First if all, let me use a non-partisan source, and that is Wikipedia, starting out with its definition of "fascism":
Fascism... is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of the economy.
Here are some of its characteristics:
According to many scholars, fascism – especially once in power – has historically attacked communism, conservatism, and parliamentary liberalism, attracting support primarily from the far-right.
One common definition of the term, frequently cited by reliable sources as a standard definition, is that of historian Stanley G. Payne. He focuses on three concepts:
- the "fascist negations": anti-liberalism, anti-communism, and anti-conservatism [Trump is clearly not a conservative];
- "fascist goals": the creation of a nationalist dictatorship to regulate economic structure and to transform social relations within a modern, self-determined culture, and the expansion of the nation into an empire; and
- "fascist style": a political aesthetic of romantic symbolism, mass mobilization, a positive view of violence, and promotion of masculinity, youth, and charismatic authoritarian leadership...
Most scholars place fascism on the far right of the political spectrum. Such scholarship focuses on its social conservatism and its authoritarian means of opposing egalitarianism. Roderick Stackelberg places fascism—including Nazism, which he says is "a radical variant of fascism"—on the political right by explaining: "The more a person deems absolute equality among all people to be a desirable condition, the further left he or she will be on the ideological spectrum. The more a person considers inequality to be unavoidable or even desirable, the further to the right he or she will be"...
Fascism promotes the establishment of a totalitarian state. It opposes liberal democracy, rejects multi-party systems and may support a one-party state so that it may synthesize with the nation...
Fascism presented itself as an alternative to both international socialism and free market capitalism. While fascism opposed mainstream socialism, it sometimes regarded itself as a type of nationalist "socialism" to highlight their commitment to national solidarity and unity. Fascists opposed international free market capitalism, but supported a type of productive capitalism. Economic self-sufficiency, known as autarky, was a major goal of most fascist governments...
Fascists criticized egalitarianism as preserving the weak, and they instead promoted social Darwinist views and policies. They were in principle opposed to the idea of social welfare, arguing that it "encouraged the preservation of the degenerate and the feeble."...
One of the most common and strongest criticisms of fascism is that it is a tyranny.[258] Fascism is deliberately and entirely non-democratic and anti-democratic...
Some critics of Italian fascism have said that much of the ideology was merely a by-product of unprincipled opportunism by Mussolini and that he changed his political stances merely to bolster his personal ambitions while he disguised them as being purposeful to the public...
The basis of fascism's support of violent action in politics is connected to social Darwinism. Fascist movements have commonly held social Darwinist views of nations, races and societies. They say that nations and races must purge themselves of socially and biologically weak or degenerate people, while simultaneously promoting the creation of strong people, in order to survive in a world defined by perpetual national and racial conflict...
Economic planning was applied to both the public and private sector and the prosperity of private enterprise depended on its acceptance of synchronizing itself with the economic goals of the state. Fascist economic ideology supported the profit motive, but emphasized that industries must uphold the national interest as superior to private profit...
Now, am I just spouting hyperbole here? Not according to Trump's first wife Ivana, who wrote that he kept NAZI essays on the table next to his bed and that he read them regularly. Trump also wrote in his book "the Art of the Deal that his father taught him that they were descendants of German "warriors and kings" and that he should always remember that. Roy Cohen, of Red Scare notoriety, whom Trump and his father hired to represent them, said that he should always move offensively and never apologize for anything as the latter is a sign of weakness. Trump even admitted that Cohn has had a major influence on him, and one should rather easily see that in his behavior.
One final thing, namely that fascist leaders tended to go in that direction
gradually, often using ultra-nationalism and stereotyping and demonizing certain groups, while at the same time claiming that they were defending the religious faith of the country and that they would make the country great again. IOW, the successful ones were excellent at pandering.
So, whaddya think?
