2 weeks Ago
Heather Cox Richardson recently wrote on Trump as a fascist. She describes fascism as rule by the elite few without obstacles to them achieving what they believe is best for everyone, because they know what’s best. The left uses "fascist" as a slur, just as the right uses “socialist.
” But actually, we on the left kind of like socialist ideas, likewise for the right and fascism. It would be fantastic if this really were a debate on two philosophies of government. There is a lot to be said for fascism.
Weren't we, on the left, really excited when Obama overstepped presidential power to protect the environment? Wouldn't we just love it if Harris gets elected and has the power to start making significant efforts to fight climate change? How about if she could give us national health? Maybe end Citizen's United? But it's all those pesky Republicans in Congress that prevent it. Democracy. The thing is, we believe we know better than them what's good for all of us.
For democracy to work, we really need to fix how Congress works. It needs to deliberate and compromise and come up with legislation that's balanced, like passing a law on abortion that balances the pro-life and pro-choice sentiments and stops it from being a political football. Sigh.
I don't see how we'll stop the push towards fascism without making democracy a better choice. Dennis Merritt Shelburne Falls.
