Maku Atherton
@makuatherton.bsky.social
Proud centrist against the Far Right and Far Left.
I don't care about pronouns, so use whatever you like.
I don't care about pronouns, so use whatever you like.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
How'd that go
I agree generally, but Tom posits a world in which fascism is so complete that no one ever boldly resists it, which was not present even under Naziism.
November 16, 2025 at 6:22 AM
How'd that go
Reposted by Maku Atherton
This is an important part of the problem. If you tell people that what they're seeing in 2025 (or what they saw under Nixon or Reagan or Bush) is "fascism," they'll say: Well, I guess it's not so bad.
Or to put it another way, if we insist on saying the way the USA functions right now is "fascism", then it might lead a lot of people to think "hey, fascism isn't so bad, what's all the fuss about?".
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
November 16, 2025 at 4:54 AM
This is an important part of the problem. If you tell people that what they're seeing in 2025 (or what they saw under Nixon or Reagan or Bush) is "fascism," they'll say: Well, I guess it's not so bad.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Or to put it another way, if we insist on saying the way the USA functions right now is "fascism", then it might lead a lot of people to think "hey, fascism isn't so bad, what's all the fuss about?".
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
November 16, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Or to put it another way, if we insist on saying the way the USA functions right now is "fascism", then it might lead a lot of people to think "hey, fascism isn't so bad, what's all the fuss about?".
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
Let's not neutralize the word or the concept by pretending that it is upon us now.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
One thing at a time, doc
November 16, 2025 at 4:17 AM
One thing at a time, doc
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Now do "genocide"
My mistake has been trying to explain what "fascism" is to people who don't care what it is.
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Now do "genocide"
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Your point about "the actions show you that they don't really believe that" is important. If people who say "we live under fascism" genuinely believed it, they'd be living their lives verrrrrry differently
November 16, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Your point about "the actions show you that they don't really believe that" is important. If people who say "we live under fascism" genuinely believed it, they'd be living their lives verrrrrry differently
Reposted by Maku Atherton
I’m not always a fan, but he’s entirely right. Everyone telling you that “we live in a fascist country” or similar shit, by their own actions they show you they don’t actually believe that. It’s fair to worry that things might go sideways, but they haven’t gone that way yet.
My mistake has been trying to explain what "fascism" is to people who don't care what it is.
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
November 16, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I’m not always a fan, but he’s entirely right. Everyone telling you that “we live in a fascist country” or similar shit, by their own actions they show you they don’t actually believe that. It’s fair to worry that things might go sideways, but they haven’t gone that way yet.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
sigh
Okay, let's play *this* stupid game.
If you're a mouse, it matters a whole lot of you're running from something too big to chase you under a bed.
But here's the reason I hate this fascism argument so much:
YOU ARE NOT A MOUSE
Stop internalizing that level of defeatism.
Okay, let's play *this* stupid game.
If you're a mouse, it matters a whole lot of you're running from something too big to chase you under a bed.
But here's the reason I hate this fascism argument so much:
YOU ARE NOT A MOUSE
Stop internalizing that level of defeatism.
but if you're a mouse, a tiger or house cat is a distinction without a difference, no?
November 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
sigh
Okay, let's play *this* stupid game.
If you're a mouse, it matters a whole lot of you're running from something too big to chase you under a bed.
But here's the reason I hate this fascism argument so much:
YOU ARE NOT A MOUSE
Stop internalizing that level of defeatism.
Okay, let's play *this* stupid game.
If you're a mouse, it matters a whole lot of you're running from something too big to chase you under a bed.
But here's the reason I hate this fascism argument so much:
YOU ARE NOT A MOUSE
Stop internalizing that level of defeatism.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
but if you're a mouse, a tiger or house cat is a distinction without a difference, no?
November 16, 2025 at 1:47 AM
but if you're a mouse, a tiger or house cat is a distinction without a difference, no?
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Understandable. Fascism is part of totalitarianism, which is part of authoritarianism.
Think of it like Family/Genus/Species in biology:
Family - Authoritarian
Genus - Totalitarian
Species - Fascist
Getting the Family right and Species wrong is the difference between a tiger and a house cat!
Think of it like Family/Genus/Species in biology:
Family - Authoritarian
Genus - Totalitarian
Species - Fascist
Getting the Family right and Species wrong is the difference between a tiger and a house cat!
As just an average person, I really tried to understand the differences among fascism, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and woof it was hard to really grok.
November 16, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Understandable. Fascism is part of totalitarianism, which is part of authoritarianism.
Think of it like Family/Genus/Species in biology:
Family - Authoritarian
Genus - Totalitarian
Species - Fascist
Getting the Family right and Species wrong is the difference between a tiger and a house cat!
Think of it like Family/Genus/Species in biology:
Family - Authoritarian
Genus - Totalitarian
Species - Fascist
Getting the Family right and Species wrong is the difference between a tiger and a house cat!
Reposted by Maku Atherton
As just an average person, I really tried to understand the differences among fascism, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and woof it was hard to really grok.
November 16, 2025 at 1:32 AM
As just an average person, I really tried to understand the differences among fascism, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and woof it was hard to really grok.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
I was a political scientist in a previous life, and the nature of authoritarianism, the variants of authoritarian regimes, and the peculiar nature of fascism were, and are, lively debates. They just don't interest people who, for various reasons, want to conflate all bad things under "fascism"
Man, every time I check in on you, you're busy litigating the most tiresome arguments of the modern era.
November 16, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I was a political scientist in a previous life, and the nature of authoritarianism, the variants of authoritarian regimes, and the peculiar nature of fascism were, and are, lively debates. They just don't interest people who, for various reasons, want to conflate all bad things under "fascism"
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Man, every time I check in on you, you're busy litigating the most tiresome arguments of the modern era.
November 16, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Man, every time I check in on you, you're busy litigating the most tiresome arguments of the modern era.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
I taught for 35 years, and watched economic determinism give way to racial determinism. I am amazed that the Marxists of the 70s are gone; no one really thinks about "class" as an explanation now.
November 16, 2025 at 6:37 AM
I taught for 35 years, and watched economic determinism give way to racial determinism. I am amazed that the Marxists of the 70s are gone; no one really thinks about "class" as an explanation now.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
We're working you, though.
Signed, the Liberals.
Signed, the Liberals.
November 16, 2025 at 6:54 AM
We're working you, though.
Signed, the Liberals.
Signed, the Liberals.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
One place where the right-wing critique of universities has some traction is that a generation of Americans believe that *everything* is about race
I miss the days when leftists - who once understood Marx - cared about class.
Also, I'm not a liberal. (I don't think.)
I miss the days when leftists - who once understood Marx - cared about class.
Also, I'm not a liberal. (I don't think.)
White libs are doing the white lib thing again. "It can't possibly be happening because I'm not *personally* affected yet".
Thousands of people have been dragged off the street in unmarked vehicles, but until it happens to a dozen white dentists they will continue to bury their heads in the sand.
Thousands of people have been dragged off the street in unmarked vehicles, but until it happens to a dozen white dentists they will continue to bury their heads in the sand.
My mistake has been trying to explain what "fascism" is to people who don't care what it is.
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
So I'm going to try something else. Let's do this as a practical thought exercise.
If America *were* fascist *today* - what would you have to do differently in your daily life? /1
November 16, 2025 at 5:23 AM
One place where the right-wing critique of universities has some traction is that a generation of Americans believe that *everything* is about race
I miss the days when leftists - who once understood Marx - cared about class.
Also, I'm not a liberal. (I don't think.)
I miss the days when leftists - who once understood Marx - cared about class.
Also, I'm not a liberal. (I don't think.)
Reposted by Maku Atherton
The actual french resistance included some non-trivial amount of literal fascists whose problem with the Nazis was that they weren’t the same kind of fascist they were. Shit isn’t always pretty and you don’t have to love someone to be glad they’re aiming at the same target you are.
November 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The actual french resistance included some non-trivial amount of literal fascists whose problem with the Nazis was that they weren’t the same kind of fascist they were. Shit isn’t always pretty and you don’t have to love someone to be glad they’re aiming at the same target you are.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
We unironically should get comfortable with “welcoming to the resistance” people who are otherwise pretty loathsome, and in retrospect the fact that that could even be a punchline shows how much less dire the situation was the first time around.
Securing defections from the authoritarian regime is the centerpiece of any successful pro-democracy resistance.
Politics isn’t fandom—when someone leaves the authoritarian coalition, we should take it as a win.
Politics isn’t fandom—when someone leaves the authoritarian coalition, we should take it as a win.
BASH: We have seen these attacks from the president at other people. It's not new. And I haven't heard you speak out about it until it was directed at you.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: I think that's fair criticism. And I would like to say, humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics.
MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE: I think that's fair criticism. And I would like to say, humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics.
November 16, 2025 at 8:18 PM
We unironically should get comfortable with “welcoming to the resistance” people who are otherwise pretty loathsome, and in retrospect the fact that that could even be a punchline shows how much less dire the situation was the first time around.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
This is part of it, and I might just sit down and give you all a final Ted Talk, but yes, fascism relies on an ideology. And no, racism, corruption, and douchiness are not an ideology. Specifically, fascism has a lot to say about Man and the State. (One is nothing, the other is everything.)
Fascism requires a striving for a greater ideal, an Übermensch. It’s what pulls people in. Trump has none of this, he’s a tin pot dictator. And ignoring this important part, and smudging the language, will make it harder to describe if (or when) it comes along.
November 16, 2025 at 1:16 AM
This is part of it, and I might just sit down and give you all a final Ted Talk, but yes, fascism relies on an ideology. And no, racism, corruption, and douchiness are not an ideology. Specifically, fascism has a lot to say about Man and the State. (One is nothing, the other is everything.)
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Totally agree. Musk and his Silicon Valley ilk are attempting to create heaven on earth just like the Nazis and Communists attempted. Trump is more along the lines of a South American or African dictator. No real ideology besides enriching himself and an obsessive need for adulation.
November 16, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Totally agree. Musk and his Silicon Valley ilk are attempting to create heaven on earth just like the Nazis and Communists attempted. Trump is more along the lines of a South American or African dictator. No real ideology besides enriching himself and an obsessive need for adulation.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Musk does have this fascist drive. He believes he can remake the world and man kind in a new form. It’s an idealism that may take hold when Trump supporters twig that they’ve been had.
It’s an important distinction.
It’s an important distinction.
November 16, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Musk does have this fascist drive. He believes he can remake the world and man kind in a new form. It’s an idealism that may take hold when Trump supporters twig that they’ve been had.
It’s an important distinction.
It’s an important distinction.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
I think there is plenty of ideological at work, or at least being tapped. bsky.app/profile/prch...
I'm going to repost what I feel is one of my most important threads on Twitter:
1. "Fascism" is an emotive term, often abused. But it has a real historical meaning, which we should examine dispassionately. What are its main elements?
1. "Fascism" is an emotive term, often abused. But it has a real historical meaning, which we should examine dispassionately. What are its main elements?
November 16, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I think there is plenty of ideological at work, or at least being tapped. bsky.app/profile/prch...
Reposted by Maku Atherton
Fascism requires a striving for a greater ideal, an Übermensch. It’s what pulls people in. Trump has none of this, he’s a tin pot dictator. And ignoring this important part, and smudging the language, will make it harder to describe if (or when) it comes along.
November 16, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Fascism requires a striving for a greater ideal, an Übermensch. It’s what pulls people in. Trump has none of this, he’s a tin pot dictator. And ignoring this important part, and smudging the language, will make it harder to describe if (or when) it comes along.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
That's what I mean by "motte and bailey". I'm responding to an instance where he seems to go well beyond criticizing someone for saying "we are already living under fascism", but only that Trump is doing very fascist things.
November 16, 2025 at 3:35 AM
That's what I mean by "motte and bailey". I'm responding to an instance where he seems to go well beyond criticizing someone for saying "we are already living under fascism", but only that Trump is doing very fascist things.
Reposted by Maku Atherton
"you get frustrated when someone points out (correctly) that Trump is definitely trying to get us there."
Does he? He's frequently pointed out that Trump is a fascist.
Does he? He's frequently pointed out that Trump is a fascist.
November 16, 2025 at 3:33 AM
"you get frustrated when someone points out (correctly) that Trump is definitely trying to get us there."
Does he? He's frequently pointed out that Trump is a fascist.
Does he? He's frequently pointed out that Trump is a fascist.