Yes, It's Fascism • Hacker News Board

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#41

Post by renewiltord » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:01 PM UTC

It's true. This kind of authoritarian state violence is pretty reminiscent of fascism. Especially what looks like a gangland execution of a man who could only ever be described as exercising his 2A rights by carrying a firearm undrawn legally under his CCW. However, the list of things that have been called fascism are so long that I have to admit that my eyes initially glazed over the headline because many things have been described as fascism.

The US was supposedly ruled by a fascist in 2018: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/11/books/review/jason-stanle...

There was also supposedly fascism coming in 2016: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/this-is-how-fascism-comes...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09626...

And yet we had elections in 2020. So whatever, it was clearly not authoritarian fascism because we had free elections that the authoritarian fascist was ousted in. So what I think I experienced there was semantic satiation with the word fascism.

EDIT: To clarify position vis a vis reply, I am simply saying that I have heard the word 'fascism' so much I don't really react with any sense when someone says it. It's like hearing 'rape' or 'spying' on Hacker News. I assume it means "I was shown a banner ad for toothpaste after searching for toothpaste". In other contexts those words have negative valence of great significance. In this context, I just glaze over.

Likewise, the word 'fascism' from a left-leaning outlet could be anything from the end of medicare subsidies to a drone strike on an Islamic fundamentalist general to charging fares on a train.

Just sharing how I feel about it. It does not have that emotional strength that it originally felt.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#42

Post by fallinghawks » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #17

fugalfervor wrote: post #5

I am so terribly disturbed by the ICE shootings (and killings). There is no justification for them. This is supposed to be a nation of laws and the rights of those shot (to say nothing of those abducted and harassed, beaten, or removed without due process) has been so grossly violated that it's hard to believe. My heart aches for the countless victims of this band of fascists in the executive branch.

The killings are horrifying in their own right, but the most disturbing part to me is how quickly the Trump administration will just declare these people as "terrorists" before any kind of investigation has happened. This suggests to me there is some level of systemic intent (or at least ambivalence) with this administration's use of ICE's use of lethal force. It is beyond concerning. This admin is now very literally…

It's appalling how they go straight to making things up to suit their narrative, as if video evidence doesn't exist. They know the MAGAs will believe them, and may shed doubt on interpretation for people who aren't that curious about truth. A lie can travel halfway around the world, as they say.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#43

Post by mingus88 » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

quercus wrote: post #31

wslh wrote: post #18

I don’t understand how there aren’t demonstrations happening almost everywhere in the US by now.

Because most people are happy to see immigration laws enforced.

Then why isn’t ICE in the states with the most immigrants?

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#44

Post by karmakurtisaani » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

jay_kyburz wrote: post #16

testing22321 wrote: post #3

The parallels it dark times in history are too strong to ignore. The only question now is will the people be able to stop the takeover before it’s too late.

After reading this piece I was wondering if there were any examples of a fascist state that were deposed by peace, or whether armed conflict is now inevitable.

I think Spain transitioned from fascist dictatorship to democracy relatively peacefully.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#45

Post by lamontcg » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:03 PM UTC

People are kind of missing the fact that you can draw a line from slave catchers and slave patrols to ICE. You don't have to go through Germany.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#46

Post by blibble » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:03 PM UTC

renewiltord wrote: post #12

p4bl0 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone is able to access this, would it be possible to copy-paste the article content somewhere else? I'm stuck in a broken captcha loop.

Everyone is Cloudflare anti-DDoS protected these days. Even pastebin. But perhaps it works https://pastebin.com/fHXz3eHG

I wouldn't bet on the holding, the cloudflare CEO didn't seem above licking the ring

https://x.com/eastdakota/status/2009654937303896492

he's even using their rhetoric ("DISGUSTING")

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#47

Post by tombert » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:03 PM UTC

fallinghawks wrote: post #42

tombert wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The killings are horrifying in their own right, but the most disturbing part to me is how quickly the Trump administration will just declare these people as "terrorists" before any kind of investigation has happened. This suggests to me there is some level of systemic intent (or at least ambivalence) with this administration's use of ICE's use of lethal force. It is beyond concerning. This admin is now very literally…

It's appalling how they go straight to making things up to suit their narrative, as if video evidence doesn't exist. They know the MAGAs will believe them, and may shed doubt on interpretation for people who aren't that curious about truth. A lie can travel halfway around the world, as they say.

I find it so surreal that people are so willing to believe the lies of someone who was literally convicted of lying in order to make himself look better.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#48

Post by mickle00 » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

quercus wrote: post #31

wslh wrote: post #18

I don’t understand how there aren’t demonstrations happening almost everywhere in the US by now.

Because most people are happy to see immigration laws enforced.

source?

The mainstream media is not covering the many daily protests I see in my area, and hear and see from friends and family elsewhere. However, I do think the majority of Americans do not have the luxury (or fear of losing their job, and thus their healthcare, etc) to just walk out on their jobs or responsibilities, and the social safety nets here are limited (and being further cut by this administration).

I do think a general strike is the last chance at a non-violent resistance, but the oligarchs and powerful can weather that storm much more easily than the average American.

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#49

Post by cookszn » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

mingus88 wrote: post #43

quercus wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because most people are happy to see immigration laws enforced.

Then why isn’t ICE in the states with the most immigrants?

Immigrants? or illegal immigrants? There’s a huge distinction between an immigrant coming with a visa/green card with a set job and education (net positive to the country)

Re: Yes, It's Fascism

#50

Post by wslh » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 9:05 PM UTC

le-mark wrote: post #38

wslh wrote: post #18

I don’t understand how there aren’t demonstrations happening almost everywhere in the US by now.

Itis horrendous by any measure. But Fox and conservative media amplify and support it all. Trump voters by and large love the deportations; I know this from my in laws over the holidays. If a few eggs get broken they really don’t care. Notice red states have none of this because Trump focuses ICE on blue states. Protests are what Trump wants. He would like nothing better than marshal law and cancelling the mid terms.…

I also wonder how politically weak the US could be if its rivals and adversaries see this level of internal violence as an opportunity to step up pressure or exploit divisions at home.