Mike Barnhill
Ashland
Dear Editor:
Attitudes toward President Donald Trump have been carefully tracked since he first announced his candidacy and eight months into office. According to a 2017 ABC News/Washington Post poll, these are the top attitudes: 1) incompetent, 2) arrogant, 3) strong, 4) idiot, 5) egotistical, 6) ignorant, 7) great, 8) racist, 9) narcissistic, 10) a-hole.
One major theme that emerged from the national survey is that the attitude toward Trump appears to be driven by his personality and not by his policy or ideology. However, three years into office has hardened some views toward Trump's ideology. A more recent description of Trump's ideology and political aims are mentioned by a few with one word fascist!
What is a fascist or fascism? The Webster Dictionary defines as follows: "A political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition."
One has to look into this definition and see if at least a few seem to closely follow the ideology of the Trump administration. It's not just Trump, but his advisers who may fit the definition of fascism. Socialism and communism have always taken center stage in the concerns of the American voter. Do we now have another "ism" to be concerned with?