- Joined
- Dec 16, 2017
I have been contemplating how many lefties love to accuse the right of being fascists without actually understanding the meaning of the word of the history of the ideology. So I googled up "characteristics of fascism" on a lark and realized that Canada is essentially a semi-fascist state due to how the Liberal Party ran it over the last decade. Let's go over it line by line.
Authoritarianism and Dictatorship -Canada has the trappings of democracy as we do have elections, but there are fewer checks on the Prime Minister's power vis-a-vis the President of the United States. The PM can pack the Senate with his preferred candidates as he sees fit and feckless opposition leaders like Jagmeet Singh can give him near-unlimited powers. Regional representation is highly screws of as Atlantic Canada (with 2.5 million people) has 32 seats while an Alberta (5 million) has only 37. Elections are decided in Ontario and don't matter west of the border with Manitoba.
Extreme Nationalism - We saw this with mass chimping-out after Trump started the 51st state rhetoric. I would argue that this newfound "patriotism" was rooted in hatred of the orange man and the nation's chronic insecurity rather than any genuine love of Canada.
Militarism -HAHAHA! No. Canada sees its "strength" in being a "humanitarian" power with our leaders preferring business suits to military regalia. Carney promised more funding to the armed forces to meet our NATO commitments, but Mr. Economic Wizard refuses to table a budget so we'll see. I suspect that there will be some creative accounting.
Suppression of Dissent -Currently a work in progress. People won't be disappearing anytime soon, but we will see a gradual eroding of privacy laws if Bill C-2 is any indications. I also expect that this government will revive Trudeau-era bills to regulate speech on the Internet under the guise of protecting vulnerable groups from "hate speech".
Cult of Personality -Not so much a cult of personality surrounding one person, but the party as a whole. The Liberals have perpetuated the myth that they are the natural governing body and the Canadian left bought into it. One important factor in the CPC's loss is that many Canadians never changed their political affiliation. They were simply angry with Justin Trudeau and would flock back the moment he resigned and his replacement has no evident connection. Except Canadians are such ignorant bumpkins that they doesn't realize that Carney was the man behind the curtains as Justin's economic advisor.
Social Hierarchy - Ottawa seeks to establish a technocratic state overseen by the (increasingly inept and delusional) Laurentian consensus. 'Nuff said.
Control of the Economy - We have seen this throughout the last decade through overregulation and government subsidies as seen with the billions to corporations for the failed EV venture. Carney looks to be doing the same by consolidating everything into "one Canadian economy". Given his track record, it will be a disaster.
Rejection of Liberalism and Pluralism -The Canadian left abhors independent though and Canadian society is highly conformist in nature and is willing to step on the individual for "the greater good" (THE GREATER GOOD!) as seen with the treatment of the unvaccinated during COVID.
Use of Propaganda and Manipulation - A given since the federal government funds the CBC and heavily subsidized. Canadians were easily whipped into a frenzy believing that the United States was going to annex us without pausing to ask if that was even plausible.
Scapegoating and Othering - Whenever something goes wrong, the LPC is quick to deflect blame onto the Harper government (despite it being over a decade), conservative premiers, or "oh, it's a global problem". They similarly use Trump as a boogeyman and love to brag about Canadians are nicer and more polite than those "uncouth" American. Anyone critical of the current status quo will be dismissed as "Maple MAGA" or other such nonsense.
Economic Autarky - Hard no on this. Canada is still solidly devoted to the post-WWII internationalist cause, even as it unravels.
Authoritarianism and Dictatorship -Canada has the trappings of democracy as we do have elections, but there are fewer checks on the Prime Minister's power vis-a-vis the President of the United States. The PM can pack the Senate with his preferred candidates as he sees fit and feckless opposition leaders like Jagmeet Singh can give him near-unlimited powers. Regional representation is highly screws of as Atlantic Canada (with 2.5 million people) has 32 seats while an Alberta (5 million) has only 37. Elections are decided in Ontario and don't matter west of the border with Manitoba.
Extreme Nationalism - We saw this with mass chimping-out after Trump started the 51st state rhetoric. I would argue that this newfound "patriotism" was rooted in hatred of the orange man and the nation's chronic insecurity rather than any genuine love of Canada.
Militarism -HAHAHA! No. Canada sees its "strength" in being a "humanitarian" power with our leaders preferring business suits to military regalia. Carney promised more funding to the armed forces to meet our NATO commitments, but Mr. Economic Wizard refuses to table a budget so we'll see. I suspect that there will be some creative accounting.
Suppression of Dissent -Currently a work in progress. People won't be disappearing anytime soon, but we will see a gradual eroding of privacy laws if Bill C-2 is any indications. I also expect that this government will revive Trudeau-era bills to regulate speech on the Internet under the guise of protecting vulnerable groups from "hate speech".
Cult of Personality -Not so much a cult of personality surrounding one person, but the party as a whole. The Liberals have perpetuated the myth that they are the natural governing body and the Canadian left bought into it. One important factor in the CPC's loss is that many Canadians never changed their political affiliation. They were simply angry with Justin Trudeau and would flock back the moment he resigned and his replacement has no evident connection. Except Canadians are such ignorant bumpkins that they doesn't realize that Carney was the man behind the curtains as Justin's economic advisor.
Social Hierarchy - Ottawa seeks to establish a technocratic state overseen by the (increasingly inept and delusional) Laurentian consensus. 'Nuff said.
Control of the Economy - We have seen this throughout the last decade through overregulation and government subsidies as seen with the billions to corporations for the failed EV venture. Carney looks to be doing the same by consolidating everything into "one Canadian economy". Given his track record, it will be a disaster.
Rejection of Liberalism and Pluralism -The Canadian left abhors independent though and Canadian society is highly conformist in nature and is willing to step on the individual for "the greater good" (THE GREATER GOOD!) as seen with the treatment of the unvaccinated during COVID.
Use of Propaganda and Manipulation - A given since the federal government funds the CBC and heavily subsidized. Canadians were easily whipped into a frenzy believing that the United States was going to annex us without pausing to ask if that was even plausible.
Scapegoating and Othering - Whenever something goes wrong, the LPC is quick to deflect blame onto the Harper government (despite it being over a decade), conservative premiers, or "oh, it's a global problem". They similarly use Trump as a boogeyman and love to brag about Canadians are nicer and more polite than those "uncouth" American. Anyone critical of the current status quo will be dismissed as "Maple MAGA" or other such nonsense.
Economic Autarky - Hard no on this. Canada is still solidly devoted to the post-WWII internationalist cause, even as it unravels.
