Letter to the Editor: on Fascism

I appreciate your reporting about the matter of Trump's fascism or fascistoid tendencies. 

As a political scientist with European / German roots, I think it is important to provide a solid definition of what fascism means. 

In 1919, in Fascist Italy, the first 'fasci di combattimento' (fascist squadrons) were formed. 1922 saw the 'March to Rome', and Italy's monarch / king asked Mussolini to form a government of fascist and other relatable / fitting political parties. Italy saw a so-called consolidation of fascism from 1922 to 1926. Voluntary militia were created, and UNLIMITED power was given to the fascist government by parliament. Parliamentary control was in effect given up, surrendered, and political intimidation increased, became common. In 1924, the fascists won the election, followed by measures to complete the dictatorship. 

In Europe, in the first half of the 20th century, we saw fascism in Italy and Spain, saw a fascist dictatorship in Austria from 1932 to 1934. In 1933, the National Socialists under Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany; while the Stalinists terrorized Soviet citizens. We can, must credit Hannah Arendt that she identified and characterized both fascism / national socialism on the one side and communism / Stalinism on the other side as totalitarian ideologies (both being contemptuous of individual freedoms and liberty).

With regard to fascism or fascist rule, we typically see the END of balance of power. There is no independent judiciary. No independent legislature. No independent media. No checks and balance. ‚Gleichschaltung’ means just that. There is no opposition. There is suppression of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly. 

Another key element of fascist power is the essential / decisive role that corporations play. 

In the Third Reich industrialists such as Thyssen and Krupp actively supported Hitler's rise to power.

In America, industrialists, such as Henry Ford also supported Hitler. It is NOT the first time, that American billionnaires and bankers have supported fascist regimes, or the rise of fascism abroad (whether in Europe or Southern America).

I would argue, the US Supreme Court in America already has been 'gleichgeschaltet'. There does not seem to be real judicial independence anymore; the decision by the Supreme Court of 2010, for corporations to have freedom of speech, speaks to this, as it turned the country into an oligarchic corpocracy.

So, yes, we can argue that America is already on the path to a fascist corporatist political entity. The ONLY 'thing' between (the remnants of) our American Republic and a corporatist fascist dictatorship seems to lie in us, we the people.

Corporate power is a key element of fascism, fascist power; which is why the role of billionnaires, such as Musk is crucial, indicative and not surprising.

In the 1930s, Major General Smedley Butler warned America in Congress about a planned or ongoing coup d' état by national socialist / fascist forces inside of America. I think, personally, the Musk - Trump - Putin plan may have been just that: a second attempt or trial by today's robber barons (uncluding Russia's oligarch and dictator Putin). This would make General John Kelly 'Smedley Butler 2.0'.