gotta get those numbers up i made 5mm in two days at the cme exchange from the 8th floor. oh and i was not an employee of a bank or anyone else. lol sli
$14MM in 18 months. https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/dests-everything-journal.332136/page-13 From home. With a dog on my lap.
Anyway, the discussion isn't about dick measurements. @MarkBrown uses AI to make his conservative point and it's a much clearer presentation than most could write. But that presentation glosses over historical facts, pointedly those that animate a plethora of Democratic constituents whose voices are just as valuable as those on the conservative side. For example, supporting laws to eliminate racism and discrimination shouldn't be a liberal or conservative source of contention but a shared American goal. After all, America became a nation from people who suffered racism or discrimination in their countries of origin. MAGA isn't Republican or Democrat, it's fascism as per Merriam-Webster's definition: A populist political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition. I think we should all agree that Trump and his cohort wish to establish a fascist America under the MAGA banner, using conservative values as the cover for their agenda.
Counterargument: MAGA Is Not Fascism The claim that “MAGA isn’t Republican or Democrat, it’s fascism” is an extreme mischaracterization that ignores both historical fascism and the actual policies of the Trump movement. While critics frequently throw around the term “fascism,” doing so distorts its meaning and serves as a political smear rather than a factual analysis. 1. MAGA Prioritizes Limited Government, Not Centralized Control Fascist regimes, by definition, demand centralized, autocratic control. Yet Trump’s presidency actively worked to reduce federal government power, favoring deregulation, state rights, and an “America First” approach to foreign policy. Trump’s tax cuts (Tax Foundation) and his push for decentralizing the education system (Heritage Foundation) directly oppose the big-government structure associated with fascist ideology. 2. Populism ≠ Fascism MAGA is a populist movement that emphasizes national sovereignty, economic protectionism, and cultural conservatism. These traits are not inherently fascist—many democratic nations embrace nationalist policies. Countries like Japan and Israel prioritize national identity while remaining democratic. Conflating nationalism with fascism is an intentional rhetorical strategy meant to delegitimize political opponents rather than engage in serious discussion. (The Federalist) 3. The Left’s Own History of Authoritarian Tendencies If the definition of fascism includes suppression of opposition, who exactly is using state and corporate power to censor speech and punish political dissent? The Biden administration openly coordinated with social media companies to silence political opponents (House Judiciary Report), while left-wing activists push for criminalizing political opposition under the label of “domestic extremism.” This behavior is far more in line with historical fascist tactics than anything Trump has done. 4. Trump’s Support Base Is Diverse The idea that MAGA is about white supremacy ignores reality. Trump gained ground with Latino and Black voters in 2020 (Pew Research) and his supporters include people from a wide range of ethnic and economic backgrounds. If MAGA were a fascist movement based on racial supremacy, why would it attract a growing minority voter base? Conclusion Throwing around the term “fascism” to describe political opponents is not only inaccurate but dangerously irresponsible. The reality is that MAGA is a nationalist-populist movement that, while controversial, is not about autocratic rule or racial supremacy. By branding all conservative movements as “fascist,” the left is engaging in exactly the kind of suppression of political opposition that they claim to oppose. Sources for Further Reading Heritage Foundation: "Trump Isn’t a Fascist. Here’s Why That Matters." The Federalist: "Democrats Call Everyone Fascist Because They Don’t Want to Debate You." Pew Research: "Behind Biden’s 2020 Victory: An Examination of Trump’s Gains Among Voters of Color." House Judiciary Report: "White House Colluded With Big Tech to Censor Americans."
scholars identify specific characteristics of fascist movements that they see parallels with in MAGA rhetoric and actions: The cultivation of a narrative about national decline and the need for restoration to a mythologized past greatness The portrayal of political opponents as existential enemies of the nation rather than legitimate opposition Attempts to delegitimize democratic institutions and election results The elevation of a charismatic leader figure claimed to uniquely represent the will of "the real people"
The battle of the Ai's (Perplexity.Ai) response to the above --- To provide a comprehensive response to the counterargument that "MAGA is not fascism," it is essential to critically analyze the claims made while incorporating historical, ideological, and contemporary evidence. --- ### Response to Key Claims #### 1. **MAGA Prioritizes Limited Government, Not Centralized Control** While the Trump administration pursued deregulation and tax cuts, these policies do not preclude authoritarian tendencies. Fascism historically has been flexible in its economic policies, often adopting positions that suit its consolidation of power. For example, Mussolini initially aligned with free-market principles before transitioning to corporatism. Trump's centralization of power within his administration—such as loyalty demands from officials and repeated challenges to institutional checks like the judiciary—aligns more closely with authoritarian governance than with limited government ideals[1][10]. Additionally, MAGA’s focus on executive authority (e.g., Trump’s frequent use of executive orders) contradicts the claim of decentralization[6]. --- #### 2. **Populism ≠ Fascism** It is true that populism and fascism are distinct, but they share overlapping traits such as the construction of a "pure people" versus "corrupt elites" narrative. Fascism adds an ultranationalist and exclusionary dimension, often scapegoating minorities or outsiders for societal decline. MAGA's rhetoric about immigrants, Muslims, and other marginalized groups echoes this exclusionary nationalism[1][5][10]. Furthermore, MAGA's cult of personality around Trump and its dismissal of electoral outcomes (e.g., claims of a stolen election) bear similarities to fascist movements' rejection of democratic norms[9][10]. --- #### 3. **The Left’s Own History of Authoritarian Tendencies** Pointing to alleged authoritarian actions by political opponents does not negate MAGA's own authoritarian characteristics. While concerns about censorship or state overreach are valid in any political context, MAGA’s actions—such as attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and incitement of violence during the January 6 Capitol attack—are more directly aligned with historical fascist tactics than generalized claims about left-wing suppression[1][10]. Fascist movements often use violence or threats to undermine democratic institutions, a pattern seen in MAGA-aligned groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers[8][10]. --- #### 4. **Trump’s Support Base Is Diverse** The diversity within Trump’s voter base does not inherently disprove accusations of fascist tendencies. Historical fascist movements also garnered support across diverse socioeconomic groups by appealing to economic grievances and nationalist sentiments. For instance, Mussolini and Hitler both attracted working-class and middle-class supporters despite their exclusionary ideologies. Similarly, MAGA's appeal to minority voters does not negate the movement's reliance on xenophobic and racially charged rhetoric[1][5]. --- ### Broader Context: MAGA and Fascist Parallels Historians and political scientists have identified several troubling parallels between MAGA and historical fascism: - **Cult of Personality:** Trump’s leadership style emphasizes personal loyalty over institutional norms, a hallmark of fascist leaders like Mussolini and Hitler[1][10]. - **Rejection of Democratic Norms:** MAGA’s refusal to accept electoral outcomes and its role in fomenting violence (e.g., January 6) align with fascist disdain for democratic processes[9][10]. - **Exclusionary Nationalism:** The movement’s focus on "America First" policies often marginalizes minorities and immigrants while promoting a narrow vision of national identity[1][5]. - **Propaganda and Disinformation:** Trump's frequent use of falsehoods (e.g., election fraud claims) mirrors historical fascists’ reliance on propaganda to manipulate public opinion[1][10]. While MAGA may not fully align with classical definitions of fascism, it exhibits significant authoritarian tendencies that warrant scrutiny. --- ### Conclusion The assertion that MAGA is not fascism oversimplifies both the historical definition of fascism and the ideological underpinnings of the movement. While there are distinctions between populism and fascism, MAGA's authoritarian elements—such as its cult of personality, rejection of democratic norms, and exclusionary nationalism—draw concerning parallels with historical fascist movements. Rather than dismissing these comparisons outright, it is crucial to critically examine how such movements challenge democratic institutions and societal cohesion[1][3][10]. Citations: [1] https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/3625814-biden-was-right-maga-ideology-is-fascism/ [2] https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/the-coming-maga-assault-on-capitalism [3] https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/populism-and-fascism/9E4DB77FA75066877DAF7CC59E7F8B0D [4] https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2024/05/21/the-rights-fascism-problem-00159265 [5] https://apnews.com/article/fascism-meaning-harris-trump-kelly-fda56694feb1825dcf6477c8081a563d [6] https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/...arged-maga-agenda-and-republicans-come-aboard [7] [8] [9] https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/09/0...-and-historians-hear-echoes-today-in-the-u-s/ [10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparisons_between_Donald_Trump_and_fascism
MAGA Is Not Fascism—It’s American Democracy in Action The claim that “MAGA is fascism” is nothing more than leftist fear-mongering designed to discredit a movement that represents tens of millions of real Americans. Let’s break down why this propaganda is baseless, hypocritical, and an insult to democracy. 1. The Majority of Americans DID Vote for Trump in Fair Elections In 2016, Trump won 304 electoral votes and beat Hillary Clinton fairly. The media pushed Russia collusion lies for years, but the Mueller Report found no evidence of collusion. In 2020, the election was highly suspect. There were serious irregularities, including mass mail-in ballots, questionable counting practices, and reports of ballot harvesting in key swing states. The 2024 election is shaping up to be a MAGA landslide because people are fed up with Biden’s failures, open borders, economic decline, and attacks on free speech. Fact Check: The real threat to democracy is the left’s attempt to suppress Trump’s support through lawfare, censorship, and weaponizing government agencies. Sources: Rasmussen Reports: Majority of Americans Believe 2020 Election Had Issues The Federalist: How Media Gaslit Americans About Election Integrity 2. Trump’s Policies Were the Opposite of Fascism—They Were Pro-Freedom and Pro-Constitution A true fascist government consolidates power, crushes opposition, and limits personal freedom. Trump did the opposite. ✅ Trump Cut Regulations and Shrunk Government: Fascism demands government control over businesses, but Trump slashed regulations and let businesses thrive. He cut taxes for working Americans and small businesses, fueling a booming economy. ✅ Trump Respected State Rights and Limited Federal Power: He didn’t force lockdowns during COVID—he left decisions to the states. Biden and the left pushed vaccine mandates, censorship, and unconstitutional lockdowns. He fought for election integrity and wanted states to have control over voting laws—Democrats fought to federalize elections (which IS fascist). ✅ Trump Strengthened Constitutional Freedoms: 2A: Trump supported gun rights. Fascists disarm their citizens—Democrats want gun control. 1A: Trump opposed censorship. The left pushed Big Tech and government collusion to silence conservatives (e.g., Twitter Files). Sources: Tax Foundation: How Trump’s Tax Cuts Benefited Americans Heritage: Trump’s Deregulation Success Fox News: Twitter Files Expose Biden Admin’s Role in Censorship 3. “Fascism” Is Just a Smear the Left Uses to Silence Opposition The real authoritarian movement in America is coming from the Democratic Party and the radical left. Biden’s DOJ is prosecuting political opponents. This is what dictators do—not Trump. The FBI spied on Trump’s campaign in 2016 under false pretenses (Crossfire Hurricane). That’s authoritarian abuse of power. FACT: The left labels anything they don’t like as “fascism” to justify political persecution and censorship. If you disagree with them, you’re an "extremist." Sources: WSJ: FBI’s Illegal Spying on Trump Campaign NY Post: Biden DOJ’s Political Witch Hunts 4. MAGA Is a Multi-Racial, Working-Class Movement—Not “White Nationalism” Trump’s support among Hispanic, Black, and Asian voters grew massively between 2016 and 2020. Hispanic Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration and voted for Trump in huge numbers. Black Americans benefited more from Trump’s economy than any president in recent history. Unemployment hit record lows for minorities under Trump. If Trump was a racist fascist, why would millions of non-white Americans vote for him? Sources: Pew Research: Trump Gained Ground Among Black and Hispanic Voters Forbes: Trump’s Record Low Black Unemployment 5. January 6th Was Not an “Insurrection”—That’s More Propaganda If it was an actual insurrection, why were no weapons found? The FBI confirmed that no Trump supporters were armed and there was no organized coup attempt. The only person killed was Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, an unarmed veteran, shot by Capitol Police. Meanwhile, Democrats defended violent BLM riots that destroyed cities and led to deaths. Sources: Revolver: The January 6th Narrative Is a Lie Daily Caller: FBI Admits No Coordinated Attack on Capitol Conclusion: The REAL Authoritarians Are the Ones Calling You “Fascist” The left is pushing outright lies to smear Trump and his supporters because they fear a MAGA comeback in 2024. Their real goal is to silence opposition, rig elections, and crush free speech. The majority of REAL Americans want Trump. That’s why they are so desperate to stop him. Stand strong. Spread the truth. The real fight for America is just beginning.