Reply #76: Definitions are hazy

[Armstead]

Technically, fascism was originally the fusion of corporate power and state power in Italy. Thr fusion of state and corproate power certainly applies to the US today.

Over time, however, that word has been broadened to refer to any system of centralized power and suppression of individuals...So it has become all-purpose definition for repressive power. In that sense it is not really a description of an ideology (such as capitalism vs. socialism) but of a form of governing and structuring social/political power.

One could say that an Oligarchy is the same thing. It may not have the violent implications of fascism, but the end result is the same, extreme concentrations of wealth and power and surpression of all individuals outside of a closed circle at the top.

Perhaps "fascism" was a poor choice of phrase in the OP, because it is so loaded. "Anti-democracy Oligarchy" is probably more accurate at this point. However, that could easily slip into actual Fascism if we're not careful.

The words may differ, but the current and potential results are the same.