American fascism has landed fully
Whatever may have been my political opinions before, I have but one sentiment now: that is, we have a government, and laws, and a flag, and they must all be sustained. There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter
— Ulysses Grant
What is fascism?
Upton Sinclair described it this way:
Fascism is capitalism plus murder.
The precision of this description is perfectly illustrated today by Timothy Snyder’s dispatch from Ukraine, as well as Rand Paul’s condemnation of JD Vance.
There has long been a quote falsely attributed to Sinclair Lewis that I shared on social media at the second it was clear that Trump had been elected in 2024:
Indeed it has.
The face of propaganda has changed, but the lies that sustain it have not.
Here is a German face of propaganda and hate from the 1930s and 1940s:
Here is an American face of propaganda and hate from the 2020s:
Upton Sinclair shared another piece of wisdom that holds true today:
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on him not understanding it.
Democrats should reflect deeply upon that observation in this dangerous and unprecedented hour, as the fascist snake coils around our liberty.
Do you recall the core promise of Google from its early days, when none of us comprehended the power of what was coming from its visionary founders?
It was: DON’T BE EVIL.
I wonder how many Americans are growing fearful of not just their government, but their phone and the giant tech companies, which seem content to merge with the American State in an alliance against liberty for the opportunity to have more, and more, and more.
Very soon, American soldiers will be ordered to level their weapons at American citizens. Their fingers will be on the triggers, and the safeties will be off.
I wonder how many Americans look at an American soldier these days, and feel fear, as opposed to pride and gratitude?
The American republic is dying. It is a desiccating husk withering on the stalk. Neglect, corruption, indifference and MAGA’s poison have taken their toll — and then some.
Of course recognizing any of this is a disease, according to America’s fascists.
They call it “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
What does it look like to you?
The disease at hand is American fascism. It has landed fully.
How did fascism come to America?
Mostly through indifference and corruption, but also abetted by the incompetence of America’s political media industrial complex.
Over 10 years’ time was there ever a single interview of Donald Trump that probed him deeply on any issue that was a cornerstone of American civilization and freedom?
The answer is no.
Over 10 years’ time Donald Trump was never asked a single penetrating, philosophical question about freedom and liberty. Not one.
Why?
Well, Upton Sinclair explained that too.
Journalism is one of the devices whereby industrial autocracy keeps its control over political democracy.
When the masked men come to Chicago and Boston, and when American soldiers begin terrorizing the American people, and obey the illegal orders of their chain of command, there is another quote from Upton Sinclair that matters. He wrote it to the Los Angeles police chief when force was used to crush dissent.
It is a tremendous example of moral courage. It is one I will strive to meet at The Warning.
For me, I will continue to do my best to live up to what Upton Sinclair said he would try to do:
I intend to do what one little man can do to awaken the public conscience, and in the meantime I am not frightened by your menaces.
I am not a giant physically; I shrink from pain and filth and vermin and foul air, like any other man of refinement; also, I freely admit, when I see a line of a hundred policeman with drawn revolvers flung across a street to keep anyone from coming onto private property to hear my feeble voice, I am somewhat disturbed in my nerves.
But I have a conscience and a religious faith, and I know that our liberties were not won without suffering, and may be lost again through our cowardice. I intend to do my duty to my country.
One last thing: many of you will read this and feel despair or a rising pessimism. Sinclair had something to say about that as well:
Pessimism is mental disease. It means illness in the person who voices it, and in the society which produces that person.
There remains in America two political philosophies: fascism and Americanism.
Upton Sinclair was a socialist, and then a Democrat.
I was a Republican, then an independent, and then a Democrat.
I have no idea what you may have been, but in this moment, I hope you can see clearly that we must make an American stand so that we may disagree again.
Terrible days lie ahead.
They must be met with resolve and optimism.
We are fighting for no less than the survival of the American republic. There is no cause, no ego, no ambition, no life, no nothing that is more important than that.
I always read but do not thank Steve enough. Thanks Steve
J.D., Little Fidel, the Puppy Killer, and every additional oath-breaking traitor in his orbit will be forever chained to Fascist Donald. Forever tainted, we patriots will never forget.