So, trump just put forward a new national security directive that could have a chilling effect on free speech. Basically, he's using recent violent actions like the Charlie Kirk shooting as well as that guy who went postal at an ICE facility recently as an excuse to crack down on the left: ALL of the left.
Trump can't just make speech illegal, but he can direct law enforcement personnel to keep close tabs on anyone who expresses left wing thought. This includes people with anti christian, anti capitalist, or "anti american" sentiment. It also includes feminists, racial advocates, and anyone who doesn't support "traditional American values." Basically, he's claiming that anyone with any left wing inclinations at all has a marker for potential terrorism and should be watched more closely for unscrupulous behavior. Which is ridiculous.
Look, I don't deny some radical left terrorists exist, but they're not very large in number. If anything, RIGHT wing terrorism is a far greater problem than left wing terrorism. Ya know, the proud boys? The KKK and neo nazi types? The anti government extremists who form their own militias? Those are the real threats. of course, they're trump's allies, so will they face increased scrutiny? No, and if January 6th is any indication, he'll pardon them if they do do violent acts like..ya know...try to do an insurrection against our government? but that's trump for you. The "radical left" is the real problem while the radical right are allies to the administration.
As far as actual left wing radicals go, I want nothing to do with them. I "punch left" against the anti liberal democracy left regularly on this blog. I don't support their ideas, I don't support their radicalism, and never have. I've always advocated for peaceful reform within the system, not violence outside of it and against it. But, with Trump, it doesn't matter. If you aren't basically a right winger who supports christianity, capitalism, traditional values, and their form of rah rah american nationalism, you're an extremist according to this administration.
Guys, this is how fascism works. They claim emergencies to take away your civil liberties in the name of national security. The emergencies aren't even real in nature, they're just made up BS. And I know trump has gone so far to say that the left merely accusing them of "fascism" is itself inflammatory, but my take on that is if you dont wanna be accused of fascism, dont do fascist things. Seriously, I'm not one to just jump to "this person is literally hitler." I think that unless you can make a good argument, that going full godwin's law is in bad taste and if anything weakens your argument. But when youre cracking down on free speech itself, especially to this degree, I can't think of what this is if not fascist. This is an attempt to erode speech and scare people into censorship. Sure, it doesnt outright make holding left wing values illegal, but Trump also doesnt have the ability to implement that. So this is the best he can do. As I said, chilling effect.
F this guy. I can only hope that democracy can hold together until 2028.
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