The "US is becoming fascist" stuff is pure hysteria. The kind of whinging people have been doing since the beginning of the nation's existence. Every political system has dynasties, factions, and the like. America still has a pretty good turnover rate in its politicians, especially at local levels, and still has lots of public control.
The election of Trump is a prime example of that, I'd argue. The Democrats went completely nuts when he started seriously campaigning, the Republicans tried to get in his way, but he blew through both and still managed to become President. The "oligarchy" couldn't stop him.
Fascism also requires the fascist spirit and ideology, not just fascist policies. Kind of like how if a cult goes and lives on a farm together, they might be sharing everything, but they're not Marxist Communists. But the Fourteen Defining Characteristics don't apply that well now anyways.
#1. Powerful and Rampant Nationalism
Right off the bat, that ****ty article makes a mistake by equating patriotism with nationalism. It mostly focuses on expressions of patriotic sentiment as opposed to the substance of it. I find this questionable, since the symbolism used to be common in general, and since it ignores what the sentiment represents.
American nationalism in this day and age is mostly civic, as even the Right-wing swears that anybody who can file some paperwork and learn to answer a few questions on civics is a full-blooded American. Abdul from Azerbaijan is as much an "American" as somebody who's ancestors have been here for hundreds of years (even though that's patently ridiculous).
Then, you can see where there's been declining respect for America itself and for American heritage among the media especially and the public.
#2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
America sort of lags behind since it's one of the few countries that has a legal death penalty, as well as some other things. To me, though, that just goes to show what pussies the rest of the world has become. It's common sense that if somebody, say, goes on a shooting spree that kills a bunch of kids (<cough> Breivik <cough>), you take their head off, as opposed to buying them a new video game console.
But as far as the trends go, America is/has been moving towards Europe's understanding of "human rights," stupid as it may be, and slow as the process may be.
#3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
This one applies to some degree. "Terrorists" being the main enemy identified. The government has traditionally been reluctant to really point out specific groups, though, hiding behind words like, well, terrorist. What kind of terrorist?
#4. Supremacy of the Military
This one is correct, the US does waste tons of money on its military, and the military is put on way too high of a pedestal. I feel like whatever jerkoff professor made the article, though, failed to include that fascist regimes don't just glorify the military, but also give the military considerable influence over the civilian administration. We haven't really seen that in the US.
#5. Rampant Sexism
No, the laws have for some time been more biased against men.
#6. Controlled Mass Media
The media isn't really regulated in this country, but the mainstream sources tend to have a pro-establishment consensus (FOX for the Republican Party, all the others for the Democrats). This is kind of half-fascist, but the sad irony is that this "fascist" trait is mostly being used to support progressivism, so even then it barely counts.
#7. Obsession with National Security
"Obsession." I wouldn't say the US is obsessed with national security, but it's definitely obsessed with security as a concept in general.
#8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
LOL
#9. Corporate Power is Protected
Agreed.
#10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Disagree. The government both supports the unions and some of the big business interests. There's not a direct conflict between the two.
#11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Public spending on the arts is low, but I think the government is supportive in general of intellectualism.
#12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Depends on the group, but the government is generally rather hung up on this. Excessive punishments, way too many things criminalized. But when it comes to stuff like quelling riots, the government's ****ing useless.
#13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
This one is quite bad in the US. Way less than in Second/Third World countries, but bad compared to where it should be.
#14. Fraudulent Elections
Maybe, I dunno. Tons of fraud in elections, but there is no way of telling if it's to the degree of determining election outcomes.
