A few weeks ago, I shared a blog about the warning signs that we are headed down the road to fascism. I was waylaid by other pressing news, so here is Part Two.
There are predictable things that happen on the road to fascism. We are further down the road than we think. As I said in Part One, I think we are underreacting to what is going on.
Here are other characteristics of fascism:
1.Coerced Loyalty: The occupant has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to cater to his cronies and punish those who do not agree with him. Frivolous lawsuits, public shaming, name calling and such.
2. Corruption, Grift and Greed: This is pretty much self-explanatory. There is no end to the schemes the occupant comes up with to benefit the organization, his children and those who make massive donations to his campaigns.
3. Mythic Past: Curricula writers are rewriting history to show the US as a loving, Christian nation rather than telling the truth about colonialism. During the colonial period, Native Americans were slaughtered and those who managed to escape being murdered were put on the Trail of Tears to a reservation that was created “just for them.” We are talking millions of people. We will never know exactly how many because the colonialists didn’t care. There is still our original sin of slavery that continues to shape the present.
4. Humiliation: The occupant frequently stoops to grade school tactics in name calling, insulting and trying to call the character of leaders into question. In truth, it just makes him look like he brought a squirt gun to a Super Soaker event.
5. Savior Complex: The occupant will try and tell people that he is the only one who can save democracy, this as he systematically takes our democracy apart. He points to his political enemies as the ones who are harming democracy, when in truth he is doing more than any other leader in American History to undermine our democracy.
6. Purification: This is particularly heinous. The first “purification” came with the genocide of Native Americans. It manifests today as the desire to deport people of color, some for no apparent reason. Another, more subtle and more frightening manifestation is the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. When people don’t have access to health care and adequate food they will get sick and die sooner. The white supremacist agenda is out in the open and unapologetically so.
7. Propaganda: Now that the occupant has his cronies owning the major news outlets, it is interesting to watch how the same news story is spun by different stations. CBS has sold its soul. It’s hard to find reliable news outlets, but we can’t drink the Kool-Aid the regime is handing to us. Staying well informed and vocal are two of the best strategies to fight fascism. Reputable news outlets include Global News and Wire Service. Publicly funded outlets are generally recognized for having high journalistic standards, such as PBS, NPR and the BBC Written media that generally trust include the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian and Reuters.
8. State Sanctioned Violence: The deputized thugs that dress in fatigues, carry assault rifles and cover their faces regularly violate people’s civil rights. Peaceful protesters are routinely maced, pepper sprayed and attacked with pepper ball projectiles. Peaceful protesters are detained unlawfully. And we cannot forget the outright murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. There are other murders that have not received the publicity they have received. Another manifestation of state sponsored violence is the way people are treated in detention centers. Their civil rights are violated daily. ExampIes include inedible food, lack of medical care, and withholding medications needed to maintain health. There have been numerous deaths in detention facilities, the exact number is not known. Estimates are eighteen or nineteen. This puts the thugs on schedule to break the record of 31-33 in 2025.
9. Denial of Due Process: People are routinely arrested and sent to detention camps without access to lawyers, family and religious support. The construction of detention centers that house thousands of people tells the story. Get “those” people in there and who knows (or cares) what happens to them next. At the infamous “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida, hundreds of people simply disappeared, never to be heard from again. Our government is disappearing people! Tens of thousands were disappeared in system transfers. In times of mass deportations, and interstate transfers, migrants drop off the records of ICE and CBP. It is an “enforced disappearance.” No one knows where they are or if they are dead or alive.
Part of the strategy of fascism is to keep the news cycle spinning. The newest outrage quickly puts the outrages of yesterday in the dustbin of history. The hope is that the American people will get tired and cease to be outraged. Silence is the greatest factor in the proliferation of fascism.
Manifestations of all these signs of fascism are right in front of us. It’s time to pay attention.
The Irreverent Reverend 