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I know I use "This is fascism" a lot.
I use it, to describe any exercise of power which does not derive from the rule of law - which uses other forms of power, such as wealth/oligarchy, threats (implied or otherwise) of mob violence, or personal loyalty/nepotism.
I use it, to describe any exercise of power which does not derive from the rule of law - which uses other forms of power, such as wealth/oligarchy, threats (implied or otherwise) of mob violence, or personal loyalty/nepotism.
For example: when Trump talks about "beating the crap out of em" about people who protest against him at his rally, he's approving the use of violence by his followers. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/back-trump-comments-perceived-encouraging-violence/story?id=48415766
When Trump uses his Presidential powers to pardon war criminals, and people who use state powers for violence against people he does not like - this is an unjust use of state violence, outside the rule of law. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/27/eddie-gallagher-trump-navy-seal-iraq
...and so when says he hates Democrats and journalists, that he approves of his followers using violence, and that he will protect such people, it creates an assumption that their use of violence against his enemies will be protected by him. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/us/christopher-hasson-coast-guard.html
Trump uses these implicit threats of mob violence -- "stochastic terrorism" -- not only against Democrats and Journalists, but also against members of his own party, by implying they tread a thin line, if they offer anything but full-throated support. https://www.newsweek.com/little-marco-trends-rubio-defends-trump-ukraine-call-1460997
He also engages with military, with evangelical christianity, and with oligarchy - to demonstrate to that he is able to manipulate these bases of power, bend them to his will, through flattery and attention, and the use of each against the other. https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-transition-generals-232148
Each of these institutions benefit from elevated stature, under his wing.
In so doing, Trump has created a super-structure of power - the ability to bend people's behavior to his will - traceable not to a just rule of law, but to him personally.
In so doing, Trump has created a super-structure of power - the ability to bend people's behavior to his will - traceable not to a just rule of law, but to him personally.
Trump's use of this super-structure of extra-legal power is authoritarianism.
The super-structure itself is distinct - and this is important.
That super-structure of extra-legal powers is the structure of fascism.
The super-structure itself is distinct - and this is important.
That super-structure of extra-legal powers is the structure of fascism.
Were Trump to disappear, that fascist super-structure would be his legacy; deeply embedded in the Republican Party, there would be a power-struggle to take complete control of it.
It is that super-structure, existing apart from Trump -- that is American fascism.
It is that super-structure, existing apart from Trump -- that is American fascism.
