We Have Passed the Nazi Mark. Where do Things Stand Now?

 

Well, we have now passed the first 50 days of the Trump Presidency, so we are more than halfway to the 100 day mark.  Of course, that mark is more symbolic than substantive, but assuming that all administrations loose steam over time, there it is.  

We are also passed the 53 day mark that it took Hitler to end the Weimar Republic. How do we stack up?

I would say right now we have a dictatorship of money, tech, and computer access.  Hitler at this point had a dictatorship of police, prisons, and thugs.  Am I worried that we might end up there?  I absolutely am.  But we aren't there yet.

When I say that Trump is violating Rule # 1 of smart authoritarians -- save the unpopular stuff till after you have consolidated complete power -- some people say that these unpopular actions suggest that Trump has consolidated complete power.  Nonsense!  Things are absolutely scary, but Trump is far, far from consolidating absolute power.  

Do I worry that the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters will become Trump's own brownshirts?  I absolutely do, but it will take time for their numbers to build.  Do I worry that Trump will undercut press freedom?  Again, yes, but thus far our outlets -- including despised legacy outlets -- have been quite free in exposing what is going on.  

Other alarming events are underway.  Trump is attacking judicial review of his actions not (so far) by openly defying court rulings, but by denying security clearance and government access to firms opposing him.  He is moving against immigrants -- even green card holders -- in an alarming fashion.  He is using threats to withhold funding in an attempt to coerce policy at universities.  And, perhaps scariest of all, the FBI is seeking to freeze funds and pursue possible criminal fraud charges against any non-profit that accepted Biden-era funds related to climate change.  So, yes, things are scary.

At the same time, I am seeing protests all across the country.  I am not seeing Proud Boys breaking them up.  I am seeing our press continue to expose what is going on.  I am seeing judges rule against the Trump administration time and time again.  I belong to Indivisibles and watch it operating openly, posting pictures to social media.  I am seeing ever growing meetings in local restaurants, whose owners are happy for the business.  I am seeing cars honking their approval when we hold a protest.  I don't think I would see these things at this stage of the game in Nazi Germany.  

Obviously the game is young yet.  A lot can happen over the next four years.  Still, I read over the article on how Hitler ended democracy in just 53 days.  Short version -- the Reichstag fire made a huge difference.  We haven't had a Reichstag fire.  (Some acts of vandalism at Tesla dealerships just aren't comparable).  

I prepared a table and, lest anyone say it shows some alarming parallels, my answer can only be yes, I was deliberately seeking to draw them.  Trump has some advantages over Hitler, most notably, the ability to choose his own cabinet.  But he also has some signal disadvantages.  The biggest one -- nothing even close the Hitler's Brown Shirt army.  At least not yet.  And, once again, his ability to recruit Brown Shirts is going to track with his popularity.

Hitler	Trump
Successfully paralyzed government until it admitted him as chancellor	Successfully paralyzed the Republican Party until it nominated him and did his bidding
Held 37% of seats in the Reichstag as part of a coalition that held 51% of total seats.  Leftwing coalition of Social Democrats and Communists held 38%, Catholic parties held the remainder.	Held a 220-215 majority in the House and 53-47 majority in the Senate.  Democrats or independents caucusing with Democrats held the remainder.
All but two cabinet posts given to coalition partner to reign Hitler in.  One was minister of the interior, in charge of police, federalism, and elections	Full authority to choose cabinet, subject to Senate confirmation.  Senate intimidated into confirming at least three dubious picks.
Goering moved in on Prussian head of police, took over police, authorized them to shoot on sight as real or alleged Communists.  Political opponents arrested.	Elon Musk’s DOGE moved in on many agencies, locked out senior civil servants, shut off funds at will, fired probationary employees.
Goering deputized Prussian Brownshirts with police powers.  Number: About 2 million nationwide, many not in Prussia.	US Marshals deputized Musk’s bodyguard with police powers.  Number: Unknown, but obviously much less.
Courts order release of political opponents.	Courts order release of funds, reinstatement of employees.
Called new elections, hoping to expand his position in the Reichstag.	Appointed three Republicans in the House to executive positions necessitating special elections.  Two Democrats in the House died necessitating more special elections.
Reichstag building burned down, apparently by a lone crazed Communist, emergency decree suspending civil liberties.	Acts of vandalism against Tesla dealerships; AG vows to prosecute them as domestic terrorism.
Communist Party banned, leaders of Communist Party and Social Democratic Party arrested, opposition newspapers shut down.	Spurious defamation suits against various outlets, Associated Press barred from press conferences.  Firing everyone involved in prosecuting Trump, thus-far empty threats of prosecution against a few Democratic leaders.  Private law firms representing opponents denied security clearance and access to government buildings.
Elections 5 days after Reichstag fire, turnout increased by 2 million, most of those votes go to Nazis.  Nazis win 44% of vote, Communists banned, Social Democrats lose only one seat, right wing parties gain a 2/3 majority.	Special elections for Congress not held yet; since all vacant seats are safe seats, unlikely to change composition.  Some swing toward Democrats in state and local special elections.
March 6, Nazis seize state government buildings across the country, tens of thousands of opposition leaders arrested, others flee for their lives.	Freeze all climate-related grants under the Biden Administration and prosecute non-profits receiving grants for fraud.
March 21, all Nazis convicted of crimes advancing Hitler’s fortunes amnestied.  Tens of thousands of arrested political opponents imprisoned in makeshift facilities that become concentration camps.	All January 6 defendants, including violent ones, pardoned on day 1.  (Some have since been rearrested for state crimes or killed by local police).
Jew barred from government employments and professions, attempts to deport all Jewish immigrants stall for now.	All mention of achievements by minorities removed from government websites.  Alarming to strip permanent legal residents of status and deport them, for very minor crimes or expressing pro-Palestinian views.
March 23, Reichstag meets to vote on law giving Hitler dictatorial powers for the next four years.  Communist deputies arrested to prevent them from voting.  Social Democratic leader returns from exile to speak out against the bill, another Social Democrat released from arrest to allow him to vote.  Some other parties express doubts and reservations; all but Social Democrats vote in favor.	Trump pressures all but on House Republican to approve a budget that continues prior funding with minimal reductions but allows Trump/Musk to withhold funds at will.  On March 14, all but one Republicans Senators and 10 Democratic Senators vote to approve the budget.