yes, considering those who screamed the loudest about Hunter’s influence peddling, seem to be ok with that big beautiful Qatari jet that Trump just accepted and vice versa.)
IT IS DAY 593 OF THE HOSTAGES BEING STARVED AND HELD IN THE TERROR DUNGEONS OF GAZA 🎗️
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That’s a great post. Lots to consider!