Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement characterized by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy. It emerged in early 20th-century Europe, with Italy under Benito Mussolini being its first major example.
Key features of fascism include:
Authoritarianism: Fascist regimes are led by strong leaders with near-absolute power. Democratic processes are typically dismantled or heavily controlled.
Ultra-nationalism: Fascism promotes intense nationalism, often combined with a belief in the superiority of one’s own nation or race.
Militarism: Fascist states often glorify military strength and use violence or the threat of violence to achieve political ends.
Suppression of Opposition: Political dissent is not tolerated. Fascist governments often use secret police, censorship, and propaganda to eliminate opposition.
Controlled Economy: While fascist economies are not necessarily fully state-controlled, the government exerts significant control over economic activities, often through corporatism, where the state mediates between capital and labor within a single-party state structure.
Anti-Communism: Fascism strongly opposes communism and socialism, viewing these ideologies as threats to the nation and its values.
Cultural and Social Control: Fascist regimes seek to mold society through strict control of education, media, and culture, promoting a homogeneous national identity.
Fascism has been most notably associated with Mussolini’s Italy and Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, but it has influenced various movements and regimes around the world. Despite its historical roots, the term “fascism” is sometimes used more broadly to describe various authoritarian and nationalist movements.
We’re less than a year away from the possibly implementation of Project 2025, a Fascist wet dream to destroy the democracy and institute autocracy. As summed up in Wikipedia, this project of the Heritage Foundation, which has worked for decades in this direction, is:
“…a plan to reshape the executive branch of the U.S. federal government in the event of a [Regime takeover] in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Established in 2022, the project seeks to recruit tens of thousands of [fascists] to Washington, D.C., to replace existing federal civil service workers it characterizes as the ‘deep state’, to further the objectives of the next [Regime leader … i.e. ‘We screwed it up the first time, this is our second chance to do it right.‘] Although participants in the project cannot promote a specific presidential candidate, many have close ties to [the regime leader] and [his] 2024 presidential campaign. The plan would perform a swift takeover of the entire executive branch under a maximalist version of the unitary executive theory — a theory proposing the president of the United States has absolute power over the executive branch — upon inauguration.“
—Wikipedia
What would this mean in practice?
Donald B. Ayer, deputy district attorney under President George H.W. Bush, writes:
“Project 2025 seems to be full of a whole array of ideas that are designed to let [the regime leader] function as a dictator, by completely eviscerating many of the restraints built into our system. He really wants to destroy any notion of a rule of law in this country … The reports about [the regime leader]’s Project 2025 suggest that he is now preparing to do a bunch of things totally contrary to the basic values we have always lived by. If [the regime leader] were to be elected and implement some of the ideas he is apparently considering, no one in this country would be safe.”
—IBID
Michael Bromwich, Justice Department inspector general from 1994 to 1999, also summed it up this way:
“The plans being developed by members of [the regime leader]’s cult to turn the DOJ and FBI into instruments of his revenge should send shivers down the spine of anyone who cares about the rule of law. [The regime leader] and rightwing media have planted in fertile soil the seed that the current Department of Justice has been politicized, and the myth has flourished. Their attempts to undermine DOJ and the FBI are among the most destructive campaigns they have conducted.”
—IBID
Peter M. Shane, a law professor who writes about the rule of law and the separation of powers, wrote:
“The [main NYC corporate outlet] quotes Vought’s impatience with conservative lawyers in the first [regime leader]’s administration who were unwilling to do [the regime leader]’s bidding without hesitation.
“Criticizing the timidity of traditional conservative lawyers, Vought told the [main NYC corporate outlet]: ‘The Federalist Society doesn’t know what time it is.’ As for making the Justice Department an instrument of White House political retribution, Vought would unblinkingly jettison the norm of independence that presidents and attorneys general of both parties have carefully nurtured since Watergate.
“‘You don’t need a statutory change at all, you need a mind-set change,’ Vought told the [Washington DC main corporate outlet]. ‘You need an attorney general and a White House Counsel’s Office that don’t view themselves as trying to protect the department from the president.’
“[The NYC main corporate outlet] quotes Vought’s impatience with conservative lawyers in the first [regime leader]’s administration who were unwilling to do [regime leader]’s bidding without hesitation. Criticizing the timidity of traditional conservative lawyers, Vought told the [main NYC corporate outlet]: ‘The Federalist Society doesn’t know what time it is.’
“As for making the Justice Department an instrument of White House political retribution, Vought would unblinkingly jettison the norm of independence that presidents and attorneys general of both parties have carefully nurtured since Watergate.
“‘You don’t need a statutory change at all, you need a mind-set change,’ Vought told the [main Washington DC billionaire’s outlet]. ‘You need an attorney general and a White House Counsel’s Office that don’t view themselves as trying to protect the department from the president.'”
—IBID
In other words, they were thwarted between 2017-2021; this time, they’ll make sure of success by removing the human and legal roadblocks, the guide rails of democracy, so that the Chief Felon’s Magats may rule as they wish.
What practical targets do they have? Same as in 1933 Germany. And that’s not hyperbole.
Eliminate abortion (including contraception) on a nationwide basis; there is a section attacking even regular contraception like condoms. The Rhythm Method sill be the only contraceptive available, and every zygote will be forced to be born.
Only count actual “citizens” in the census (read: Racial purity).
Double-down on fossil fuels and end climate change mitigation efforts.
Greatly expand presidential powers, such as using military forces to provide domestic policing in largely Democratic cities, for whatever purpose [the regime leader] sees fit.
Eliminate any mention of or civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community, including marriage equality. Jail is not out of the question.
Outlaw pornography, because it is a source of the LGBTQ+ plaque on the national community. They would remove all First Amendment protections for anything deemed pornographic by the Justice Department, answering only to DJT.
Eliminate anyone in the federal government unwilling to swear allegiance to and act upon DJT’s orders. A federal purge.
Spend this election year vigilant and vote. Lives truly do depend on it; no hyperbole.
