# American Fascism, The Irony of Democracy, and why the Left Should Be Worried **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 12, 2005, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723 "2005-02-12T08:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/81 "2005-02-13T19:03:32Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > As Woodie Guthrie pointed out, when America gets fascism they’ll call it anti-fascism. And that’s not just a cynical take on propaganda. The easiest person to fool is yourself. After all, the other side is SO BAD (they’re FASCISTS for crying out loud!), it justifies any sort of slippery manuevering on the part of us good people. It’s already happened. Just substitute the word COMMUNIST for the word FASCIST and you get what happened in the 1950’s with McCarthyism. Tail Gunner Joe ran around with a briefcase full of “evidence” that didn’t exsit. Honest decent people were caught up and ruined, or driven out of the country. Anyone who did not turn against and testify against the “victim of the moment” was himself accused of being Commie. There were Commies everywhere, even hiding under our beds. McCarthy was feeding a national hysteria to build himself up and crush anyone else, whether they were a Commie threat or not. Why? Because Commies are evil. Commies are godless. They hate America. They hate freedom. They want to exterminate us. After all, the other side is SO BAD (they’re COMMIES for crying out loud!), it justifies any sort of slippery manuevering on the part of us good people. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/82 "2005-02-13T19:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > Is it more useful to a) have a sense of historical perspective in arguing against curtailment of civil liberties in times of war, undeclared and otherwise, or b) rail in Godwinesque fashion against “fascism”, setting oneself up for contempt and one-liners from Brutus? > > Your choice. Ah yes, the “They posted something so outrageous that I had no choice but to foam at mouth” defence. As for self-censoring to avoid upsetting one particular poster who seems to be eternally upset about a remarkably large number of things, I’ll pass on that. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/83 "2005-02-13T19:14:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > In 1970 a Harris poll found that 37% of Americans felt that anti-Vietnam War protests should be illegal. In the same year construction workers with American flag decals on their hardhats beat up antiwar protesters on Wall Street, and stormed City Hall. > > "Patriotism was also a complex matter for the 74,000 enemy aliens in Britain, most of whom had escaped from Nazi persecution. In a foolish and tragic reaction to baseless stories about the contribution that spies and saboteurs had made to the German victories, they were locked up in the most squalid of improvised accomodations. I was in New York back then. The fight you talk about was only one of many. It was a common occurrence for some group of heroic hardhats to beat up anyone they suspected of being a “commie hippy pinko fag”. The greater the disparity in physical size or numbers, the more heroic they were. Somehow, most of them were not heroic enough to enlist and go fight the war they were so violently in favor of :dubious: During World War II, the U.S. set up interment camps for anyone who was “one of them” - Asian with a Japanese name (Nisei (?)). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/84 "2005-02-13T19:34:18Z")
**anna** : As one of the few posters here who asked a serioius question (see post #38 on page 1), I’m disappointed to come back into this thread and see that you have chosen to igore it. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/85 "2005-02-13T19:35:31Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > Strictly speaking, you are correct. But there’s also no denying that there was a virtual fusion of the State and the RCC with all kinds of mutual concesions. Franco became a new Crusader of sorts, the man that had “saved” Spain from the new hordes of godless heathens and for that he was openly admired and praised by The Church, gaining privileges such as marching under canopy for offical religious ceremonies – and honor normally reserved for the Pope and other high ranking religious figures. Did this continue even after [Pope John XXIII?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII) Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/86 "2005-02-13T19:49:58Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > I expected the drive-bys from some of you, but frankly, I expected better of posters like **Captain Amazing**. As for **Lemur** , kindly point to where I ASKED whether or not Bush was a fascist? IIRC, I specifically asked that we _didn’t_ indulge in _leader_ comparisons. Ah, sorry. Wait, I’m not sorry. You didn’t mean to compare Bush to Hitler? I understood your initial ritual protestations and caveats to be equivalent to, “I don’t want to compare the Republicans to Nazis, but aren’t the Republicans an awfully lot like Nazis nowadays?” You knew the way this thread was going to head, please spare me the innocent act. You honestly ask me to believe you thought this thread wasn’t going to be a partisan pissing match? You’re smarter than that. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/87 "2005-02-13T20:05:07Z")
> [@Atropa3](#): > > I learned in college Poli-Sci that politics is a scale: > > communism\<-liberalism\<-democrats\<-\>republicans-\>conservatives-\>fascists You might want to go back and demand your money back for that course. One can plot a spectrum or continuum of political thought that uses that as a beginning for discussion, but politics, like the people from which it gets its energy, is much more complex and convoluted. There are aspects of both socialism and capitalism in fascist countries. That spectrum completely ignores anarchists and libertarians. It fails to consider how power is derived and wielded. It places an economic theory (communism) at one end of a spectrum anchored at the other by a theory of governance (fascism). (It also makes an assumption that the “middle” is where we probably “want” to be without actually addressing the issue of what are the economic, political, and social aspects of the middle.) . > [@Lemur866](#): > > How about something like this: > > "I disagree with this new privacy policy, because it violates constitutional principle X, it will be misused, and won’t do anything to solve problem Y’. > > Good way to discuss it. > > “I disagree with this new privacy policy, because it’s FASCISM!” > > Bad way to discuss it. Unfortunately, that approach limits the discussion to specific events or policies. If the actual concern is social movement, then your suggestion (valid for many discussions) becomes a way to avoid the larger discussion by insisting on examining every tree while ignoring the forest. . > [@Lemur866](#): > > The purpose of the fascism comparison is to imply that supporting Bush and the Republicans will lead to the gas chambers. I am not sure that that is true. In 1939, the gas chambers were three years in the future and Germany and Italy were already miserable places to live (from our 21st century perspective.) I think that the question of whether we are recreating situations that resemble 1920s Italy or 1930s Germany are legitimate. Certainly, nothing in our current situation looks like Russia in 1905 or 1917 or China after 1945, so those models do not offer any warning to us, now. It is unfortunate that when we wish to examine the direction of the country, the most alarming parallels _from one perspective_ are found among the Nazis. As it should be clear in this thread, I do not believe that we are headed toward a _repitition_ of Fascism. However, **Polycarp** has raised serious concerns that can be discussed. If the discussion follows that irection and begins to wean itself from the flashpoint word “Fascism,” we may get a better discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/88 "2005-02-13T21:32:44Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Ah yes, the “They posted something so outrageous that I had no choice but to foam at mouth” defence. > > As for self-censoring to avoid upsetting one particular poster who seems to be eternally upset about a remarkably large number of things, I’ll pass on that. I regret that you completely missed the point. A brief summary: The cited tenets of fascism can easily be applied to non-fascist governments over a wide period of history. Being at war or under perceived attack promotes restrictions on civil liberties. Godwinesque language invites contempt. To clarify even further - the phrase “setting oneself up for contempt and one-liners from Brutus” referred to a) the eye-rolling and disgust that mark _many people’s responses_ to knee-jerk invocations of “fascism”, as well as one-liners from the likes of **Brutus**. While one need not be particularly concerned with pleasing him, one should think about whether displaying gross ignorance of history and minimizing historical atrocities with mind-numbingly trite accusations is likely to a) win converts, or b) immediately alienate a huge chunk of one’s target audience. Hope that makes things clearer for you. ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/89 "2005-02-13T21:42:52Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Ah, sorry. Wait, I’m not sorry. You didn’t mean to compare Bush to Hitler? I understood your initial ritual protestations and caveats to be equivalent to, “I don’t want to compare the Republicans to Nazis, but aren’t the Republicans an awfully lot like Nazis nowadays?” > > You knew the way this thread was going to head, please spare me the innocent act. You honestly ask me to believe you thought this thread wasn’t going to be a partisan pissing match? You’re smarter than that. Yeah, I knew there would be posters like you who would accuse me of shit. But I also knew there would be posters who would understand what I was asking and give me a valuable perspective. If everyone posting so far misunderstood my OP, I’d rethink it and try to explain it better. But in this case the burden falls on you to actually read the OP - _you’re completely missing my point_, a point that seems clear to many others here. Sorry (Here’s a hint: It’s not about _Republicans_. It’s not about _party politics_. Think sociology, rather than poli sci, and maybe you’ll get it). > [@John Mace](#): > > **anna** : As one of the few posters here who asked a serioius question (see post #38 on page 1), I’m disappointed to come back into this thread and see that you have chosen to igore it. **John** , since when do I ignore you? I can’t really answer your question, since I didn’t write the article where it was mentioned. I was hoping someone with more experience would tackle it - that’s why I posted the article - to get feedback from better minds. I’m curious about that myself. Here’s your question reposted, in case someone missed it: > [@](#): > > Can we have some examples of “totalitarian” statist nationalism? This sees to be the crux of the argument, but it is offered with no supporting evidence. > > As for a certain “bomb them ay-rabs” mentality, that’s nothing new. There has always been a vocal minority holding this type of view for as long as I can remember. BTW, **laigle** asked you for a cite re “minority” - have you got one? I’d be interested in knowing just how many people have that mentality too… > [@tomndebb](#): > > Unfortunately, that approach limits the discussion to specific events or policies. If the actual concern is social movement, then your suggestion (valid for many discussions) becomes a way to avoid the larger discussion by insisting on examining every tree while ignoring the forest. > > …It is unfortunate that when we wish to examine the direction of the country, the most alarming parallels _from one perspective_ are found among the Nazis. As it should be clear in this thread, I do not believe that we are headed toward a _repitition_ of Fascism. However, **Polycarp** has raised serious concerns that can be discussed. If the discussion follows that irection and begins to wean itself from the flashpoint word “Fascism,” we may get a better discussion. It would be a mistake to limit the definition of fascism to “Nazis”. I agreed it’s a loaded word, but how else can you frame a question about fascism without using the term - without “missing the forest”, as you say? Anyway, I was asking about _pre-fascism_ (proto-fascism?), so I’m still not sure exactly why you’re ruling it out. ---
**Author:** ![Atropa3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Atropa3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atropa3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/90 "2005-02-13T22:32:43Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You might want to go back and demand your money back for that course. One can plot a spectrum or continuum of political thought that uses that as a beginning for discussion, but politics, like the people from which it gets its energy, is much more complex and convoluted. There are aspects of both socialism and capitalism in fascist countries. That spectrum completely ignores anarchists and libertarians. It fails to consider how power is derived and wielded. It places an economic theory (communism) at one end of a spectrum anchored at the other by a theory of governance (fascism). (It also makes an assumption that the “middle” is where we probably “want” to be without actually addressing the issue of what are the economic, political, and social aspects of the middle.) You’re right, that scale is over-simplified and it wasn’t a very good class. I do think it’s relevant to point out that my definition of fascism isn’t the history of Nazi Germany, et al, but the extreme end of the right-wing. In which case, if we keep moving farther to the right of center, then we are indeed in the early stages of fascism. Where we stop, nobody knows. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/91 "2005-02-13T23:04:28Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > BTW, **laigle** asked you for a cite re “minority” - have you got one? It’s a charicature, so of course there isn’t a cite. The point I was making was in response to this in the OP (my bolding): > [@](#): > > I don’t think there are yet real fascists in the administration, but there is certainly now a constituency for them —\*\*hungry to bomb foreigners \*\*and smash those Americans who might object. There are a lot of assertions being made in the OP, and it is incumbent on the those doing the asserting to provide evidence. So far, there hasn’t been any to speak of. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/92 "2005-02-13T23:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > my definition of fascism isn’t the history of Nazi Germany, et al, but the extreme end of the right-wing. While this is a “popular” definition, it really is not a very good one (for the same reason that it is unfortunate that some people identify the far left as “communist”). These words have actual meanings relevant to history, politics, economics, and society. The issue of defining those terms has already had a negative effect on getting this discussion off the ground. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/93 "2005-02-13T23:34:30Z")
> [@Atropa3](#): > > In which case, if we keep moving farther to the right of center, then we are indeed in the early stages of fascism. Further to what \*\*Tomndebb \*\*posted, would it be correct to assume that if the Democrats win the WH next time and the politics of this country moves leftward, that we will be in the early stages of communism? Do you see how silly statements like this are and how they do not lend themselves to serious debate? ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/94 "2005-02-14T00:16:24Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > There are a lot of assertions being made in the OP, and it is incumbent on the those doing the asserting to provide evidence. So far, there hasn’t been any to speak of. I guess you’re one of those who didn’t read the OP. I wasn’t _asserting_, I was _asking_, same as you. If I were sure enough to be asserting anything, I wouldn’t waste my time, knowing that there’d be no shortage of posters (like you?) who apparently have nothing to offer me in terms of broader knowledge - of either the terminology, or the national mindset. FTR, do you know what “totalitarian statist nationalism” even means? Do you really care to know? If someone should reply to your question, will you be able to compare it to your own previously held knowledge of the definition (I ask because you didn’t know what corporatism meant)… or are you just playing games, because you are missing the point of my OP, or just like to play “gotcha” with certain posters here? I’m not sure that it’s the _crux_ of the argument, as you say (and I’m the OP) - perhaps you could expand on that in some way? I could give you a WAG at what Rockwell meant, but I’m after something a little more substantial than my own WAG. Enlighten me, **John**. Either you’ve got something to add here, or you’re just stirring up shit. If it’s the latter, I’m done with you in this thread. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Atropa3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Atropa3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atropa3)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/95 "2005-02-14T00:19:44Z")
> [@](#): > > These words have actual meanings relevant to history, politics, economics, and society. The issue of defining those terms has already had a negative effect on getting this discussion off the ground. I’m going for a definition to apply to this country, not so much the history of others. What I’m apparently not saying very clearly, is that we are _more_ fascist than we were 4 years ago, and still moving in that direction. I think that’s why people are bringing it up lately. Because it feels that way in comparison to what we’re used to. (If the trend went the other way then yes, we would be more communist.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/96 "2005-02-14T00:41:13Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > I guess you’re one of those who didn’t read the OP. I said IN the OP, not BY the OP. Do you know the difference? > [@](#): > > Either you’ve got something to add here, or you’re just stirring up shit. If it’s the latter, I’m done with you in this thread. Sorry. Apparently it’s everyone else except you, here. I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt for a long time now. Apparently I was mistaken. Enjoy your thread. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/97 "2005-02-14T00:53:57Z")
There ceratinly seems to be more trust in politiicans than I think is healthy. ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/98 "2005-02-14T01:50:18Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > I could give you a WAG at what Rockwell meant, but I’m after something a little more substantial than my own WAG. Enlighten me, John. Either you’ve got something to add here, or you’re just stirring up shit. If it’s the latter, I’m done with you in this thread. Sorry. > [@John Mace](#): > > Apparently it’s everyone else except you, here. I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt for a long time now. Apparently I was mistaken. Enjoy your thread. Latter option duly noted. I’m sure we’ll all miss your substantial imput on this topic. ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/99 "2005-02-14T03:06:49Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > There ceratinly seems to be more trust in politiicans than I think is healthy. I think you’re right. And I wish I could convince some posters here that it isn’t just about partisan mud-slinging or party politics. If it makes any of you feel better, I engaged in a political protest, for the first time in my life, against a _Democrat_ - my Senator here in NY, Chuck Schumer - because of his position on torture (“that it was ‘reasonable’ under certain circumstances” - according to his statement during a hearing in June 2004). So much for my “partisan” agenda… But the “Us” v. “Them” mentality lives on. And it’s nothing to worry about, right? I’m just preaching _hate_ by posting this thread. Right. It would be funny if it wasn’t so sad… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723/100 "2005-02-14T03:10:01Z")
> [@](#): > > While one need not be particularly concerned with pleasing him, one should think about whether displaying gross ignorance of history and minimizing historical atrocities with mind-numbingly trite accusations is likely to a) win converts, or b) immediately alienate a huge chunk of one’s target audience. What flippin’ accusations? The only accusations I’ve seen here are the ones made by those who have taken take personal affront that this topic has even come up. Specifically, the OP has stated repeatedly that this thread was opened as a discussion, not to “win converts”, nor specifically to bash the Bush administration. Even if it turns out the OP is a bald-faced liar, it is still possible to discuss this subject calmly and and to stick to facts. Each person who replies to this thread has the choice of discussing the topic or not discussing it, and I am quite sure that most readers are able on their own to determine whether the topic is valid or not. Hurling insults and declaring the topic off-limits, doesn’t really cut it. And that’s as far as I ride with this particular hijack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-fascism-the-irony-of-democracy-and-why-the-left-should-be-worried/289723.md?page=6)