61–70 of 89 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think that would definitely make it a more precise polemic, but the incorrect use of the word seems more of a symptom of the author's sloppiness than anything else.
You hate polemic , I dislike milquetoast.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Basing the definition on actual examples of fascist movements is not pigeonholing, it's being accurate.
So your definition is based on it being incorrect to call anything else besides Mussolini's Italy or Hitler's Germany fascist? That's not particularly germane to discussion or analysis, which is why I was asking for other general definitions.
Is there anything that Doctorow actually enjoys and likes? I used to read his blog but it's constant negativity. He is not wrong at all but it's just not good for our mental health either.
> Oh, nothing, just individually locating and downloading 9.5gb worth of (200+) high-rez (3600px wide) scans out of a 16th C book of extremely satisfying machine from the Library of Congress, one at a time, labeling them, and putting them in a folder for future collage work.
[1] https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/19/now-we-are-six/
[2] https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/03/cannier-valley/
[3] https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/04/slice-bees/
[4] https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/02/constant-reader/
[5] https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net/post/3mgpz...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Will you enlighten us?
There is no legal requirement to maximize shareholder value. The very idea is an economic theory popularized by Friedman and his students. It gained popularity in corporate governance since then but it’s not a legal requirement it’s a shareholder preference. But that preference is violated all the time. People often cite a 1919 era case from Henry ford because it has a pithy statement but the court in that case expli…
Legal defense instead of offense. IANAL, correct me please.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is no legal requirement to maximize shareholder value. The very idea is an economic theory popularized by Friedman and his students. It gained popularity in corporate governance since then but it’s not a legal requirement it’s a shareholder preference. But that preference is violated all the time. People often cite a 1919 era case from Henry ford because it has a pithy statement but the court in that case expli…
I was under the impression the application was more akin to 'fiduciary duty provides an executive shield for morally reprehensible corporate choices' rather than 'it provides an ability to sue someone for not following it.' Legal defense instead of offense. IANAL, correct me please.
But to the point of this thread, there is no legal requirement that makes it so a boards fiduciary duty is in conflict with broader moral decisions, nor one that requires them to forget about their humanity when applying their duties as corporate officers.
If they are assholes, its because they are assholes, not because they are required to do so by their obligations to the corporation.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Basing the definition on actual examples of fascist movements is not pigeonholing, it's being accurate.
So your definition is based on it being incorrect to call anything else besides Mussolini's Italy or Hitler's Germany fascist? That's not particularly germane to discussion or analysis, which is why I was asking for other general definitions.
"My side" is my side because I perceive this movement as fascist, or at least close enough to oppose it on that grounds.
I was much happier both sidesing when digital authoritarianism was centered around theoretically-voluntary digital services, and both the red and blue political teams were pushing bureaucratic authoritarianism.
In my estimation, the red team has switched to autocratic authoritarianism, taken control of the digital authoritarian systems of surveillance and control, while engaging in populist rallying with most of the standard tropes of fascists.
As I said, I am open to examining whether it makes sense to apply the term fascist or not. But to do that we need a definition that lays out the general characteristics of fascism, at least as you see it. So far neither of you have supplied one.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So your definition is based on it being incorrect to call anything else besides Mussolini's Italy or Hitler's Germany fascist? That's not particularly germane to discussion or analysis, which is why I was asking for other general definitions.
@ratrace [dead]: "My side" is my side because I perceive this movement as fascist, or at least close enough to oppose it on that grounds. I was much happier both sidesing when digital authoritarianism was centered around theoretically-voluntary digital services, and both the red and blue political teams were pushing bureaucratic authoritarianism. In my estimation, the red team has switched to autocratic authoritarian…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So your definition is based on it being incorrect to call anything else besides Mussolini's Italy or Hitler's Germany fascist? That's not particularly germane to discussion or analysis, which is why I was asking for other general definitions.
@ratrace [dead]: "My side" is my side because I perceive this movement as fascist, or at least close enough to oppose it on that grounds. I was much happier both sidesing when digital authoritarianism was centered around theoretically-voluntary digital services, and both the red and blue political teams were pushing bureaucratic authoritarianism. In my estimation, the red team has switched to autocratic authoritarian…
Associated with a Centralized Autocratic Government Headed by a Dictatorial Leader This one is almost too easy: Trump says, “‘You’re not going to be a dictator are you?’ I said ‘No, no, no, other than day one.”...
Severe Economic and Social Regimentation Did we mention the “largest deportation operation in American history“? And promises to invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798...
Forcible Suppression of Opposition This is by far the most important component of the definition and the one that is the easiest to document in Trump’s own words... "
Bret Deveraux, American historian, October 25, 2024 https://acoup.blog/2024/10/25/new-acquisitions-1933-and-the-...
It's a long blog post and the definitions are more detailed (hence the ellipses) and compared to Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism. Worth a read, paticularly if you are in search of definitions and examples.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
@ratrace [dead]: "My side" is my side because I perceive this movement as fascist, or at least close enough to oppose it on that grounds. I was much happier both sidesing when digital authoritarianism was centered around theoretically-voluntary digital services, and both the red and blue political teams were pushing bureaucratic authoritarianism. In my estimation, the red team has switched to autocratic authoritarian…
" Exalts the Nation and Often Race Above the Individual Donald Trump claims immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our nation,” a turn of phrase used by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf... Associated with a Centralized Autocratic Government Headed by a Dictatorial Leader This one is almost too easy: Trump says, “‘You’re not going to be a dictator are you?’ I said ‘No, no, no, other than day one.”... Severe Economic and Soc…