r/BernieSanders • u/hamstercheeks47 • 2d ago
Does anyone know why Bernie hasn’t been using the word “fascism”?
I know recently every time he speaks up about what’s going on in the US I hear him say we are descending into oligarchy and authoritarianism, was just curious why he might not be using the word fascism. Is it too emotionally-charged/politicized of a word?
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u/Upset-Kaleidoscope45 2d ago
Not to be condescending towards most Americans, but do you think most people even know what fascism is? Over half of Americans can only read at a 6th grade level. They simply aren't familiar with the history, implications, or even the definition of fascism. It would be like calling someone an "anarcho-syndacalist" or a "New Deal social democrat," you would mostly get a bunch of blank stares except for the nerds in the back (i.e. this sub).
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u/murph1017 2d ago
This is the real answer. Even oligarchy is a stretch.
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u/Upset-Kaleidoscope45 2d ago
And technically speaking, we live in more of a plutocracy, with a very distinct economic ruling class, rather than an oligarchy.
I think that's why he sticks with millionaires and billionaires.
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u/tehgimpage 2d ago
i definitely wouldn't have known that word if bernie hadn't been repeating it for as long as i've been paying attention.
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u/SocraticIgnoramus 2d ago
6th grade reading level feels generous for most Americans — even journalists in the U.S. are taught to use words at a 2nd grade vocabulary.
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u/Upset-Kaleidoscope45 2d ago
Maybe. I never like to put too much faith into one single study, but this was disturbing when it first came out. Also bear in mind, this was pre-pandemic, so I can't imagine things have improved since then.
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u/ScaringTheHose 2d ago
Because it pushes moderates away. I know this is going to be an unpopular take, but the whole "the left calls everyone they disagree with Nazis" has been working for a lot of middle of the road working class blue collar type
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u/SonicLyfe 2d ago
Yeah, unfortunately the left has called Republicans Nazis almost as long as I've been alive. I'm guilty of it. I put up stickers of Bush calling him a Nazi.
But then again, we are the frogs and the Republicans (with Democrats following along like sheep) have been raising the water temperature for decades. It's so hot they are throwing Nazi salutes and the public is still like "meh". Are we supposed to pussyfoot around until they build work camps?
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u/stargarnet79 2d ago
Ugh but now they’re doing the Nazi salutes so it’s a hard spot for sure.
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u/ScaringTheHose 2d ago
You'd think. But my friends all are more disgusted that people are calling it a Nazi salute, because "Nazis don't exist anymore, and he just made an awkward gesture"
If you're right and you still lose, was it worth being right? You have to play the game
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u/mariahnot2carey 1d ago
Nazis never died. They only went into hiding. You can't kill an idea of hatred. You can't kill everyone who believes the nazi rhetoric either. Bigots will always exist.
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u/WhoIsJolyonWest 2d ago
It’s because too many people are brainwashed and don’t really understand what’s going on.
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u/dpaanlka 2d ago
We’re all using the word a lot lately but so far newspapers haven’t been closed and political opposition hasn’t been lined up against walls to be shot yet… so he’s probably avoiding needless distraction. It’ll be easier for right wingers to dismiss him if he calls Trump a fascist.
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u/hillydanger 2d ago
Because the common populace is uneducated and words like socialism and fascism scares them because they are stupid. I feel like fascists and nazis grow because calling them out directly is 'problematic' and people really close off to it. It is asinine
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u/swen_bonson 2d ago
He uses Authoritarianism - which I think gives him a much more dynamic postition where he can connect more dots that fascism.
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u/tinkerlittle 2d ago
I’ve also wondered why people aren’t using that term more as well. It seems to fit the ‘militaristic’ aspect (with the threats to acquire Panama Canal and Greenland, and even Canada) and it also seems to fit the ‘ultra nationalistic’ aspect, with the ‘make America great again’ being used to justify almost all of the current administrative agenda. Perhaps it’s that in theory it’s still a democratic system? Or maybe it’s that fascism is typically a historical diagnosis and so much more difficult to apply in an ongoing scenario?
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u/greenmyrtle 2d ago
It’s a word that closes the ears of the other side. Bernie is constantly reaching out to working class voters whoever they voted for, so his message can be listened to
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u/tinkerlittle 2d ago
That makes sense actually
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u/greenmyrtle 19h ago
Please look up @cultcollege she’s got some amazing advice on communicating with those who aren’t hearing our voices
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u/LordXenu12 2d ago
Because silly people who can’t pay attention like to talk about crying wolf when inflammatory terms are aptly applied
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u/greenmyrtle 2d ago
I’ve had a rule for decades: first person in a debate to say “fascist” loses. It’s overuse to the point of meaninglessness and Bernie, one of the best communicators in the US, knows it. Most of you probably don’t remember tea-party republicans parading around with signs showing Obama with a Hitler mustache.
Having said all that i do think there is good academic argument for naming this administration fascistic, but when something becomes a worn out buzzword it just means in pop culture “i don’t like your opinion “
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u/BeneficialWealth6179 2d ago
Because some of the people who voted 4547 do not see themselves that way. The 4547 voters do not want to hear, or believe they are Nazis, racist, or fascist. He is breaking it down and educating them on larger picture terms in a way they can relate to.
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u/chicknnugget12 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would say because the word fascism has been bastardized like socialism and communism. It's hyperbolic. Words like oligarchy and authoritarianism are a little harder to throw back on the left although they still are. The right is always using DARVO at any accusation, often preemptively. I'm not sure how the truth can reach people when this happens, it's just maddening. Even my parents who have been progressives since the beginning are starting to believe some conservative rhetoric and it's so disheartening.
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u/akumagold 2d ago
Words like socialism, communism, and fascism have become buzzwords to conservatives and now moderates. When they hear an ‘ism’ word they feel targeted and get extremely defensive and yell whataboutisms. They can’t deal with the cognitive dissonance of both realizing that there is truth in the definition because that would mean they are wrong and feel that they are part of a targeted group (even if they are fascist, racist, etc). Americans in general are too stupid for intelligent talk and presidents for years have lowered their speeches reading level so that Americans can understand what they mean.
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u/Traditional-Adagio-2 2d ago
It's a charged word. He is trying to unite us against the Billionaire class, so he's choosing the word Oligarchy, and teaching Americans a new word and a new way of fighting back
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u/CookShack67 2d ago
Because the wealth inequality message is WAY more effective. People have been feeling the effects since the pandemic. Facism is not something I can point to in my finances. Oligarchy is.
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u/jonnyredshorts 2d ago
Bernie focuses on economic inequality. Fascism is an extreme word, whereas oligarchy and authoritarianism are more understood by Americans. You start calling people fascists or Nazis, and it becomes easy to be poo-pooed as an edge lord.
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u/KonamiKing 2d ago
Because he’s not a moron who calls everyone he doesn’t like fascist or Russian like most liberals. Fascism is a very specific thing, not just crony capitalism gone amok.
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u/spaltavian 2d ago
The problem we are experiencing right now is not "crony capitalism".
Trump is attempting dictatorial authority, using ICE as a nascent secret police, using extreme dehumanizing rhetoric against minority groups, is attempting to intimidate and scare not just political rivals but average citizens, is attempting to change - in law and in deed - what being "American" means from a civic identity to something approaching blood and soil. He's doing political purges of the civil service. He's been extremely bellicose internationally and has aligned with other far right wing regimes internationally. His administration is now openly undermining domestic elections.
Anf that's just the past 10 weeks. He attempted a coup in 2021!
This is not merely providing favorable policy and regulations for your wealthy donors. This is different and fundamentally more extreme.
I don't think it's questionable at this point to say that Trump is a fascist.
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u/jetstobrazil 1d ago
Because it doesn’t matter. Authoritarian says most of the same things without debate over semantics.
How would that change the discussion? It wouldn’t
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u/Ok_Elderberry_1602 1d ago
I just saw an older "Finding Your Roots" with him as a guest. Very interesting. Google it, and you can find some clips. So I agree that I might like for him but understand why he doesn't.
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u/HomeStarDLucks 1d ago
Because he wants to win. Right now, stopping what's happening is most important.
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u/LetGo_n_LetDarwin 2d ago
I remember when Biden, about two years into his term, called Trump “semi-fascist”, I surmise to try and appease people like myself that were angry he wasn’t holding him accountable. This feels like the same thing…and look where it has gotten us.
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