By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The author asserts that the MAGA movement echoes the spirit of fascism, with its nostalgia for the pre-welfare-state 1920s. He highlights Peter Thiel’s lament for the era before the welfare state and women’s suffrage, viewing it as the last truly optimistic time. The author then criticizes Stephen Miller’s condemnation of the post-World War II era, which is seen as a period of Western weakness. Ultimately, the piece concludes that MAGA’s theorists yearn for the ideas and policies that led to the failures of the 1930s.
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MAGA’s Lust for Fascism: Trump’s ideologues want a smaller, meaner, whiter America. It’s a stark reality, isn’t it? The sheer ignorance and willful blindness of the MAGA movement is truly staggering. They don’t grasp the complexities of running a vast nation, relying instead on simplistic narratives fed to them by opportunistic figures. They’re easily swayed by those who promise to dismantle the systems that, ironically, protect them.
Take, for instance, the lack of understanding about fundamental principles like the independence of the Department of Justice. Many in MAGA are completely clueless about its significance. They are unwilling to read or investigate, preferring the loudest voices on the radio. They seem blissfully unaware of how institutions like the CDC and FDA safeguard millions of lives, working quietly in the background.
This ignorance and the resulting policies will ultimately harm MAGA voters the most. Their children might suffer from preventable diseases, they might face exploitation in the workforce, and their children will have limited opportunities. Yet, they remain emotionally stunted, incapable of acknowledging their role in their own misfortune. Their children will die of preventable diseases because they distrust vaccinations. They’ll be working for slave wages because they were pitted against unions. Their children will have no opportunities because they were turned against the higher education which the rich covet and take full advantage of.
This is a vulgar, cartoonish, cultish, and incoherent movement, and it’s deeply troubling because it echoes the rise of fascism a century ago. It’s frightening how easily they embrace the spirit of that era. As Henry A. Wallace pointed out in 1944, fascist thinking thrives on prejudice, fear, and vanity, cultivating division to gain power. They pervert truth and fact, sow distrust, and ultimately seek to seize political power to subjugate the common person.
We’re seeing the same patterns today. The modern-day fascists have seized control of the GOP. They openly express their desire for a country with less diversity, fewer rights, and more control. It’s a nostalgia for a past that was not good for most people. The fear and insecurity of the MAGA base is palpable. They’re afraid of everything, embracing conspiracy theories and exhibiting a profound lack of intellectual curiosity.
This is why some people are even considering the idea of a national divorce. It’s a disturbing thought, the idea of allowing these individuals to create their own isolated, white supremacist fantasy camps. The reality is that the areas they’d likely inhabit would be poorer, less healthy, and less diverse than the rest of the country.
The desire for a mono-culture stems from the need for control. Ironically, it’s diversity that makes America exceptional. Where would these people even work? They have no interest in labor unions. Stephen Miller is a prime example of the white supremacist ideology at play. MAGA supporters should read history books, or any books for that matter. Their ignorance is a perilous path.
There is a disturbing amount of support for this agenda coming out. Ironically, Trump seems to be dismantling the very grip that many Christian groups have had on this country. Many feel that Congress is captured by money and foreign interests.
It’s truly frustrating to witness the rise of this movement and the decline in civics knowledge and critical thinking skills across the board. The exploitation of trust in government institutions has made them vulnerable to manipulation. People can be easily convinced that the old ways are harmful, and then they accept new, often detrimental, policies as a necessary fix.
What they don’t seem to realize is that the US has incredible prosperity due to the very things they are railing against. They long for an idyllic past that never existed. The internet and far-right propaganda have normalized racism and white supremacy. It’s never been about sovereignty; it’s always been about inflicting pain and terror on non-white people.
Peter Thiel and those like him are interested in disenfranchising women. These people see women as disposable. There are many misogynistic gay men who feel the same, those who believe women are only useful for sex, and are otherwise useless and undeserving of basic human rights.
The fear and hatred of the “other” is a projection of their own insecurities. They want power and control, and they’ll do anything to get it. They see themselves as strong alpha males, but in reality, they are weak and frightened.
MAGA is an attack on the very core of American values. It’s a movement fueled by fear, ignorance, and a desire for a past that never existed. We must fight against this dangerous ideology and defend the principles of democracy, inclusivity, and progress.