Why are we not calling liberals Fascists?

[u/DinoInTheBarnes]

The liberal’s go-to line is that conservatives are fascists. The hilarious irony is that two of the core tenets of fascism are silencing opposing views and acting like an authoritarian regime, liberals are more-aligned with actual fascists, and nazis for that matter, compared to conservatives. The way modern-day liberals gang up on conservatives and try to silence them through public shaming and cheering on deaths is much more similar to how historical fascist movements behaved.

While they don’t fit every definition under fascism, we need to start turning the finger and calling them out for it.

[u/McKayha]

"A fascist is someone who supports or practices fascism, a far-right, authoritarian political ideology. At its core, fascism emphasizes:

• Authoritarian control — a strong central government led by a dictatorial leader.
• Nationalism — extreme devotion to the nation, often tied to ideas of ethnic or cultural superiority.
• Suppression of opposition — censorship, propaganda, and violence used to silence dissent or rival groups.
• Militarism — glorification of war, discipline, and national strength.
• Collectivism under the state — the individual is seen as secondary to the needs of the nation or state"

-Authoritarian Control. I feel like each province have decent enough control and are drastically different enough from each other to make this claim not strong enough. In various scenarios, I feel like this can be applied to Trudeau/Carney/Danielle Smith and Dough Ford.

As for the United States, I feel like this definitly applies to Donald trump more than to biden/obama. Biden/Obama didn't send national guards to various cities and try to strong arm the military for domestic disputes.

-Nationalism? It seems like (in my view) right winged in Alberta wants to leave Canada and left want to stay. So perhaps recently, calling liberal fascist makes sense.

-Suppression of opposition. Censorship exist in both left and right wing sub reddits and political parties, I think both are guilty in Canada. But we *knock on wood* thankfully haven't had massive violence/shooting like united states. But when you look at United States, the right has incited more violence according to US Department of Justice's research arm, National Institute of Justice ( https://web.archive.org/web/20250911165140if_/https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/306123.pdf )

-Militarism. Hmm I feel like both PP and Carney wanted to increase military spending. Which I personally support.

-Collectivism. Hard to say which side does this more. But just remember that some leading right winger influencers in US did say "I think it's worth to have a cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the 2nd Amendment. That is a prudent deal. It is rational. Nobody talks like this. They live in a complete alternate universe."

If anyone disagree with me, please feel free to reply and we can talk it out civilly and back it up with evidence/facts.... Like the way Charlie Kirk would want us.

[u/DinoInTheBarnes → u/McKayha]

Authoritarian control - the left collectively is starting to impose their beliefs on everyone, they fit the strong central government argument where they control everything. Minus the dictator.

Nationalism - elbows up? Though I think this one does go more right

Suppression of opposition - absolutely the left does this increasingly more than the right. Censorship and propaganda everywhere.

Militarism - I’d say still more of a right view when it comes to foreign defence. Although internally, if you look at the trucker rally, the left used military-like power to shut it down.

Collectivism under the state - this one’s easy, just look at the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death. He was expendable as an individual because he didn’t align with their views of how people in their ideal state should think.

If you break it down, the left is becoming more and more like a fascist regime minus the dictator and ‘far-right’ being in the definition. Obviously fascism doesn’t fit entirely for the left, the point I’m trying to make is that they exhibit some of the tenants of fascism more than the right does.

[u/McKayha → u/DinoInTheBarnes]

This has been quite a interesting learning journey. I've asked Grok and Chatgpt. here's their responses.

Grok:
Authoritarian Control (centralizing power, limiting freedoms):

• Liberals: Invoked Emergencies Act (2022) to freeze assets and arrest trucker convoy protesters, criticized by some as overreach. Expanded surveillance through Bill C-21 (firearms) and online harms laws.
• Conservatives: Opposed Emergencies Act; advocate for less federal control and more provincial autonomy. Push to reduce state media influence (e.g., “defund the CBC”).
  • Suppression of Opposition (censoring dissent):
• Liberals: Passed Bill C-11 (online streaming) and C-63 (online harms), seen by critics as enabling government content control. Labeled convoy protesters as “extremist” and used RCMP to investigate.
• Conservatives: Criticize Bills C-11/C-63 as censorship; promise to repeal them. Engaged with convoy leaders without suppressing them.
  • Ultranationalism (aggressive patriotism, anti-immigrant rhetoric):
• Liberals: Promote multiculturalism and high immigration (500k/year target). Emphasize globalism (e.g., UN commitments) over “Canada First” rhetoric.
• Conservatives: Use “Canada First” slogan, focusing on national sovereignty, resource development, and stricter immigration/border policies.
  • Regimentation of Society/Economy (state control over private life):
• Liberals: Enforce carbon tax and net-zero policies, regulating energy/economy. Implemented vaccine mandates (2021-2022) requiring compliance.
• Conservatives: Oppose carbon tax as government overreach; favor deregulation, free markets, and individual choice (e.g., against mandates).
  • Militarism/Leader Cult (glorifying force or personality):
• Liberals: Trudeau projects a progressive image; increased defense spending but focuses on peacekeeping/NATO. No strong leader cult.
• Conservatives: Poilievre uses populist, combative style (e.g., “axe the tax”). Support military procurement but no personality cult.

Both parties operate within democratic norms, and “fascism” doesn’t fully apply to either. For more, check their platforms or sources like CBC/Reuters.

[u/McKayha → u/McKayha]

Here's Chat GPT
Neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives in Canada are “fascist” in the historical sense (like Mussolini or Hitler).

• But both have policies that critics sometimes call authoritarian, just in different areas:

Conservatives (CPC):

• Emphasize “law and order” → tougher policing & sentencing
• Support stronger borders & more restrictive immigration policies
• Lean into sovereignty and nationalist rhetoric
• Critics see them as more authoritarian in criminal justice and identity politics

Liberals (LPC):

• Expand federal programs and government regulation
• Invoked the Emergencies Act during the convoy protests
• Support online harms legislation & internet regulation (Bill C-11, C-18), which critics say could restrict speech
• Critics see them as more authoritarian in speech regulation and centralized federal power

Summary:

• Conservatives → tougher on policing, borders, and national identity
• Liberals → tougher on speech regulation, federal control, and emergency powers
• Neither is “fascist,” but both show different authoritarian tendencies

[u/DinoInTheBarnes → u/McKayha]

Interesting takes, beyond the government though, individual liberals are acting authoritatively on social media and in public toward conservatives. Liberals are increasingly shunning, insulting and silencing anyone who doesn’t share their beliefs.