I am writing this letter to explain what a fascist is and prove that Donald Trump is in fact a fascist who is harming people similar to the way fascist Adolf Hitler did to Germans in the 1930s.
I am going to compare Hitler’s version of fascism to Trump’s version of fascism.
There are many characteristics associated with fascism. I am going to just talk about the three most important; totalitarianism, racism sold as nationalism and using the military on their own citizens.
Hitler had authoritarian control over Germany in the 30s until the end of World War II. In 1933, Hitler was able to push through The Enabling Act, which enabled his cabinet to legislate without parliamentary approval. In 1934, Germany’s president died. Hitler was able to consolidate the offices of president and chancellor into one person:, he became The Fuhrer, the absolute dictator.
President Trump has taken a different path to the same goal, consolidating power for himself. He declared an economic emergency so that he alone can set tariffs on every country in the world. He uses executive orders rather than going through Congress to pass laws. He has issued executive orders at a faster rate than any other American president except Franklin Roosevelt.
He has fired more government workers than any other president.
Hitler claimed the Aryan race was superior to all other races, and he blamed Jewish people for all of the economic and social problems Germany had. Hitler insisted all Germans live according to traditional conservative Christian lifestyles.
Donald Trump demonstrates racism by demonizing Hispanic immigrants, lying about their crime rate, and banning travel from predominantly Muslim countries. Trump’s campaign speeches stir up anger against Black and brown people in the same way that Hitler stirred up anger against Jewish people.
He supports Christian nationalism and ignores the constitutional separation of church and state.
Hiltler used the official German military and the Nazi paramilitary organizations (the SA and the SS) against German citizens to consolidate power and to enforce Nazi ideology. In 1934, during The Night of the Long Knives, Hitler used the SS and the regular army to kill 85 of his political rivals.
Trump has sent either the military or the National Guard to Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Portland and Memphis. He has turned ICE into a paramilitary organization that hides their identity while kidnapping people off the street and ignoring standard police procedures. Thirty immigrants have already died in ICE detention facilities.
Our grandparents fought fascism. Will you? A group of concerned citizens will be demonstrating against fascism on Saturday, Jan. 10, 1 to 2:30 p.m. at 1129 Harrison Ave. in Centralia. Please join us.
Daniel Meekof
Packwood
