Fascism

Let’s talk about fascism. You know, that thing we all thought was safely tucked away in the history books, next to Mussolini’s bad hair decisions and Hitler’s failed art career. But here’s the thing about fascism—it’s like herpes. It never really goes away. It just lies dormant, waiting for the right conditions to flare up again. And lately, it feels like we’re living in a world of political stress balls, squeezing harder and harder until, voilà! fascism pops up like a zit on prom night.

So, what is fascism? Let’s break it down, because apparently, some of us missed the memo. Fascism is a one-party state, classically speaking, with an all-powerful dictator at the top. Think of it as a corporate hierarchy, but instead of a CEO, you’ve got a guy in a military uniform who’s really into parades. And instead of quarterly earnings, the ROI is oppression.

Mussolini, the guy who basically invented fascism (and also coined the term, because branding matters), once said, “Everything in the state, nothing outside the state.” Sounds like a bad relationship. “Baby, you’re mine. No hobbies, no friends, no independent thought, no freedom. Just me. Forever.” That’s fascism in a nutshell. The state reaches into every corner of your life, your job, your unions, your classroom, your thoughts, your bedroom, your womb.

Here’s the kicker: fascism doesn’t just stop at controlling your life. It’s also expansionist. It’s like the guy at the buffet who doesn’t just take all the shrimp, he takes your plate too. Fascism thrives on conquest, on imperialism, on the idea that more is never enough. And how does it achieve that? Violence. Sweet, sweet violence.

Fascists love violence. They’re like the kid who gets a BB gun for Christmas and immediately starts shooting squirrels. Hitler, Mussolini, Franco… they all believed violence was the ultimate tool for change. And not just any violence—organized, state-sanctioned violence. The kind where regular people are turned into informants, vigilantes, and enforcers. It’s like a neighborhood watch program, but instead of looking out for porch pirates, you’re ratting out your Jewish neighbors, your socialist uncle, or the pregnant girlfriend of your cousin.

And here’s the thing about fascism: it needs an enemy. So it relentlessly looks for an enemy, and if none is to be found, well, one is manufactured. That enemy could be racial, like in Nazi Germany, where Jews, Roma, and others were scapegoated for all of society’s problems. Or it could be political, like in Italy or Spain, where communists, socialists, intellectuals, and anyone who dared to question the regime were labeled as traitors. But the goal is always the same: extermination. Fascism doesn’t just want to defeat its enemies—it wants to erase them.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Fascism isn’t just a historical curiosity. It’s a dormant virus. It’s a reminder of what happens when we trade freedom for the illusion of security, when we let fear dictate our politics, and when we stop seeing each other as human beings and start seeing each other as enemies.

Fascism isn’t just about dictators and violence. It’s about us. It’s about what we’re willing to tolerate, what we’re willing to ignore, and what we’re willing to fight for. Because here’s the truth: fascism doesn’t rise in a vacuum. It rises when good people do nothing. So, let’s do something. Let’s pay attention. Let’s speak up. And let’s make sure fascism stays where it belongs., in the history books.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go scream into a pillow for 20 minutes and then mutter “what the actual fuck” while I go on with the rest of my day.