(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



My Functional Definition of Fascism [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-11-14  

Watching Jonathan Karl talk about his new book, he quoted a senior Republican official who worked in the Trmp administration for over a year:

"He lacks any shred of human decency, humility or caring. He is morally bankrupt, breathtakingly dishonest, lethally incompetent, and stunningly ignorant of virtually anything related to governing, history, geography, human events or world affairs. He is a traitor and a malignancy in our nation and represents a clear and present danger to our democracy and the rule of law.”

Karl said this Republican spoke anonymously because he was afraid of violence against him and his family.

This, to me, is the functional definition of Fascism, the retreat into anonymity and silence because of the threat of violence from political opponents, from Fascists. We have heard too many stories of Senators (Mitt Romney) and Congresspeople (Adam Kinzinger) who have retired or are retiring from office at least in part because of the violent threats against them from Trmp's supporters. We have also heard about election officials, librarians, teachers, and others who have also left their jobs because of credible violent threats against them. And we have seen Paul Pelosi, among others, assaulted viciously then laughed at by Trmp.

This is my functional definition of Fascism: using the threat of violence to shut up and shut down any and all opposition. It ends in death camps and it is galling to me that I don't hear any of the talking heads on TV or read any of the pundits in major publications making this point.

We are past the point of no return. Time to speak up and say clearly what is now all too visible - the threat of violence against elected and public officials is Fascism. Especially if it seems to be working

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/14/2205886/-My-Functional-Definition-of-Fascism?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/