It’s a stupid debate. Obviously Trump isn’t Hitler and his followers aren’t Nazi storm troopers. And the left isn’t a bunch of Stalinist communists. We need to get over this kind of rhetoric as it makes it impossible to move forward. If the right really were Nazi fascists we should violently resist them. If the left were truly bent on establishing a Stalinist dictatorship, they too should likewise be resisted with all the weapons we should muster.
That being said, there are indeed parallels between Hitler and Trump that are interesting. He certainly has flirted with many fascist ideals, hyper nationalism, anti democratic tendencies, racism, and encouraging violence. But Hitler makes him look like a complete amateur. Within 2 1/2 years into his regime, Hitler was ruling by decree, had suppressed all dissent, and shot, without trial, his rivals for power. And nobody was daring to stand in his way.
The real problem is what comes after Trump. That the Republican Party will come to its senses and start nominating principled conservatives is a pipe dream. As global resources become scarce, climate change impacts resource allocation and migration, and as economic inequality heats up, Americans may very well turn to someone who will promise to truly fix everything, if he is given absolute power. My biggest fear is that a Democrat will win in 2020, but an inevitable economic slowdown results in large Republican majorities in both Houses and in state houses, and they will be trying to outdo each other on their so called Trump values. In 2024, they’ll clinch the White House with super majorities and push through a variety of changes that will ensure they remain in power indefinitely. Perhaps even Constitutional changes as well.
Things are going to be bad for a long time. Probably the rest of my life time. Eventually the pendulum will swing back, but not before mid century.
I hate to say it, but perhaps the only thing that can save us is Trump's re-election. Then he'll take the blame for the economic slowdown of the 2020’s.
SLD
