Yale Prof and expert in fascist propaganda points out all of Trump's fascist appeals

[Colter]

Trump, a fascist? Prof Jason Stanley says he. Here he draws parallels between Trump's strategies and fascist regimes of the past:

By following the fascist leader you can...
- The return to a mythic past: "Make America Great Again"
- Know the truth! The press is the enemy of the people. You can only know the truth by sticking with Trump.
- Defeat the enemies seeking to destroy America: The FBI, The Press, The Immigrants
- Trump is the strongman that can save you: "I alone can fix it" - Trump at the RNC convention

Whatever the whiners call it, Trump is getting a lot done! MAGA!

 

[JackRT]

When Hitler took power in Germany everyone knows that the Jews were targeted but while that was happening the bully boys were also rounding up the labour unionists, the communists and the socialists.

 

[Ana the Ist]

So when googling you skipped past yesterday's beating by the Proud Boys, which is prominently in the news right now, to go for something 10 months stale?

Yikes! Great confirmation bias there.

You're talking about the video where a bottle is thrown at them?

 

[Redac]

Parts one and two are more or less half-true characterizations of fascism at best, and the third characteristic he describes contains the embedded assumption that not only are fascists always just flat-out factually wrong, but also that they may not even believe what they say, and instead are all just cynically exploiting people for... some reason. Sure thing, bud.

 

[Albion]

Fascism is not socialism. In fact fascists frequently justify their barbarity by appealing to fears of socialism.

It is not Marxism, but it is a variety of Socialism. These days we tend to think of Socialism as either Communism or Democratic Socialism, and perhaps also Anarchism; but the word was understood more broadly in the past, even including Christian Socialism and Utopian Socialism.

As for your comment about Fascists justifying something by appealing to fears of Socialism, you mean to say fears of Communism and its allies on the Left. This is not so unusual; we know that fights within a family are often the most bitter.

 

[Redac]

You know...except the one where he uses violence and intimidation to silence all political opponents.

That's the left.

Willingness to engage in political violence is not a defining characteristic of fascism, my dude. Heck, it arose in early fascist movements partially in response to communists and other assorted leftists of the day freely engaging in it.

 

[Redac]

It is not Marxism, but it is a variety of Socialism. These days we tend to think of Socialism as either Communism or Democratic Socialism, and perhaps also Anarchism; but the word was understood more broadly in the past, even including Christian Socialism and Utopian Socialism.

As for your comment about Fascists justifying something by appealing to fears of Socialism, you mean to say fears of Communism and its allies on the Left. This is not so unusual; we know that fights within a family are often the most bitter.

I'm a bit confused. What are you using to parse left from right politically that places fascism next to communism?

 

[Albion]

Willingness to engage in political violence is not a defining characteristic of fascism, my dude. Heck, it arose in early fascist movements partially in response to communists and other assorted leftists of the day freely engaging in it.

That would be to use violence, then, in the pursuit of the movement's political objectives, just as the "assorted leftists" did and do.

 

[rambot]

Whatever the whiners call it, Trump is getting a lot done! MAGA!

Why is it that just because he's "getting a lot done" it is ALL necessarily good?

Stalin was a busy man who got a lot done.
Mao was a busy man who accomplished a lot
Carl Sagan was a busy man.
Each of these guys got a lot done.

Why not reflect on what your president says and think about the implications there? Is that not something his supporters are willing to do at all?

 

[Ana the Ist]

Willingness to engage in political violence is not a defining characteristic of fascism, my dude. Heck, it arose in early fascist movements partially in response to communists and other assorted leftists of the day freely engaging in it.

Neither is the use of propaganda....but I don't see you complaining about that

We're talking about fascist tactics.

 

[Goonie]

I'm a bit confused. What are you using to parse left from right politically that places fascism next to communism?

Weird isn't it? But your forgetting anything that is supportive of big govt is by definition of the 'left'. Its a very American point of view. The fact is fascism in its ultra_nationalism, appeals to traditional values, support of big business, hatred of trade unions bears a lot of hallmarks of the right.

 

[Colter]

Why is it that just because he's "getting a lot done" it is ALL necessarily good?

Stalin was a busy man who got a lot done.
Mao was a busy man who accomplished a lot
Carl Sagan was a busy man.
Each of these guys got a lot done.

Why not reflect on what your president says and think about the implications there? Is that not something his supporters are willing to do at all?

Trump says mean spirited things sometimes. He says what he thinks.

Obama telegraphed weakness, he drew red lines that he wasn't willing to back up. He insisted on leaving Iraq to secure Bush's defeat which left a vast area for ISIS to develop.

I want our enemies to really wonder what trump might do in response to attacks and threats!

 

[TLK Valentine]

Trump has shown that Alinsky's Rules for Radicals can also be used quite effectively against the Left.

...which is something that everyone who has actually read Alinsky already knew...

 

[TLK Valentine]

I don't think it's far fetch to think that he wasn't aware of doing it.

Possibly... it's not the sort of book Donald's likely to have on his nightstand.

 

[Colter]

Weird isn't it? But your forgetting anything that is supportive of big govt is by definition of the 'left'. Its a very American point of view. The fact is fascism in its ultra_nationalism, appeals to traditional values, support of big business, hatred of trade unions bears a lot of hallmarks of the right.

So, what are the tenants of Fascism anyway? Lets go to the Fascist manifesto 1919. NOTE: Some of these ideas are often articulated by secular progressives in America more so than the Republican party.

Contents of the Fascist Manifesto

The Manifesto (published in Il Popolo d'Italia on June 6, 1919) is divided into four sections, describing the movement's objectives in political, social, military and financial fields.

Politically, the Manifesto calls for:

Universal suffrage with a lowered voting age to 18 years, and voting and electoral office eligibility for all age 25 and up;

Proportional representation on a regional basis;

Voting for women (which was then opposed by most other European nations);

Representation at government level of newly created national councils by economic sector;

The abolition of the Italian Senate (at the time, the Senate, as the upper house of parliament, was by process elected by the wealthier citizens, but were in reality direct appointments by the king. It has been described as a sort of extended council of the crown);

The formation of a national council of experts for labor, for industry, for transportation, for the public health, for communications, etc. Selections to be made of professionals or of tradesmen with legislative powers, and elected directly to a general commission with ministerial powers.

In labor and social policy, the Manifesto calls for:

The quick enactment of a law of the state that sanctions an eight-hour workday for all workers;

A minimum wage;

The participation of workers' representatives in the functions of industry commissions;

To show the same confidence in the labor unions (that prove to be technically and morally worthy) as is given to industry executives or public servants;

Reorganization of the railways and the transport sector;

Revision of the draft law on invalidity insurance;

Reduction of the retirement age from 65 to 55.

In military affairs, the Manifesto advocates:

Creation of a short-service national militia with specifically defensive responsibilities;

Armaments factories are to be nationalized;

A peaceful but competitive foreign policy.

In finance, the Manifesto advocates:

A strong progressive tax on capital (envisaging a “partial expropriation” of concentrated wealth);

The seizure of all the possessions of the religious congregations and the abolition of all the bishoprics, which constitute an enormous liability on the Nation and on the privileges of the poor;

Revision of all contracts for military provisions;

The revision of all military contracts and the seizure of 85 percent of the profits therein.

These early positions reflected in the Manifesto would later be characterized by Mussolini in the Doctrine of Fascism as "a series of pointers, forecasts, hints which, when freed from the inevitable matrix of contingencies, were to develop in a few years time into a series of doctrinal positions entitling Fascism to rank as a political doctrine differing from all others, past or present."

Source wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascist_Manifesto

 

[Colter]

Remember the work of Hitlers Sturmabteilung or "Brown Shirts" ? One technique was "disrupting the meetings of opposing parties".

During the last campaign violence broke out at Trump rallies. The idea was to show that it was unhinged Trump supporters fighting each other when in fat Democrats operatives were sending people in to cause violence. Notice that after the election Trump still draws huge crowds of supporters, no more violence braking out!?!?

Tracking down the cause of violence at Trump rallies


Sturmabteilung - Wikipedia

 

[TLK Valentine]

Whatever the whiners call it, Trump is getting a lot done! MAGA!

Your enthusiastic support of fascism is noted...

 

[KCfromNC]

Such superficial points of comparison there. Or maybe this fellow is concerned only with propaganda and not with political science. Other experts, recognized ones, would point to these similarities between Fascism and whatever American party or personality represents the best parallel:

Use of violence in order to achieve political goals.

"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you?" Trump said, drawing cheers and laughter. "Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell — I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise."

"By the way, and if she gets to pick --if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know."

Opposition to traditional values.

How many foreign-born wives has he had? How many have posed nude as part of their jobs? How many other women has he cheated on with them?

Opposition to Capitalism.

White House readies plan for $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers caught in Trump’s escalating trade war

Promotion of the idea of universal and direct suffrage/popular vote elections.

"The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy."

Free education for all.

“My plan will also ensure funding for historic black colleges and universities, more affordable two- and four-year college and support for trade and vocational education.”

Suppression of Stock Exchanges and Banks.

"As part of this reform, we will eliminate the carried interest deduction and other special interest loopholes that have been so good for Wall Street investors"

Confiscation by taxation of unnecessary wealth/unearned income.

OK, fair enough on this one. But is this really the cornerstone of Fascism?

The Cooperative Principle; workers pay as a percentage of company profits.

Same here.

A Universal Health Care System.

“We’re going to have insurance for everybody,” Trump said in an interview with The Washington Post. “There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us.”

6 promises Trump has made about health care

Granted, this is way too easy, simply because Trump just says whatever he thinks people will want to hear at any given time. I'm sure I can find quotes directly contradicting most of these. Except for the violence ones, of course. And him not cheating on all his wives, that too.

 

[Redac]

That would be to use violence, then, in the pursuit of the movement's political objectives, just as the "assorted leftists" did and do.

Which is not inherently a characteristic of the left or right.

 

[Redac]

Neither is the use of propaganda....but I don't see you complaining about that

Why would I?

We're talking about fascist tactics.

Ideology as well, I'd say. Palingenetic nationalism, for example, is more than just a tactic.