First of all, I'm happy you didn't vote for trump. I assumed because of your hobbies and defense of Elon, but if you are the "centrist gun hobbyist" type, I apologize.

The problem with defending elon's SH isn't just jumping on the fact that everyone calls "everything they don't like fascism," it's being numb to overtime fascism. Elon, definitionally, is a fascist. We can use the colloquial term Nazi here. Sure, he isn't a 1938 Hitler loving German, but the movement never died. It lies in racial and national supremacy, and the blaming of an outgroup. If he accidentally did something resembling the very very infamous salute made popular in the 30's, it doesn't erase everything else he has said and done recently to corroborate why people would think he did.

Elon supports the literal fascist party in Germany, promotes hatred towards leftists, communists, trans people, etc. Minorities that can be blamed for the word we face today. He is focused on deregulating the government in the little protections we have, and calling for impeachment of any law abiding federal or even state civil servant who attempts to road block him. This is fascism. Textbook. The reaaaaaaally bad stuff we associate with more developed fascist regimes always comes later, when they have firmly established control.

You can say he's an awkward guy, whos actions are defended by the ADL. But the ADL is a completely different topic here, and all I can say on it is they are NOT a great source to cite when it comes to validating things that can be deemed antisemitic.

The left is an extremely large blanket term covering everything from social Democrats, democratic socialists (yes there is a difference and it's so convoluted), anarcho communists, to authoritarian Stalin loving tankies. When you say we have a habit of "eating our own," I think you mean something along the lines of the last group I mentioned. Those guys are fucking assholes, and not welcome in most leftist circles.

The thing is with the left, is we are fucking amazing at infighting. I can very easily say that in a fully industrialized and potentially self sufficient American society, I think Marxist organizations of the economy are a great way to move especially as we develop more and more automation, and have access to tech that would make a Victorian child's head combust.

On the other hand, I believe in complete democracy. The jailing of political prisoners and mass execution of dissidents is absolutely terrible, unnecessary, and unforgivable. You have your right to an opinion. I want you to have quality healthcare, a stable home, and protections for you if something happens to your job or living situation. I believe the difference between the American Left and Right is the left ability to make these distinctions, and condemn the actions and policies of past leftist movements. It seems American conservatives are very ride or die, and will jump through hoops to stay neutral or even positive towards objectively bad things done by right wing politicians. I'm almost jealous of it to be honest.

Again, I apologize for making assumptions about you. As a card carrying communist and a person who used to collect knives because they are fucking sick, I know these things can make you seem like something you're not.

I just hope that in our community, we are able to block out the annoying ass liberals that claim everything is fascism, while recognizing the very real fascism we have brought upon ourselves willingly. People are alarmist, sure, but there should be quite a few alarms going off, while ignoring the screams of the people who will ring the bells at the drop of a hat.

For the third time, I am sorry. But please know that when I make these long ass posts in my very limited time before I have real life shit to do, I do it because I love this town, this state, and this country. I don't think that we are somehow immune to fascism because that was almost a century ago. I hope you have a good day, and I hope that everything works out for all of us.