Recent guest columnist Gary Midura is technically correct: Donald Trump is not an exact replica of Hitler or Mussolini [“Words matter, especially when using the word ‘fascism,‘” Gazette, March 3]. If that’s one’s only benchmark for labeling a government “fascist,” then of course there will always be some reason why we can’t use that word: the uniforms are the wrong color! They don’t goose-step and hardly ever do the one-arm salute! Or whatever. This is essentially a no-true-Scotsman argument.
We don’t have time for such sophistry. Instead of busying ourselves with word games, let’s see what Trump’s gang does have in common with those totalitarian regimes. One-party rule? Look at the partisan redistricting in Texas, California, and elsewhere. Suppression of opposition media? Look at CBS and the Washington Post. Imprisonment of political opponents? They’re trying; fortunately for us, Trump’s lawyers are not the sharpest tools in the box.
Today’s authoritarianism comes in many more flavors than the 1930s version. Start by combining Steve Bannon’s disinformation tactics, Stephen Miller’s replacement theory, Kristi Noem’s terror campaign, Pete Hegseth’s preening ignorance, and Elon Musk’s deranged techno-triumphalism. Add the anti-democratic impulses of Victor Orban and the corruption of Ferdinand Marcos, Bashar al-Assad, or any other crumb-bum dictator — so many to choose from! Drizzle with the cultic self-regard of Kim Jong Un and the imperial delusions of Vladimir Putin. If we need one word to sum up this toxic buffet of kleptocracy, oligarchy, militarism, white supremacy, racism, misogyny, and plain old thuggery, “fascism” is close enough.
What we’re experiencing is way outside the bounds of “flawed leadership” or “contentious democratic governance.” Don’t normalize it.
Constitutional safeguards and institutional checks have proven perilously inadequate. Don’t dismiss the danger with pedantic reassurances about our democratic ideals.
Opposition to Trump isn’t an intellectual debate. Don’t warn me about dialogue collapsing; I’m pretty sure it already has.
If “escalating a culture of contempt” is the worst outcome one can imagine, I would suggest getting out of the house more often.
Luke Jaeger
Northampton