Why Trump Is Not a Fascist

[Chris]

Here's an interesting discussion with paleoconservative Paul Gottfried about fascism and whether Trump fits.

It opens with a discussion of how the term has become a meaningless epithet.

According to Gottfried, paraphrasing: Fascism consists of an appeal to revolutionary nationalism, a view of the nation a organic not pluralistic, rooted in a historical and, less so, biological reality (more so Nazism), appeal to a corporate state, almost looks like a neo-medieval Catholic concept of the state, and an appeal to a leader seen to embody the spirit of the nation, a rejection of liberal parliamentary government....

After 19 minutes discussing historical fascism, they turn to Trump.

There's in interesting part about the distinction between authoritarian and totalitarian according to definitions by Jeane Kirkpatrick and Hannah Arendt. In short, the former control behavior, the latter thought. --Hayek argued the former affords more protection of liberty.

Here's the discussion: Why Trump Is Not a Fascist.

[MMC]

Because there is no evidence that he is a fascist. Just like there is no evidence that he is a racist.


As usual.....just leftists allowed to get away talking that $#@!.

[Chris]

That and, like the word racist, the word fascism has little meaning any more.

[MMC]

That and, like the word racist, the word fascism has little meaning any more.

Sowell says the same thing about the word diversity.

[Newpublius]

Don't worry it's just democratic fascism. ;-)

[Chris]

Don't worry it's just democratic fascism. ;-)

Democracy can be totalitarian per Hayek.

[donttread]

Here's an interesting discussion with paleoconservative Paul Gottfried about fascism and whether Trump fits.

It opens with a discussion of how the term has become a meaningless epithet.

According to Gottfried, paraphrasing: Fascism consists of an appeal to revolutionary nationalism, a view of the nation a organic not pluralistic, rooted in a historical and, less so, biological reality (more so Nazism), appeal to a corporate state, almost looks like a neo-medieval Catholic concept of the state, and an appeal to a leader seen to embody the spirit of the nation, a rejection of liberal parliamentary government....

After 19 minutes discussing historical fascism, they turn to Trump.

There's in interesting part about the distinction between authoritarian and totalitarian according to definitions by Jeane Kirkpatrick and Hannah Arendt. In short, the former control behavior, the latter thought. --Hayek argued the former affords more protection of liberty.

Here's the discussion: Why Trump Is Not a Fascist.

I thought it was because he was a crony capitalist? Granted his cronies change quickly but still

[Chris]

I thought it was because he was a crony capitalist? Granted his cronies change quickly but still

My general understanding of fascism is it was anti-capitalist, against both democracy and capitalism. Paul Gottfried plays this down in the interview, saying fascism was anti-capitalist in theory but did little in practice against it.

[Dr. Who]

I thought it was because he was a crony capitalist? Granted his cronies change quickly but still

His cronies end up in jail or under the bus.

[countryboy]

His cronies end up in jail or under the bus.

Some of them do, yes, thanks to left wing fascists.