fascism is a system that puts the interests of the state above all other institutions, and aligns all other institutions with the interests of the state. democrats enact fascist policies with as much gusto as the Republicans, never looking to cede power to other institutions, unless doing so furthers the interests of the state.
It’s not a non sequitur. It’s a reference to Plato’s definition of man being a featherless biped, which Diogenes replied to by presenting a plucked chicken and announcing “Behold, a man!”. Likewise, you’re using a deliberately vague and incomplete definition of “fascism” in order to try to justify your weak claim.
What fascist policies have Democrats been gleefully enacting? Not just bad ones, we can all agree that Democrats have problems. What fascist policies are they enacting?
conscription, mass surveillance, mass incarceration, bank bailouts, prison slavery, extraordinary rendition, collusion with the arms industry… I don’t feel I need to go on, but we can also look at their foreign policy of wealth extraction.
if they’re prioritizing the interests of the state over the interest of other institutions (the academy, churches, etc) and forcing those institutions to come into alignment with their interests (Pentagon backing research grants, selectively enforcing tax laws in return for compliance, etc), they’re fucking fascists.
fascism is a system that puts the interests of the state above all other institutions, and aligns all other institutions with the interests of the state. democrats enact fascist policies with as much gusto as the Republicans, never looking to cede power to other institutions, unless doing so furthers the interests of the state.
so, respectfully, you’re wrong.
And man is a featherless biped. Not all authoritarianism is fascism, there are several other features of fascism not exhibited by Democrats.
So no, I’m not.
your nonsequitur doesn’t change the nature of the hegemony
It’s not a non sequitur. It’s a reference to Plato’s definition of man being a featherless biped, which Diogenes replied to by presenting a plucked chicken and announcing “Behold, a man!”. Likewise, you’re using a deliberately vague and incomplete definition of “fascism” in order to try to justify your weak claim.
What fascist policies have Democrats been gleefully enacting? Not just bad ones, we can all agree that Democrats have problems. What fascist policies are they enacting?
that’s a lie.
conscription, mass surveillance, mass incarceration, bank bailouts, prison slavery, extraordinary rendition, collusion with the arms industry… I don’t feel I need to go on, but we can also look at their foreign policy of wealth extraction.
if they’re prioritizing the interests of the state over the interest of other institutions (the academy, churches, etc) and forcing those institutions to come into alignment with their interests (Pentagon backing research grants, selectively enforcing tax laws in return for compliance, etc), they’re fucking fascists.
Those are not fascist policies. Corrupt, authoritarian, sure. But if you think that’s fascist, you don’t know what that word means.
if you don’t think that’s fascism, then you and I can’t agree about what fascism is
Uh, if you keep insisting on using it incorrectly, then yeah obviously. Why would I want to agree with an incorrect definition?
the feeling is mutual