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Comment by vixen99

10 hours ago

Fascism: 'A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls, violent suppression of the opposition, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.'

Interesting because doesn't every sort of democratic state try to be 'a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls'? Depends how stringent and usually not stringent enough for many on the Left and on the Right.

When tempted to use the word 'fascism', is it not better to describe the issue with which one's concerned (maybe deeply) rather than using a fit-all word and take care not to devalue the significance of the word as it was, for instance, applied in WW2 to some of the appalling atrocities that occurred in that period and those we've seen reports of recently?

A clearly corrupt dictatorial leader, lack of rule of law, violent oppression of ones own citizens, perpetual lying and use of mass media to influence the populous, violent incursions in to the affairs of other countries without UN support, threats of violent invasion against erstwhile allies, release of violent offenders and drug dealers (clearly in exchange for money), accepting of bribes more generally, acting against supposed allied interests, purging of military leaders according to political affiliations, manipulation of international markets for insider trading, refusal to address child trafficking for rape and sexual abuse (and possibly murder), release of violent insurrectionists, release of violent neo-nazi offenders (eg Proud Boys), breach of constitution, actions to prevent national and foreign journalists having access, actions to suppress proper reporting of the regimes actions, war crimes/murder of shipwrecked people, ...

I'm sure there's loads more if the question is somehow genuine?

Just spending $billions on an illegal (ie not established through constitutionally sound, democratic legislative means) military force, who travel in unmarked vehicles, conceal their identities, and target citizens in areas that politically oppose Trump are alone actions of a fascist regime. They murder, disappear, deport with no due process and act as if outside the law. Their actions, such as murder, are supported fully by the public face of the regime.

This regime is publicly supported by the billionaire owners of tech and media companies operating in USA.

Little people like me don't have much, but every £pound is a vote.