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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAt a minimum, could we please be honest about what and who we are fighting?
The Retrumplicans are fascists. They are pushing and dragging us into fascism. The oligarchs that control most of American media, social, or otherwise, are funding fascism! PERIOD!!!! FULL STOP!!!!
IMHO, using X, Facebook, Amazon is funding fascism. NOT taking action to determine, if the corporations, businesses and individuals that benefit from my spending, are also funding fascism, makes me a supporter of fascism.
When I have written that buying something from Amazon, or using/buying anything associated with Musk, or Zuckerberg is "akin to buying a Volkswagen in 1933 Germany", some have pointed out that "these current times don't equate to the Holocaust".
You know? They're right.
In 1933 Germany, there was no Holocaust.
Germany wasn't a fascist police state on 29 January, 1933. It was on 29 March, 1933.
Germany didn't round up millions of Jews, Gypsies, gay, handicapped and mentally disabled people, and ship them off to concentration camps...UNTIL IT DID!!
There wasn't a Holocaust.....until there was!
It simply can happen here.
To prevent that, it is going to take an effort similar to the fight for Civil Rights, or somewhere between that level of resistence and Gettysburg.
One of the first steps to fascism is to make the opposition irrelevant. It's too make the opposition disappear.
I argue that we are about halfway through that "first step".
We are "invisible" to them. They could care less about the 76 million that didn't vote for Donnie Dipshit, they are going to "govern" as if we don't exist. What scares me the most, is that if you caught them in an honest moment, they would admit that they much prefer we didn't exist.
That's not hyperbole, because I have seen it firsthand.
John Kasich won the governorship in Ohio by 50.8% of the vote. He also had a Retrumplican majority state legislature. He "governed" as if he won with 98% of the vote. They passed gerrymandered maps and put sychophants into positions of power that oversaw elections. Today, they could win 44% of the state-wide vote in Ohio, and control 70% of the states political power.
I saw that with my own eyes. It was downplayed, as we were told; "surely moderate Ohio state Retrumplicans wouldn't allow such an undemocratic power grab." Guess what, when push came to shove, there were no moderate Ohio Retrumplicans.
Maybe we forget, but they didn't even acknowledge the 81 million people that voted for President Biden. A violent coup had to be put down, and they spent the entire 4 years of Biden's presidency arguing that he was illegitimate. In others words, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 81 MILLION AMERICANS were also illegitimate/INVISIBLE.
Look at what they've done in North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and in EVERY STATE they have a trifecta.
I am tired of people telling me we aren't devolving into fascism, when I am watching it takes shape with my own eyes.
We had better wake up quick, but at a minimum could we at least be honest about who, and what these people are?
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Think. Again.
(22,456 posts)Excellent post, Thank You!
SheltieLover
(82,667 posts)
sop
(19,861 posts)David Frum: "If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism, they will reject democracy." Republicans have totally rejected democracy. They have become fascists in every sense of the word.
And Godwin's Law is no longer operative. (Godwin's law: As a discussion on the Internet grows longer, the likelihood of a person/s being compared to Hitler or another Nazi, increases.) When discussing how Trumpism has taken hold in our country over the last eight years, we can no longer ignore the many similarities to events that unfolded in 1930s' Germany.
William769
(59,147 posts)To the ending of your post. 
Don't get me wrong I know who we are fighting and why we are fighting them & everything you said is true. I just don't understand your headline. I hope this makes sense.
DAngelo136
(346 posts)But how many people would be willing to do what would be necessary when, not IF "push comes to shove"? There's a reason why fascists fear and loath communists and ANTIFA; because they are militant. And they're not afraid to confront and clash with fascists.
And we'd better learn lessons, or rather RE learn lessons PDQ
Response to DAngelo136 (Reply #5)
rainy This message was self-deleted by its author.
3Hotdogs
(15,738 posts)Wake up and do what?
maxrandb
(17,556 posts)We used to joke about the "indispensable man" in the Navy. You NEVER wanted that guy, and you NEVER wanted to be that guy. People rotated in and out of your command/ship all the time, and we still deployed when required. It was our job to make sure no one became indispensable.
I swear to Gawd! If Amazon owned the Montgomery Bus Line and the busses were made by Tesla, there would be people/bots on Facebook posting; "gee, I think that poor Parks women should be able to sit where she wants, but I need that bus line!"
There would be a million Tic-Tocs and "X" posts degrading, demeaning and belittling her as "a woke snowflake"...each with a million "likes."
Life existed before "tHITLER", Facebook and Amazon. Life will go on without them. Life might actually better if they had just a little less power and influence.
To put it simply:
"Nothing will change! The racism, fascism, misogyny, hatred and white supremacy...NONE OF IT...will change, unless and until we make racism, fascism, misogyny, hatred and white supremacy UNPROFITABLE to the corporations, businesses and individuals that fund and enable it.
sinkingfeeling
(58,234 posts)
The Madcap
(2,158 posts)Or a Rome-style collapse and dissolution. The incompetence level in the T**** administration is great, our institutions are failing, we are in tremendous debt, and we are being ruled by petty kings (billionaires). We will be ground down by the weight of a corrupt and hulking government/business structure. Fascism might be a symptom of the disease, not the illness itself. But either way, it's going to be ugly.
maxrandb
(17,556 posts)Is that, with Donnie Dipshit, when we do devolve into fascism, it will be the stupidest fascism the world has ever seen.
The Madcap
(2,158 posts)The level of incompetence is breathtaking. These people couldn't plan a paper route, much less any complex system required for government. It's going to be repeated flying by the seat of the pants. All by gut feel. That will be a disaster.
maxrandb
(17,556 posts)and try to convince us it's "delicious and nutritious"
BonnieJW
(3,155 posts)Putin wants this stupid administration so he can swoop in and take over. Who would stop him? Pete Hegseth?
yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)
ReRe
(12,192 posts)He'll be out getting drunk and impregnating his 4th, 5th, or 6th wife.
Trump? He'll hold the door wide open for Puti.
That's makes us sittin' ducks, if you ask me.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)gab13by13
(33,069 posts)sop
(19,861 posts)LymphocyteLover
(10,415 posts)sop
(19,861 posts)Poe's Law: "Without a clear indicator of the author's intent, any parodic or sarcastic expression of extreme views can be mistaken by some readers for a sincere expression of those views."
bluesbassman
(20,390 posts)I feel your frustration and anger, trust me I do. But what’s done is done and the cold hard fact is nobody’s head will roll, and our efforts are better spent attacking problems we may have a chance of solving. Just my two cents.
gab13by13
(33,069 posts)freespeachtv.org, Nicolle Wallace, Rachel Maddow, that's it.
This week Thom Hartmann said that we are an oligarchy, right now. Oligarchies are not permanent, they are transitional. In the future the American people will have a choice, to throw out the billionaires, or to become a country like Russia or Hungary.
I am ready to fight.
LymphocyteLover
(10,415 posts)than Garland.
Jack Smith also blames SCOTUS for the delay.
NOT TO MENTION-- WE CAN BLAME HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF REPUBLICANS AND EVERY OTHER INSANE PERSON/MORON WHO VOTED FOR THE ORANGE TURD.
gab13by13
(33,069 posts)immediately after the attack on the capitol? Do you remember?
They were attacking Trump, bashing him, condemning him. That was the time to strike. The Supreme Court would have never gotten involved had our DOJ started prosecuting people at the top, not the bottom.
Read the link I provided. It was never about having enough evidence, it was always about the will to prosecute.
LymphocyteLover
(10,415 posts)prosecutions right away?
I suspect they would have freaked out as much as they did they the way it happened. Rightwing media would have gone bananas.
Anyway, our legal system is notoriously slow and the DOJ needed time to build the case. I can understand the need to get the legal arguments perfect and the evidence as strong as possible if they were going after a former president.
mr715
(4,854 posts)It is that they didn't have the tactical space to actually do anything.
LymphocyteLover
(10,415 posts)mr715
(4,854 posts)The Republican party? Probably not, but at least us Democrats would have one less thing on our list.
No -- I don't think Trump was going to be perp walked and sent to Rikers. I did expect our leaders, since they invoked the death of democracy (i.e. American fascism), to not capitulate under the auspices of "Democratic mores"
Michelle Obama got it right.
LymphocyteLover
(10,415 posts)yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)mr715
(4,854 posts)Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)
Six117
(367 posts)From their page:
"THE AVERAGE CONSUMER FUNDS POLITICIANS & PACS ABOUT 3 TIMES MORE THROUGH THEIR PURCHASING DECISIONS AS COMPARED TO THEIR DIRECT POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS."
kkmarie
(345 posts)Someone posted this previously. I'm very new to DU so not sure of how to share and such yet.
I hope this helps.
Trueblue Texan
(4,710 posts)I've held my opinions back for many years because I knew I wouldn't be listened to and people would think I was an extremist, but I've been seeing this coming since W. When presidents and lawmakers behave as though they are not accountable, fascism is a logical outcome. I don't want to sound hopeless, but I really think we are so far down the shitter we won't be able to climb out until something huge happens. Given the insanity of the incoming administration, I fear that won't be far down the road.
markie
(24,123 posts)is what it would take... THEY have made sure we are divided significantly enough so that probably won't happen
I contemplate almost constantly what it is that could be done???
probably armed resistance isn't the answer
boycotting might help some if enough were on the right page??
GOTV maybe in 2-4 years, however the damage done in the meantime is overwhelming
yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)dchill
(42,660 posts)GW Bush is no better than Trump. He just has a thicker, more down-home coat of camouflage over his Conservative Terminator skeleton. One thing we can safely say now - our children is not learning.
Trueblue Texan
(4,710 posts)...Even when things feel desperate, we can still laugh. Thanks for that one!
dchill
(42,660 posts)yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)All of this talk of - we'll show them in two years or four years. Huh!? What makes anyone think they are going to allow themselves to be removed from power.
BTW, I used to be a Pollyanna. No more.
I_UndergroundPanther
(13,408 posts)Because I thought people wouldn’t listen. But now I really hope they do.
NoMoreRepugs
(12,320 posts)there is practically no chance of the average American voter truly understanding what is going on.
The disinformation Age is upon us and it is going to be UGLY.
yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)I spent a lot of time fact checking on the social media outlet where many in my orbit meet, over the past eight years.
Not everyone has time to gather the data and the real facts, to counter the "alternative facts". I felt like I was performing a public service.
hadEnuf
(3,686 posts)It hasn't worked.
I_UndergroundPanther
(13,408 posts)Who the first steak(vulnerable population) is that gets thrown to rally those Rottweilers to a fever pitch?
AverageOldGuy
(4,368 posts)Don't know for how long, but . . . .
I live in a rural Virginia county that went 70% for Trump in 21016, 2020, and 2024. The county was covered with Trump flags and other crap in 2016 and 2020, not so much 2024. Vehicles such as my old truck with Democratic bumper stickers or decals are keyed, invite curses in parking lots, are targets of road rage; two of us have had pistols pointed at us.
Our letters to the editor in local paper are greeted with responses that are straight out of a Trump rally.
Our Congressman was one of the 147 who voted for the Jan 6 resolution to overturn the election. One of our county supervisors is head of a group that openly supports the J6ers in prison, raising money for their families, holding weekly phone calls with the J6ers in jail, and the like.
HOWEVER: Much of our county depends on federal money:
-- Farmers with price support, crop insurance, conservation practices -- to the tune of $2 - $3 million per year pouring into the county.
-- Federal grants to school system.
-- Medicare and social security -- county population is 38% over 65.
-- Food stamps -- and it's white and black customers at the grocery wielding their SNAP EBT card.
-- Biden Infrastructure Act paid for fiber optic cable throughout the county.
So -- when the cuts come, as they will, we Democrats plan to stick it to our MAGAt friends and neighbors in the letters column. We already have our stocks of "FDT" (Fuck Donald Trump) and similar bumper stickers -- as well as "Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Kamala."
I talked with our county agricultural agent -- a MAGAt -- who admitted that, yes, changes to USDA will kill the farmers. Am I heartbroken for them? What do you think?
wnylib
(26,815 posts)except the Medicare and Social Security population is larger.
Icanthinkformyself
(440 posts)will be forged in the heat of the coming battles and war with the right. The current crop of Democratic leaders is too steeped in the 'old ways' that no longer apply or have been swept aside by the rights refusal to play by any rulebook. If those leaders don't step forward there will be no return of democracy, at least, not for a very long time.
Blue Full Moon
(3,786 posts)
ananda
(35,807 posts)I think you may be talking to the trolls who post here.
speak easy
(12,599 posts)There were no Volkswagens in 1933. You couldn't buy one until after WWII.
sop
(19,861 posts)numbers until after World War II. Some dates:
- 1934, development of the Volkswagen began, with Ferdinand Porsche designing the vehicle.
- 1937, the "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH" (Gezuvor) was established in Berlin.
- 1938, the company was renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH.
- 1938, the foundation stone for the Volkswagen Works was laid in Fallersleben, Germany.
- 1939, the KdF-Wagen ("Strength-Through-Joy" car) was first displayed at the Berlin Motor Show.
World War II prevented mass production of the Volkswagen, which was instead used to produce military vehicles.
sop
(19,861 posts)"This promotional photograph shows how the regime presented the 'KdF Wagen' as a way for German citizens to travel the German countryside and connect with the land and culture. The image combines several elements that were central to the Nazi worldview. Nazi propaganda pushed the idea that the German people had a mystical connection to the land, and it celebrated traditional German culture and rural living. But the Nazi regime was also interested in exploiting the possibilities created by the latest modern technology. The people in the photograph are shown leaning on a new, mud-spattered car while wearing traditional clothing. A mountain range is visible in the background, and the couple are posed as if they are taking a casual break during a ride through the countryside."
https://perspectives.ushmm.org/item/photograph-of-a-strength-through-joy-car
Just like American manufacturers market mud-spattered PUs, SUVs and 4WDs with mountain ranges in the background, telling buyers they have a mystical connection to the land and rural living.
speak easy
(12,599 posts)
Wehrmacht tourism 1939
speak easy
(12,599 posts)You won't find many ppl on DU saying that.
Southern_gent
(97 posts)Throwing around "facism" like it's confetti at a parade makes it tough for folks to take us seriously. When every policy disagreement or political move gets branded as facist, the term loses its punch. It's like crying wolf; soon enough, no one's gonna care when the real wolf shows up.
And let's be honest, the vast majority of politicans and reporters have dialed back on calling Donald Trump a facist. Why? Maybe because it's been overused to the point of absurdity. At first, it might've seemed like a wake-up call, but now? It's just background noise. Even when there are legitimate concerns about authoritarian tendancies or democratic backsliding, the label "facist" has become so diluted that it barely registers. This overuse has led to a media and political landscape where significant issues are dismissed because the rhetoric is too extreme or too commonplace to resonate anymore.
If we want to talk about real threats to democrasy, we need to be precise, not sensational. Otherwise, we're just shouting into the void, and no one's listening anymore.
The Wizard
(13,939 posts)totalitarian bigot and white supremacist?
Southern_gent
(97 posts)Lunabell
(7,309 posts)Relatively new DU member...
Southern_gent
(97 posts)Hey, thanks for pointing out that I'm new here - I guess that's the price of fresh ideas, right? But let’s not let my newbie status distract from the main point. I’m just trying to say that when we throw around words like "fascist" too casually, it starts to lose its impact.
I mean, we all want to talk about the real issues, right? So maybe we could focus more on what's actually happening rather than just on labels? I’m all for a good debate, so I’d love to hear your thoughts or even if you think I’m off the mark.
Lunabell
(7,309 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2025, 04:03 AM - Edit history (1)
We're in a crisis and you seem to be taking a tra la la attitude. Crying wolf? That's bullshit. Fascist is exactly what they are. Nobody is crying wolf.
Furthermore, I don't debate with people I don't trust and who misspell a simple word like "democracy."
Skittles
(173,621 posts)but they can throw around WOKE like confetti?
yeah OK
Southern_gent
(97 posts)I see your point, but isn't "woke" tossed around just as casually? Maybe we need to use both terms more carefully, like choosing the right spice, not just dumping salt on everything.
JustAnotherGen
(38,212 posts)Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2025, 10:31 AM - Edit history (1)
But they can't define woke.
And being married to a man whose uncle was in Beni's circle - and who told us to get out in 2016 . . .
This is the beginning of it.
Let's check back in on May 1st.
The first hundred days is when we'll see if this is just reactionary - or reality.
We will both send $500 to EarlG to hold the bet, and winner takes all May 1st.
We should base it on Mussolini's first 100 days - not Hitlers.
The rumored round up of human beings on Tuesday, Media/Social Media Capitulation, Cabinet, continued Propaganda - shows it is already underway.
Skittles
(173,621 posts)THEY CAMPAIGNED ON DEI, CRT, WOKE, ETC
JustAnotherGen
(38,212 posts)Just trying to understand the angle.
Like - what is gained by telling the Good People that we shouldn't point out the Evil ones?
tenderfoot
(8,982 posts)
Skittles
(173,621 posts)a lot of.......CONCERN 
Lunabell
(7,309 posts)I'm dubious as to their sincerity and commitment to the cause. It's like, "Calm down. Nothing to see here folks"
Trueblue Texan
(4,710 posts)No one here ever called it fascism for mere policy disputes. What makes it fascism is the complete disrespect for the laws, buying elections, trying to overturn elections, undermining the will of the people through gerrymandering, throwing out legitimate votes, violating civil rights, overturning convictions for those who broke the law on your behalf, and undermining the rule of law by attacking the justice system through any means possible, creating a legal environment for the executive that defies ANY accountability. THAT'S what makes it fascism. Where have you been? These things have occurred right out in the open, as if they are daring anyone to call them out. Well, WE call them out! Why pussyfoot around the greatest threat to our democracy--spelled with a C, thank you , as well as a threat to our planet.
Cirsium
(4,223 posts)Some people are tired of hearing "racism" and "white supremacy" and "bigotry" and "homophobia." Should we stop using those terms? Are those "diluted labels" now? Just "background noise?"
Conjuay
(3,124 posts)I always get my S's and C's mixed up when I write Fascist anyway.
Karasu
(2,315 posts)Frankly, I don't think the term has been used enough, certainly not by the people with actual power who should've been screaming it from the rooftops nonstop for the last 8 years.
Trueblue Texan
(4,710 posts)The Wizard
(13,939 posts)Pox News and hate radio. All things not Republican must be destroyed. Pox is nothing more than Putin's propaganda platform in the United States. And remember who has the hooker /pee video from a Russian hotel room.
Hope22
(4,959 posts)The tiny bubbles are beginning to appear. You are seen and heard. Love to you. 💗🙏🏼
dalton99a
(96,230 posts)elocs
(24,486 posts)I still wonder about those 7 million more votes that Biden received in 2020 than Harris got in 2024. Did they come from Democrats or those who "called" themselves "Democrats"? How big a part did misogyny and racism play, even from the Left? From that perspective, Hillary had the advantage of being white.
Compared to what is coming, we may one day look upon these last few weeks before Trump takes power as the good old days. But Maga and Trump have fought a street fight while those of us on the Left have considered ourselves too righteous, noble, and pure to fight anything but a perfectly fair fight by Marquess of Queensberry rules. I don't see this ending well but it does make Trump laugh.
haele
(15,704 posts)Even in a safe blue state, I knew a couple New Deal type Dems who just didn't think Harris was right for the job; they wished Walz was at the top of the ticket.
I guess they wanted someone they could "get behind"; they wanted "perfection" in leadership, a Man for All Seasons.
"Harris was too pushy, looked like she took things too emotionally" - one guy complained she was too much like his ex-wife, he respected her, but she expected him to do too much in the relationship...
Harris was "Questionable" - pushy, emotional, uppity...and they were telling their family members, friends and associates that when shooting the bull during the election. You don't think that had an effect on other voters?
These guys (and gals) were shocked after Nov. 7; they all figured she was going to win anyway, so they didn't fill in the bubble on the President/Vice President line. As a protest, or because it wouldn't matter to them.
You get enough people who think voting isn't interesting or doesn't matter, and it won't.
Traildogbob
(13,324 posts)Natzeeee Germany. Watch the series “Hunters”.
The worst Natzeeees of the worst escaped. Then They knew We are the perfect homestead for the Fourth Reich.
Infiltrated every aspect of business, and government. Now we are gonna give the strongest military on earth to a white supremacy Christian Nationalist. With full plans to takeover whatever we want internationally.
And the Media, masters of brain washing learned from the best.
It is a fictional series, movie, but damn………
That plot was easy to think up.
And media side tracked us with pootie poo.
While they slithered into complete control with total immunity. And the celebrations will be off the charts Monday. DDay 2025 January 20th. Our across the aisle high road” just handed it all over. Not a bullet fired for Nazi takeover for another chance to rule the world. For rich people. But what the hell.
Just more of God’s Will and his working in strange ways, right? God Blessing America as it says on our once powerful coin of the realm. Soon to be useless paper. No more Woke, just sleep walking through the bread lines, no eggs for the suckers. See, with Trump no worries about eggs being expensive. Promised made.
yellow dahlia
(6,893 posts)We are seeing a concerted effort to make the Dems irrelevant. Hence the refrain heard over and over, claiming a non-existent mandate.
I was struck by the continued attacks on the Biden administration perpetuated by Repuglicons during the confirmation hearings. They were spewing propaganda rather than conducting the appropriate advice and consent. Part of the message was - we are saving you from the bad Democrats. And then their performances were played on RWM. Brainwashing.
JustAnotherGen
(38,212 posts)The contenders need to come out of the gate in the next week - swinging hard.
Do everything the Felon did to make the Media go to a YouTube channel and report on the statement - as opposed to the tweet.
Adam Kinzinger is very good at that. Follow what he does. IE Relentless pummeling of the Maga Party and the leader.
Nigrum Cattus
(1,367 posts)Wait until Tuesday the 21st in Chicago.
We will see the beginning of the oligarchy/kakistocracy start Tuesday.
They are drunk with power.
LPBBEAR
(692 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:59 AM - Edit history (1)
Nazi's. Period. Full stop.
The people who support them would be just as willing, as the WW2 German populace was, to look the other direction as their neighbors are hauled off and executed.
You can blame Garland, and you would be right, but then ask yourself who appointed him, a Republican, to head the DOJ?
You can blame the Republicans in Congress, and you would be right, but then ask yourself which party who was in control of Congress for at least the first couple years of the Biden Presidency sat on their asses and did next to nothing to put in place safeguards that would have kept Trump from even being able to run for office in 2024?
You can blame the Supreme Court, and again you would be right, but then ask yourself which party and President did nothing to impeach obviously corrupt Supreme Court Judges?
You can blame "Right Wing Media", and yes once again you would be right, but ask yourself why our party did NOTHING to reinstate some form of the Fairness Doctrine?
You can blame McConnell, and yep you would be right, but ONCE AGAIN, which party sat around exploring their navels for almost 11 months while McConnell used the bullshit excuse of too close to an election to block the appointment and then later completely forgot his excuse to ram through a Trump appointee. (and don't forget Garland is a Republican and why the f**k was our leader at the time wasting his time and power trying to appoint a Republican in the first place????)
You can blame the Georgia Republicans for interfering on the side of Trump in a court case that could have seriously tipped public opinion in our favor, and you would be right, but ask yourself which District Attorney in charge of handling that case had the brilliant idea to have an affair with her Special Prosecutor whom she hired thereby handing Trump's attorneys and Republican supporters the ammunition they needed to kill the case?
And you can blame Trump, and.....oh crap do I even need to say it, yes you would be right, but ask yourself who declared he would be a one term President in 2020 but when it came time for the 2024 election dicked around, looked foolish in the first 2024 debate, more dicking around and then FINALLY decided well by golly maybe I shouldn't run...LIKE HE SAID HE WOULDN'T in 2020 leaving our new candidate with a very limited time to campaign for an election crucial to the future of Democracy in this country? (she did amazingly well despite it but still...)
And after you've considered all of this ask yourself why the ever living f**k are our leaders doing things like attending Trump's inauguration and congratulating him on his recent win?????
All we can do is vote. Its up to our leaders to fight for us when we do vote for them. Most in my opinion are not doing that job. That in my opinion is why our numbers were so far off in this last election compared to 2020 and 2016.
And if you come back telling us we can't do this we can't do that go look in the mirror and once again ask yourself why we're all on the verge of Nazi Germany 2025.
TRUTH!
Picaro
(2,449 posts)I live in Texas. We have already fallen into fascism.
Three power drunk white men rule here. Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, and Ken Paxton.
They all are fully in thrall to a few Ultra Right Wing oil billionaires.
Our needs, opinions, aspirations are utterly irrelevant.
These white men are all Christian Dominionists.
These are very bad people.
Now it has happened nationwide.
May the universe turn against these evil people.
RiverStone
(7,279 posts)I totally agree with the OP that we are devolving into fascism.
I also agree they (MAGA) don't give a flying fuck about those of us that didn't vote for the orange menace.
My concern now is that after the election loss we need to regroup, and that hasn't happened yet. Among my Dem friends, some are activists, some are apathetic, some are still raging against Biden for running again, some believe we will come back in 2026 and kick ass in the midterms.
One thing is for sure, we have not coalesced as a defeated party... not yet anyway. What will it take for that to happen? Who will step up and provide us inspiration as the next generation of leaders?
To resist fascism, we need an organized resistance! I remain hopeful that we will find a way to make that happen!!
Ferryboat
(1,285 posts)Republican convention July 2016, I watched it. Drinking pretty heavily at time but managed to write in my journal "a 4 day white power rally. A cross between the Roman coliseum and the Salem witch trials ".
My journal is a record of my Backpacking trips in the Washington cascades. I NEVER write about outside events. Strictly route info.
I must have been wasted.
Much better frame of mind today. Quit drinking, and hunkering down for the coming storm.
Very spot on observation by OP.
keep_left
(3,248 posts)This is from DU poster "Cirsium". 
We have kicked the can down the road for decades now hoping to avoid confrontation, hoping that things will work out, settling for small wins, celebrating moral victories and giving ourselves style points.
There is no more road remaining now.
As the Whigs discovered with the slave power, the longer you put off the inevitable confrontation, the worse it will eventually be when you finally have no choice but abject surrender or fighting back.
link to full post: https://democraticunderground.com/100219912889#post48
Dan
(5,352 posts)Is when the first shot is fired.
mr715
(4,854 posts)Are we, the partisans, able to muster that?
JustAnotherGen
(38,212 posts)Traction comparing it to Mussolini's rise as opposed to Hitler's.
The black shirts were financed by landowners and industrialists and they used violence as a means to instill fear for The Leader.
The wealthy funded the leader.
DENVERPOPS
(13,003 posts)It has been developing since HWBush and Cheney committed Treason to help get Reagan in office.
summer_in_TX
(4,363 posts)with the language that actually reaches people. If we use "oligarch," define it. Same with "fascist."
* “Corruption,"
* “looting the middle class to feed the rich and corporations,"
* “curtailing our American freedoms" should all be pillars
The Villains
* greedy billionaires and their enablers are the villains
* Elon bought himself a presidency
* scheming rich person, a fat cat (or corporate power) that
* uses their power, resources, and influence to manipulate systems for personal gain, often at the expense of fairness, justice, or the well-being of others.
The Heroes
* The heroes in this story will be those who protect democracy by serving the people and halting the hostile billionaire takeover of our government.
Offer a Positive Vision
Don't just frame the problem – frame solutions, too. Pair the problem with a positive vision.
* Propose major changes to ensure fair taxes, protect workers' rights, break up monopolies, and prevent billionaires from buying off the government.
* Paint a picture of a prosperous society where wealth serves everyone, not just a chosen few. Use aspirational language:
* "We can build a country where every family gets a fair shake." Give people a better choice.
This if from George Lakoff and Gil Duran's FrameLab newsletter. I just tried to make it easier to use.
https://www.theframelab.org/joe-bidens-farewell-warning-oligarchy-threatens-democracy/?ref=lakoff-and-duran-framelab-newsletter
Trust_Reality
(2,301 posts)There is a lot of attention paid to Musk, Bezos, and Zucherberg. But the "enemy" is much bigger, much broader. It is most big wealthy corporations and powerful industries. Because of the power of wealth, very very few politicians are going to take them on. It will have to be the masses both actively and by being prepared for when an oligarch or fascist makes a misstep. We must watch carefully for an opportunity.
What about the famous three? Amazon has thousands of shareholders. Facebook has thousands of shareholders. However, the Washington Post has only one. It is a realistic target. It is also very easy to avoid buying a Tesla.
Who else among all the industries and corporations? I suggest corporate owned media for two reasons. This narrows the universe of "enemies". AND, very importantly, the media define and declare reality. They report what is. It might be true or it might be totally false, but it is pretty much reality for many if not most people. Without good, thorough, honest, reporting we will live in a bubble of fascist propaganda. We must fight for as well as hold accountable NPR. I also suggest The Guardian. I'm sure there are several others.
We can boycott directly (and their advertisers) the many corporate mediated media platforms. As much as I love and appreciate MSNBC, it is clear that they must be very careful about criticizing or reporting too much truth about sponsors and potential sponsors. I seriously wish MSNBC could be owned by the employees. Perhaps some billionaires with integrity would help.
I think about this way too much, and this is my best shot at what to do -- so far. If you agree, I encourage you to promote this as much as possible.
I_UndergroundPanther
(13,408 posts)Thier integrity long ago to become billionaires.
everyonematters
(4,309 posts)Most Americans are just trying to get thru with their lives. We don't know for sure what Trump is going to do. If he does abuse his powers, then we can speak out. The news media will question it. The Republicans are most likely going to rise or fall on how Trump's policies effect the economy.
Abstractartist
(456 posts)Or, instead of describing what we MAY see, we Democrats should scrap the playbook right now and draw new “battle maps”.
Like what?. Ok how about looking into the future of our party instead of bringing in the past. Young progressive members like AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Pete Buttigieg, Newsome, definitely Hakeem Jeffries, Etc. are needed to step up and take over. We/they need to dig deep into what and why the republicans are not voting for democrats. Work to make poor red state citizens (not just voters) trust democrats, and understand how to not trust Republican misinformation and rhetoric.
Many seen the future as bleak, but I actually see trump done in 2028 or even sooner, and when he is done MAGA will dissolve and disappear like the tea party, and the other spin-off groups. LETS FIGHT. We have had bad times before and are still here.