What is your definition of "fascist?"

People talk about it a lot, but they seem to just mean "people I disagree with" or Republicans. Is that your definition?

Mussolini described fascism as the merger of corporatism and the government. "All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."

Say what you like about Mussolini, but I think we can all agree he was an expert on the matter. Following his definition, I would define the 3 great powers like this:

Russia: Authoritarian. "Thou Shall Not". The government doesn't control every aspect of your life, but you better not cross their lines and you don't get much of a say about the rules.

China: Fascist and Totalitarian. "Thou Shall" Do what you're told. Automatic J-walking detection and fines. Rules about how many children you can have. Social credit score.

America: Borderline fascist. Thou Shall Not is creeping into Thou Shall. Middle class business has been destroyed and replaced with corporate business. Corporate social media is directly manipulated by government to censor and control public opinion.

Fascism differs from communism in that there is business and a competitive economy. It is similar in that government reigns supreme and can force corporations to obey and act against their own interests for the common good. As the German fascists put it, "Fascism is like communism, except you get to keep the money you make."

The media and pubic obsession with Trump is a juvenile distraction. Trump is a mild and toothless authoritarian who likes to run his mouth and sometimes says mean things about minorities. He's been out of office for two years and people are still fixated on him while ignoring the creeping fascism and totalitariansm taking root in all our institutions.

Freedom is dying all around us, and people are cheering it on.