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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
That makes more sense, but that's still just commonly known as "Populism" and "Demagogy". You need a bit more Romanticism and ideology and grandiose vision to properly qualify as Fascist. Trump is too petty and short-sighted. You also need a less individualistic, more collectivist mindset. You need to aspire, above personal wealth and power, to collective, national glory. Trump is too individualistic. And you need a more militaristic mindset. Trump is too Business. As far as I can tell, at least.
I don't know if I'm explaining myself properly.
The French, for a start, like themselves. The same cannot be said about the Brits.
I know.
edited 25th Oct '15 1:08:12 PM by TheHandle
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
I'm not sure that America would be even capable of National Syndicalism, let alone Fascism.
Si Vis Pacem, Para PerkeleThe Real Effect of Citizens United on the GOP
1) Insurgent Candidates who have been able to hang around longer in the primaries than usual due to Super PAC Donors, which has basically enabled every Tom, Dick and Harry to enter the race this election cycle.
2) The Republican National Committee is no longer the source of funding for candidates to survive the election cycle, since The Koch Brothers or any interesting billionaire can keep their candidate of choice going.
3) However, Super PAC funds can't supplant the donations needed to run the actual campaign of a candidate. Super PA Cs might give their candidates unlimited funds but you're still limited on the donations to the actual campaign, and it looks like Jeb is running dry on the actual smaller donor funds he needs to stay afloat.
4) While the main use for Super PA Cs is those expensive TV ads, there's increasing news that the ads do jack shit. And yet Republicans keep tossing money into them.
Basically, the Democrats who rely on smaller funding are surviving the worst effects of Citizens United, while it's making the GOP more and more unstable.
Republicans, in getting what they want, kind of shot themselves in the leg and food and arm.
Never mind the affinity fraud that is part and parcel of the Republican side of the SuperPAC system, with more than 80% of the funds being pocketed for "costs and fees" by the people gathering them.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"![]()
I've been gravitating towards this for national elections, but I'm still concerned about the effect big and dark money can have on smaller, lower profile elections and then politics en masse. Americans for Prosperity, the Koch PAC, has chapters in all fifty states and are apparently liable to sink 10 to 20 times the average amount spent on an election for a given post, and the numbers alone can scare a candidate into complying with their agenda. It isn't just US Senators and Congressmen who get primaried.
That's a valid point. What we often miss while focusing on the vast sums of money collected and (notionally) spent on national elections is that there is a quiet but pernicious tide of money at the local level that is buying up judges, sheriffs, attorneys general, and other influential offices. These people are the next generation of national elected officials.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"Yes it does matter, because we're letting greed have its head out of principle and destroy the stable in the process. ...Well, we being Americans collectively and including the very influential Libertarian/Randian folks in the Republican party. Conservatives need a voice too, and they deserve one which is not schizophrenic and incapable of caring about the future.
edited 25th Oct '15 4:46:30 PM by Artificius
"I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once."This goes back a few years, but if you want the entire sordid story, watch these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuP1e0RNF-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3kWN561SJQ
The second one begins with a monologue by Maher, that gives a pretty concise explanation, but in doing so it skips a few pertinent details (plus some pretty funny stuff that happened along the way.)
This Space Intentionally Left Blank.
Of course, but while the right-wing rich having their money stolen by ideologically-motivated con artists may be ironically hilarious, it does nothing to solve our basic political problems. It merely offers the hope that the bleeding due to the influence of money may be stanched for a while while the Right self-cannibalizes.
edited 25th Oct '15 9:49:48 PM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"I keep saying this, but Citizens United was a terrible ruling for billionaires. It lets them spend more, but only in the same way that Pepsi and Coca Cola can spend more on their advertising budgets. More money fueled into the system doesn't actually increase consumption, it just means whoever spends more is the one winning.
All they REALLY did is make elections that much more expensive to buy.
imho, if a product has been deemed as universally unhealthy, their makers shouldn't be allowed to advertise it.
I'd pick no soda advertising vs soda tax.
Generally, I'm more likely to assign blame on the tempted than on the temptor, but junk food corps. are an exception. Every time I see a junk food banner or billboard, I'm tempted to commit arson.
Plants are aliens, and fungi are nanomachines.Trump apparently thinks that the world would be a better place if Saddam and Gaddafi were still in power
. I'd say something about Vetinari Job Security rearing its head at some point over succession issues, but I doubt it would get past his toupee. Or his raving fans would lynch me for being a yellow foreigner interested in taking True American Jobs because I could.
edited 26th Oct '15 4:09:48 AM by Krieger22
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot

Edit: And before anyone says I'm Godwining, no I am not calling him a Nazi. If anything the one he most resembles is Benito Mussolini, complete with being a ridiculous caricature of himself.
edited 25th Oct '15 12:40:38 PM by JackOLantern1337
I Bring Doom,and a bit of gloom, but mostly gloom.