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str8line said:
The problem here is that everyone is comparing the end result of Hitler or the quickness of Germany's transformation. Trump is changing things as fast as he can but in todays age and in our country he can't achieve totalitarianism. But he's trying. Is he putting children in cages? Is he attacking any press which disagrees with him? Is he consolidating power solely to his benefit? Is he creating a cult-of-personality? Is he blaming whole groups of people? Not sure why you're so against seeing the similarities, Stoked. What about his personality makes him so different than Hitler?
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Yes, some of Trump's strategies(scapegoating, identifying "others" upon which diseffected groups can focus their fear and anger), and his efforts at self aggrandizement( ignoring Congressional oversight, etc) are absolutely the tools of authoritarian demagogues. But establishing a simplistic Trump=Hitler, usually results in people tuning out your case immediately. For this reason, I prefer to focus on similar conditions within post WWI Germany and in an America affected by globalization, as well as the basic techniques virtually all demagogues use to cynically manipulate public opinion. When people hear the name Hitler, they immediately think of his worst horrors. Inevitably, most people will simply tune you out, which is unfortunate, since there are similarities to be noted.

You, and others, may find these two essays insightful, as the author considers the fact that there will always be a segment of a society that will not be enamored of democracy, and will instead prefer autocracy. BTW, these are written by a Steve Miller. It's not that Steve Miller! Lol:

http://svmiller.com/blog/2017/08/usa-intolerance-xenophobia-racism-strong-leader-democracy-trump/

http://svmiller.com/blog/2016/05/america-strong-leaders-world-values-survey-trump/


Jonah said:
"Is Donald Trump a fascist? The question is usually posed as an insult rather than as a serious inquiry. A common response is that “he is not as bad as Hitler”, but this rather dodges the issue. Hitler was one hideous exponent of fascism, which comes in different flavours but he was by no means the only one.
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Good analysis and link. Here is an informative essay written by one of the leading authorities on the Holocaust, Germany between the wars, and Nazi Germany. Written prior to the publication of the Mueller report:

https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/10/25/suffocation-of-democracy/

"As a historian specializing in the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, and Europe in the era of the world wars, I have been repeatedly asked about the degree to which the current situation in the United States resembles the interwar period and the rise of fascism in Europe. I would note several troubling similarities and one important but equally troubling difference".
 
So where we're at is arguing the levels to which Trump=Hitler. Good enough for me.
 
NPC D4617 said:
Hes not though
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I would simply propose that Trumpism is a unique American specie of nascent fascism. Trump is not the first demagogue in our history. The problem today is that his Party is so far completely reluctant to criticize the troubling eruption of nationalistic authoritarianism, or authoritarian nationalism, that Trump represents. So, while we can hope, and believe, that our long lasting experiment as a democracy counts for something, and our democratic institutions are strong, circumstances currently reflect, I believe, how Rep. Nadler described them yesterday: namely, that we are in the midst of the most serious constitutional crisis since the Civil War.
 
Comparing Trump to fascism or calling him a fascist is not saying the U.S. is now an authoritarian fascist state. We still have the means to prevent that from happening in 2020. After that it's a walk on the wide side where anything is possible.
 
This was a really good read about the rise of White Nationalist movements in the US from the perspective of a man who was part of it and now spends his time trying to help those getting out.

What struck me is the lack of programs and resources to help reform them and find a place in society outside the movement. He makes a good point about how we have programs in place for people with problems with drugs and alcohol for example, but not for people who are struggling with ideas of hatred.

What's scary is that he believes, thanks to the mainstreaming of these ideas in recent years, that this problem is only going to get worse before it gets better.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/08/conversation-christian-picciolini/595543/
 
Heathme said:
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This ignores a primary difference. The vast majority of buy back programs are completely voluntary. If gun owners want to turn in their guns they have the right to do so. Everyone realizes it’s to get the guns “off the street”. That’s base common knowledge.

There was nothing new in this video.
 
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