Most of my life, I wouldn't listen to Robert Reich. But the extremism of the Right has pushed the Left and Center (i.e. me) into a tighter alliance. I'll never agree with him on economic policy and government regulation, but I find little to disagree with here:
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trumps-5-step-fascist-plan
Step 1: Use threats of violence to gain power.
Hitler and Mussolini relied on their vigilante militias to intimidate voters and local officials. We watched Trump try to do the same in 2020. Even before he incited the attack on the U.S. Capitol, he said on national television: “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.”
Step 2: Consolidate power.
After taking office, a would-be fascist turns every arm of government into a tool of his will. One of Hitler’s first steps was to take over the civil service, purging it of non-Nazis.
In October of 2020, Trump issued his own executive order that would have enabled him to fire tens of thousands of civil servants and replace them with MAGA loyalists. He never got to act on it, but he’s now promising to apply it to the entire civil service if reelected.
Step 3: Demonize a group of people and establish a police state to round them up into detention camps.
Hitler used the imaginary threat of “the poison of foreign races” — mostly Jews — to justify taking control of the military and police, placing both under his top general, and granting law-enforcement powers to his civilian militias.
Now Trump is using the same language to claim he needs similar powers to deal with immigrants. Trump says they’re “poisoning the blood of our country.”
Step 4: Jail the opposition.
As Putin and other of the world’s dictators do, Trump is now openly threatening to prosecute his opponents: “If I happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very badly, I say, ‘Go down and indict them.’ They’d be out of business.”
He’s looking to remake the Justice Department into a tool for his personal vendettas: “As we completely overhaul the federal Department of Justice and FBI, we will also launch sweeping civil rights investigations into Marxist local district attorneys.”
In the model of Hitler and Mussolini, Trump describes his opponents as subhuman: “the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country…”
[Ed. When Trump said to Clinton, 'You'll be in jail' on the debate stage, I instantly knew he was a proto-dictator and I turned against him FOR LIFE. Sometimes, it only takes one slip for someone to reveal exactly who and what they are.]
Step 5: Undermine the free press.
As Hitler well understood, a fascist dictator needs to control the flow of information. Trump has been attacking the press for years, calling them “the enemy of the people.”
He’s threatening to punish news outlets whose coverage he dislikes. On his “Truth Social” platform, he wrote: “Our so-called ‘government’ should come down hard on them and make them pay for their illegal political activity. Much more to come, watch!”
He has helped to reduce trust in the media to such a historic low that his supporters now view him as their most trusted source of information. He tells them: “I will never lie to you,” although his lies are constant and continuous.
I think a big reason Trump's dictatorship-pantomime-charade attempt will fail is his age. Hitler was 43 when he came to power. Trump was 71, now 77. This baloney has to end soon.
The other big reason is that America isn't in the economic crisis Germany was in in 1933 - no comparison. True, rural America is stuck in a pretty miserable place. But it is only Biden who will get them out. Trump will leave them there because he needs them to stay mad. Likewise, he doesn't want the border issue to go away - he needs it to stay "broken." Otherwise, he is doomed.
The third reason is, American Liberals also have guns. 🙂
Tell us Biden's plan, Spruce.
I note that Illinois is moving along with $1000 guaranteed money payments (the word 'income' is not appropriate).
I have often said that you socialists will win in the end, this move is just one rung in the ladder. It will prevail, and all other states will follow. You will tell your grandchilden that you knew a guy known as AvJoe that predicted that all of the goals of libs will have been reached. You will tell them that as the government delivers a check to you. Everyone will be equal. You and all migrants from all corners of the globe will all be equal. Sounds cozy. They will have all that you have, and you will have all that they have. If you end up with a bit more, they will take it from you and give it someone else. That is going on even as we speak.
So, tell us Biden's plan.
@spruce112358 saidI ran across this test file on my computer just the other day. There's no citation, so I'm not even sure where it came from.
Most of my life, I wouldn't listen to Robert Reich. But the extremism of the Right has pushed the Left and Center (i.e. me) into a tighter alliance. I'll never agree with him on economic policy and government regulation, but I find little to disagree with here:
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trumps-5-step-fascist-plan
Step 1: Use threats of violence to gain pow ...[text shortened]... nformation. He tells them: “I will never lie to you,” although his lies are constant and continuous.
------------------------------------------------------------
What are fascism’s central traits and beliefs:
• Unwavering and unquestioning loyalty to the “strong man.”
• The Rule of Fear rather than the Rule of Law. Conspiracy theories cause people to abandon constitutional checks and balances.
• Conformity. People who don’t agree with the Leader are ostracized and/or hunted down as threats to the stability of the regime.
• Militaristic nationalism and a state of perpetual paranoia leading to war. Enemies are everywhere. Only the “pure” are truly citizens.
• Minority groups and people with skin color or religious traditions that are not held by most of the population constitute a threat.
• The majority is under attack from a nefarious and secretive minority with no connection to the “blood and soil” of the homeland.
• Real men are not afraid of war. Peace activism is feminine.
• An independent media is an enemy of the state.
• Critical thinkers like artists, intellectuals and scientists are immediately suspect.
• Doctrinaire religion supports the leader.
• Election fraud, bullying, intimidation and insider double dealing are widespread and undiscussable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Many times I've heard that fascism need not display all of these characteristics, just enough for society to understand and coagulate around the ideas herein.
@fartacus saidThat's a great question!
So why didn't he become a dictator when he was in office?
I don't know because I'm not on his wave-length, but I think it's because he's extremely lazy and believes his own rhetoric. He actually thought he was going to win re-election. He's not energetic or smart or able or any of those things. He just floats along on the backs of more competent people - WELL insulated from reality by his coterie.
I think his main competency is as a conman and demagogue. He was too lazy to actively consolidate the reins of power the first time around, but now that he's in trouble, he will definitely work harder - not for you and me, but to save himself.
This is what he says, anyway.
@averagejoe1 saidI don't know what Biden's plan is, but I'm a big fan of Milton Friedman's Negative Income Tax. We could save a TON of money with that.
Tell us Biden's plan, Spruce.
I note that Illinois is moving along with $1000 guaranteed money payments (the word 'income' is not appropriate).
I have often said that you socialists will win in the end, this move is just one rung in the ladder. It will prevail, and all other states will follow. You will tell your grandchilden that you knew a guy known as AvJo ...[text shortened]... you and give it someone else. That is going on even as we speak.
So, tell us Biden's plan.
My only real beef with Dems is their lack of interest in paying off the debt. (I have MANY beefs with Repubs - including that they lack any interest in paying off the debt!)
Public debt is wrong in anything but the shortest of timescales because it violates the rights of future generations. Debt also contributes to inflating the currency which I don't think should happen.
@AverageJoe1
Biden is the one who will peacefully transfer power if he loses but your orange anti Christ X45 has already screwed up the peaceful transfer of power thing that is a cornerstone of our democracy. Don't distract this time, answer what I said directly without BS questions like 'define democracy'.
Do you seriously think Trump did a peaceful transfer of power?
@sonhouse saidDefine peaceful, which is opposite of the word war. Which road you travelin'?
@AverageJoe1
Biden is the one who will peacefully transfer power if he loses but your orange anti Christ X45 has already screwed up the peaceful transfer of power thing that is a cornerstone of our democracy. Don't distract this time, answer what I said directly without BS questions like 'define democracy'.
Do you seriously think Trump did a peaceful transfer of power?
Define peaceful? Mention raving bespectacled screaming meemies holding big signs in front of the state house, was that peaceful ? (pick any one...maybe where Schmmer said "you will pay the price SCOTUS!!!", or when the libs threatened Kavanaugh with death or some such.)
I win all arguments with you. Killed you on the question of approving a male monster swimming against your little girl. Don't bother answering now, it has been 3 months. You'd said earlier, you agreed with the guys competing, but then did not answer my follow-up question. Stare Decisis.
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@moonbus saidMuch easier to attempt a dictatorship when you are in office but ridiculous Americans think he is trying after his term in office.
He tried in 2020 and failed. In 2021 he posted that the Constitution should be put aside to return him to power.
He's going to try again in 2024.
The world actually has countries under dictatorship but spoiled Americans who have a quality of life better than most countries want you to believe they are oppressed or under threat of a dictatorship.
It's absurd.
When you have it good you whine about stuff.
When you have it bad you thank what you get.
Strange phenomenon if you ask me.
@moonbus saidMoonbus......what could be worse? I feel that you fellers, who I don't blame for avoiding FoX news in Lock-step, are not aware of the daily changes of society being advanced by the liberals.
He tried in 2020 and failed. In 2021 he posted that the Constitution should be put aside to return him to power.
He's going to try again in 2024.
@spruce112358 saidHe couldn’t because the reasonably sane people that formed his administration plus the military ran a spoiling campaign to curb his ore excessive plans
That's a great question!
I don't know because I'm not on his wave-length, but I think it's because he's extremely lazy and believes his own rhetoric. He actually thought he was going to win re-election. He's not energetic or smart or able or any of those things. He just floats along on the backs of more competent people - WELL insulated from reality by his cote ...[text shortened]... l definitely work harder - not for you and me, but to save himself.
This is what he says, anyway.
That won’t be true this time. He’s learned his lesson and is forming a administration that will be more than eager to establish his Christian nationalist dictatorship
@kevcvs57 saidVery good point. And it's not like this can even be doubted. Look what he is doing to the Republican Party. Look what he says he will do once he is in office.
He couldn’t because the reasonably sane people that formed his administration plus the military ran a spoiling campaign to curb his ore excessive plans
That won’t be true this time. He’s learned his lesson and is forming a administration that will be more than eager to establish his Christian nationalist dictatorship
And I'm pretty sure he doesn't care if its Christian - as long as it worships him. Useful idiots.