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1. roenxi+(OP)[view] [source] 2020-06-02 08:28:25
Fair enough; but am I going to get disagreement when I say the brand of corporatism that currently holds power is pretty obviously not fascism?

Quoting a few key sentences from Wikipedia:

Fascists believe that liberal democracy is obsolete and regard the complete mobilization of society under a totalitarian one-party state as necessary to prepare a nation for armed conflict and to respond effectively to economic difficulties. Such a state is led by a strong leader—such as a dictator and a martial government composed of the members of the governing fascist party—to forge national unity and maintain a stable and orderly society. Fascism rejects assertions that violence is automatically negative in nature and views political violence, war and imperialism as means that can achieve national rejuvenation. Fascists advocate a mixed economy, with the principal goal of achieving autarky (national economic self-sufficiency) through protectionist and interventionist economic policies. [0]

America doesn't have a serious lobby that believes in those things. There isn't a lobby that is serious about autarchy, there isn't a lobby calling for complete mobilisation and there isn't a lobby calling for a one party state. Apart from maybe the anti-facists I don't know of a lobby promoting political violence. The war and imperialism stuff is possibly true, but that isn't a new thing in American politics - America has been at war my entire lifetime and mostly in the same set of middle eastern countries.

The only link between fascism and American politics is that Trump is popular in the Republican party and is happy to stand up and say that the globalism pendulum has swung too far. That is a tenuous link to fascist ideology.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

replies(2): >>darius+tI >>pacerw+hT
2. darius+tI[view] [source] 2020-06-02 14:55:58
>>roenxi+(OP)
> America doesn't have a serious lobby that believes in those things.

I've gotta say, the NRA has been getting closer to fitting this.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals?cycle=2012&id=d00000...

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/us/nra-details-plan-for-a...

replies(1): >>pluto9+aQ
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3. pluto9+aQ[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-02 15:36:00
>>darius+tI
I'm sorry, I don't understand how either of those links shows that the NRA believes in the things mentioned above. Can you clarify?
replies(1): >>darius+Bb4
4. pacerw+hT[view] [source] 2020-06-02 15:48:55
>>roenxi+(OP)
Have you read the President's twitter account lately?
replies(1): >>depend+1h1
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5. depend+1h1[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-02 17:48:04
>>pacerw+hT
Do you have something specific in mind?
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6. darius+Bb4[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-03 16:07:19
>>pluto9+aQ
The NRA is a serious lobby group that is being used to promote a single party. And it's moves toward schools being more heavily policed/militarized organization in the name of safety seem like a stepping stone towards fascism to me.

Their original goal, of a rights advocacy group has turned into a partisan dividing tactic.

replies(1): >>pluto9+ng4
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7. pluto9+ng4[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-03 16:31:09
>>darius+Bb4
Do you expect Planned Parenthood to promote the GOP, and do you consider them fascist for not doing so?

Supporting one party over another is not an act of fascism. They promote the GOP because the GOP supports their goals. Do you think it's reasonable to expect them to promote the other party while that party actively works against them?

They promote a stronger police presence in schools, but they also support the right of teachers to be armed and able to defend against attackers. In other words, they support teachers being able to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights. Whether you agree with that or not, the 2nd Amendment is a decidedly libertarian idea. Fascism is authoritarian by nature. Promoting one of these is mutually exclusive with promoting the other.

Regarding police in schools, I don't see how that fits with Wikipedia's definition of fascism: a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, as well as strong regimentation of society and of the economy. Perhaps we're operating on different definitions.

replies(1): >>darius+ko5
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8. darius+ko5[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-03 22:26:29
>>pluto9+ng4
Planned parenthood isn't an organization created to defend a constitutional amendment. It relies an a particular Amendment to provide some of it's services, but it's not a fair comparison.

I also wouldn't think poorly of the NRA for just it's change in how it donates to candidates if they weren't performing illegal coordination and also promoting Republicans candidates even if their opponent was aligned with their 2nd Amendment stance.

Police presence in schools is just a step into a strong regimentation of society IMO. And the 2nd Amendment is far too vague to be considered libertarian. We could debate all day over what the intent was, or how it can be interpreted.

replies(1): >>pluto9+Gs5
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9. pluto9+Gs5[view] [source] [discussion] 2020-06-03 22:51:36
>>darius+ko5
> Planned parenthood isn't an organization created to defend a constitutional amendment. It relies an a particular Amendment to provide some of it's services, but it's not a fair comparison.

Frankly I don't see why that's relevant. My point is that the amendment itself has become a partisan issue. The GOP and the NRA agree on their interpretation of the amendment, while the other party opposes them. Why would you expect two allies to support their mutual opposition instead of each other, and how does not doing so equate to fascism?

> performing illegal coordination

Political corruption != fascism, and it is certainly not unique to it.

> the 2nd Amendment is far too vague to be considered libertarian

I disagree, but I can see how some interpretations of it (that it's meant to arm militias which are agents of the state) could even be considered authoritarian. However, the NRA advocates for the interpretation that says people should have the means to overthrow their government if necessary. I'm having a hard time seeing how that aligns with fascism.

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