It’s also worth considering that this high-level definition is describing the circumstances after the system takes hold and becomes dominant. Thankfully, the US is not a fascist state yet, so whatever policies are currently being pushed by Trump and the GOP should be seen as part of an effort to gain power, not as an accurate reflection of what policies to expect after uncontested power has been seized.
And, historically, the followers who benefit from fascism tend to be the ones most closely aligned with and actively involved in promoting and enforcing the fascist regime - not necessarily the patsies who got them there in the early stages.
It’s also worth considering that this high-level definition is describing the circumstances after the system takes hold and becomes dominant. Thankfully, the US is not a fascist state yet, so whatever policies are currently being pushed by Trump and the GOP should be seen as part of an effort to gain power, not as an accurate reflection of what policies to expect after uncontested power has been seized.
And, historically, the followers who benefit from fascism tend to be the ones most closely aligned with and actively involved in promoting and enforcing the fascist regime - not necessarily the patsies who got them there in the early stages.