system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
CMV: In the popular consciousness, the word "fascism" has been warped so badly that it now carries little to none of its true meaning. This distortion is problematic.

For the past two years or so I've been getting more and more concerned by the number of people throwing around the words "fascism" and "fascist" seemingly at everyone and everything that doesn't fit their own politics.

In recent years I've read posts from loads of people (mostly left-leaning) hurling this term at conservative pundits, (e.g. Ben Shapiro) politicians, (Trump or any of his supporters) the entire republican voter population, and even relative moderates like Jordan Peterson. (not to say JP is politically neutral by any means)

None of the people mentioned above by name fit the fascist definition. Fascists are severely and openly authoritarian, nationalistic to the point of religious zealotry, and so racist that history's best example of the philosophy perpetrated the single worst genocide ever.

I just don't see any signs that indicate that the US is anywhere close to becoming a fascist nation. Trump's presidency was maybe the closest we've come in a while. He had the authoritarian spirit and populist rhetoric in spades, no doubt, but in the end he was ousted by the democratic process just like everyone before him.

It's also important to remember that in the past strong fascist regimes have really only taken power in countries with desperate populations facing dire economic circumstances. The US is most certainly not in that boat.

P.S.

I can't help but liken this to the cold war-era practice of using "commie" as a generically pejorative term, which--of course--was stupid and closed-minded.

&#x200B;

EDIT: I accept now that Donald Trump essentially qualified as a fascist, at least after the 2020 election. I appreciate all of the effort you've put into your comments and the discussions they've sparked.
gpt
Nah.

The problem is that fascism is becoming normalized, while few people know what it is.

You can sound the alarm bells all day long, screaming "fire!" from the top of your lungs until you're blue in the face, but if nobody around you knows what "fire" means, (or can't see the fire) then nothing's going to happen while the fire spreads.

The more that Republicans, specifically the MAGA Republicans, get called fascist, it doesn't matter how accurate the label is if they're not acting like the literal worst-case example of fascists. Even if they literally tried to violently overthrow the government just last year.

Ties right into the root problem with fascism: nobody takes them seriously until it's too late.