Defining Fascism

THE EPITHET "FASCISM" has become the go to insult right and left level at each other, referring to each other's perceived autocratic tendencies What does it mean? The root word "fasci" is from the ancient Latin, a noun describing a bundle of sticks tied together with a string wrapped around them, a symbol  of various functions of government concentrated in the hands of a single autocrat, concentrated power from previously dispersed power, as in a republican form of government. The symbol and name was first used to describe teh process by which Julius Caesar, a military hero supported by most of the Roman public, personally took on the powers formally hale by teh Roman Senate, consuls,, and tribunes. Thus the Roman republic became the Roman empire, and the republic was gone forever. To date, no form of democratic government has lasted long; they all devolve into autocracy. Democracy is messy and difficult to operate; people always grow tired of it, and turn power over to a strong man, to simplify their lives and give them perceived security. People inevitably prefer security over liberty. In 1922 Benito Mussolini came to power in Italy, and resurrected the term "fascism', and, after the fashion of all right wing autocrats,promised to restore Italy to the glories of its past, in this case, the glory of the ancient Roman empire. Fascism by definition is a conservative ideology, venerates the past, tradition, an imagined glorious time which has slipped away in modern times. Fascist demagogues rise to authoritarian power by seducing a large enough number of people discontent with modern culture and progress to exert political leverage in a fragmented political environment. Like Donald Trump, fascist demagogues attract a minority but a sufficiently potent plurality within the fragmented society to seize and hold power. These charismatic speakers boast of their unique ability to restore their country to a supposedly glorious past, and to solidify their support they constantly invent enemies of the country; other political parties, the media, foreigners, minorities, intellectuals. Once in power, fascist heads of state,, using distortion of fact, exaggeration, lies and myths to strengthen their loyalty and keep their fanatical supporters engaged. If all this doesn't sound familiar to Americans, it should.