They’re libertarian business men who want little kingdoms of their own, they’re willing to play on fascism to get it, but they’re not going to be gunning people down in the streets. Especially not now interest rates are being cut by the fed, and the COVID recovery is ready to boost the economy again.
Part of why Trump won was people calling them fascist garbage and stupid. All the people Trump makes feel good about America took offense to that.
Trump bought into their offense by saying “I’m with you, I’m on your side, I’ll even drive the garbage truck. Hahaha”
… and the left’s only response was to double down with “you look stupid and crazy for not automatically agreeing with us, with no discussion or appeal from us”.
That same cycle of LEFT: “you’re a stupid crazy fascist”
RIGHT: “no we’re playing to make ourseves feel happy and edgy, and unpopitician like”…
LEFT: “Well that’s stupid and shouldn’t be popular”
Went on for 8 years. That emotional interaction/cycle was on repeat.The majority didn’t give them an off ramp or even try to appeal to them, or reason with them.
Studying fascism so you can call them fascist idiots better isn’t going to change the emotions at play, if anything it’s going to amplify them.
No, you have to make America’s history of exploitation and greed, of racism and corruption, of international business cartels, seem good and like winning. Because that’s how he makes them feel: like it’s fun and good and winning to be an American.
They’re saying they don’t want serious politics as usual. You’re saying “if I just call them fascist idiots better they’ll agree with me that they’re fascist idiots!”
That’s not a discussion that’s going to resolve any different or better by perfecting your very serious and sad and angry condemnation of them.
Yes, it’s in the air, it’s in what he says, the lies he tells, and whose emotions they’re aimed at. It’s in the American exceptionalism he sells.
That’s the vision the left has to fit into, and it’s been done before. Bernie was doing it in 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nwRiuh1Cug
Compare that coherent vision of American exceptionalism with this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk4ueY9wVtA
Tell lies that make them feel better than the lies the other guy is telling.