Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
There are different versions of fascism. For example, German and Italian fascism were quite different from each other and from South American juntas. Even historians debate exactly what combination of characteristics are needed to be fascist.
|
Certainly.
Quote:
|
Trump isn't a fascist in the traditional sense, in that he isn't interested in the social nationalism aspect (i.e. isn't trying to combat rampant individualism to better "the nation") or overtly authoritarian (most fascists want a stronger government), but he certainly has elements of fascism in the ideas he spews (ethnic nationalism and policing). I doubt it is conscious, but it's there. It could very easily be an American version of fascism.
|
Well, ultimately words exist to serve as tools for communication, so who am I to oppose calling Trump a fascist. But mostly I feel that any such term would require that he actually had some kind of consistent ideology, which he pretty clearly doesn't.
Mostly I'd just call him a high-functioning wacko (I think he pretty obviously regurarly displays manic behavior for example), who is not a danger to others unless you give him too much power or responsibility.
Fascists tend to practice or support things such as street violence against political opposition, journalists and ethnic minorities, and they're dangerous no matter where they are in the society. Trump is mostly harmless as long as he's not in politics.