Tag Archives: democracy

Trump is a Vicious Cult Leader

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For the past couple weeks, Donald Trump has been stirring up hatred for the Somali community with lies and fearmongering. And the result has been a surge in white supremacism.

This is what fascist regimes do best. While they are totally unequipped to govern, they use the rhetoric of scapegoating and demonization to distract from their complete ineptitude. It becomes the only policymaking that they are capable of.

As the American economy continues to decline and the US becomes more isolated, Trump and his regime are becoming more and more unhinged in their cruelty toward the most vulnerable and marginalized. And since fascism demands cultlike devotion, this cruelty runs through the entire society like a rancid effluence, poisoning everything in its path.

The American project was built upon racism, one which justified genocide, slavery and apartheid. And it has never reckoned with this in any meaningful way. So, the obvious outcome has been the current president.

Trump isn’t an anomaly, he is a prime example of America with its mask of civility finally ripped off. A narcissist who is convinced of his greatness, much like the many Americans who have been bamboozled into thinking they live in the greatest country on earth. An arrogant ignorance impervious to the reality of having no universal healthcare, few worker protections, crushing debt, poor education, crumbling infrastructure, rampant gun violence and rapidly rising economic inequality.

So, what can we expect in the coming months or even years? Trump is a vicious cult leader who is oblivious to the stench of his own rot. Even as his health (both physical and mental) declines, he cannot see through the elaborate web of lies he has woven around him. And the sycophants in his court will never tell the emperor he is has no clothes.

Cults rarely dissipate peacefully. In almost every case, they end up devolving into paranoia, conspiracy theories, delusion and violence as their blind obeisance to power backfires and the shoddy worldview they invested everything in breaks down under the weight of its own incompetence and madness.

Sometimes cults merely self destruct. But more often than not, they lash out on anyone within their orbit, with the most vulnerable being the first victims. Either way, what comes next will not be easy to endure, especially for communities like the Somali.

Kenn Orfanos, December 2025

The Madness of Fascism is the Point

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Like many of you, I watch the implosion of the United States in horror. It seems like madness. And on one level, it is. But on another, it is not. What I mean by the latter is that what is happening isn’t some random craziness. It is a calculated plan. It is the “tear it all down in order to build it up” approach, similar to how other fascist and authoritarian regimes operate.

These regimes see any democratic institution as an impediment to the glory of the state or the empire. Consolidation of power is viewed as the only way forward for saving it. Thus, the oligarch Elon Musk has been tasked with the unraveling. He has been given the keys to the kingdom. And like a petulant and sociopathic child, he has gone inside, turned over the crockery, fired all the servants and dumped out the treasure chest.

And this brings me to the Maga phenomenon. Because this is the heart of this particular iteration of fascism. “Make America Great Again” is of course a silly and sophomoric bit of nonsense. Which era of “greatness” do they mean? Indigenous genocide? Slavery? Lynching? Jim Crow? Red Scare? Bombing dozens of nations?

In reality, the only “great” part of America has been the magnitude of its scope, scale and power. If there is any noble greatness, it has come from its oppressed peoples. From Indigenous, Black, Brown, working class women, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities who resisted the brutality of the American boot on their necks. Certainly not the ruling class that runs corporations and both political parties.

To the leadership of this cult of Maga, it is not only about demonizing, otherizing, scapegoating and persecuting anyone who is not white, cis-male, Christian, capitalist and heterosexual. This part is an essential characteristic of fascistic rule. But it is also about bullying the vassal and client states of the American Empire into submission. It knows it can’t do this with its own oligarchy, so it focuses on tributes, concessions and relinquishing of territory from rivals and allies. Its “great” past was one brimming in arrogant and unmerciful dominance. And this is the one they want to return to.

The problem is that the world is different now. The American Empire is in steep decline. Its prominence and prestige are waning. Even its vaunted dollar is increasingly tenuous. The unilateral hegemony it once knew is crumbling while other empires and coalitions rise. So, it is doing what all dying empires do. It installed a madman to restore its greatness.

And we should not think this madman is holding the US hostage. His approval rating among Americans has been mostly positive in these first few weeks. He embodies the very worst characteristics of the American stereotype. He is boorish, intolerant, anti-intellectual, averse to facts, arrogant and ruthless. And he is admired for this. This should not be surprising as all fascist leaders share similar traits and they enjoy cultish devotion because of them.

The problem with madmen is that they have a tendency to burn things down far greater than they build or rebuild things. And once fascism makes a home in a country it becomes exceedingly difficult to remove it. 

Kenn Orphan, February 2025

*title image is from the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

Above All, Love Fiercely

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We all woke up to a different world today. One where dehumanizing language and threats from a American president are being applauded. Where a Nazi salute at its inauguration is being normalized or played down. And no matter how some may gaslight you or attempt to normalize it, the fact is that the world we woke up to today is a terrifying one. And it is okay to feel that. To feel terrified about what is to come. If you aren’t, I would question your sanity. But know you aren’t alone in that fear.

The United States has fallen to authoritarianism. Bolder than anyone has seen in the States thus far. Of course, the seeds of it were always there. An undercurrent simmering for decades. Supremacist mythology and obtuse indifference. Political leaders who became more and more corrupt, beholden to corporate and militaristic hubris. Who openly aided a genocide. Rights systematically striped away. Education and intellectualism mocked relentlessly. A persistent and influential religious fundamentalism. An oligarchy that grew more and more powerful, year after year. The result of these things was inevitable: Fascism.

But we cannot afford to ignore the writing on the wall. The US is an empire in decline. Burning or flooded cities thanks to the unaddressed impacts of climate change, growing shantytowns, entrenched poverty. Stagnant services and crumbling infrastructure. A predatory healthcare system. A bloated and over-extended military.

America is a sinking ship. And it has placed a fascist in the captain’s seat. And these facts make it even more dangerous than before, not only to marginalized people in the States, but to anyone in its orbit. And let’s face it. We are ALL in its orbit.

So, what do we do now? In the short term, it is okay to hide. To distract ourselves. We may need to do this for our sanity and physical health. But in the long term, denial can be lethal. It can strip us of our agency, Our capacity to act. So, after a time, it may be necessary for you to act quickly and decisively.

If you are in the States, I would seriously consider leaving. If you cannot leave, I would consider relocating to a state with more progressive governance. I understand moving may be economically impossible for many. And some may not want to leave family. If you cannot leave your state, seek out like minded individuals and organizations. Believe me, they exist. And you will all need each other in the coming years. Build networks for assistance and protection. Reliable support for when the government is potentially denuded of its ability to provide assistance.

If you are outside the US, avoid all unnecessary travel to it. Begin untethering yourself from its orbit. Voice your dissent and object to policies that seek to normalize relations with the States. Elect leaders who will stand up to American imperialism.

No matter where you live, consider becoming active in local politics. Attend meetings or hearings. The biggest impact we can have is on the local level.

Take a good look at how and where you live and who you know. Identify individuals and organizations that seek to dehumanize, demonize or criminalize you and avoid them. The history of fascism is a history of betrayal. Hold your enemies at bay. And know who your allies are and hold them close. Solidarity is not a platitude. It is a survival skill.

Above all, love fiercely. Love is the best antidote to fascism. To its fear, its cruelty, its violence. Love with everything you’ve got.

Kenn Orphan, January 2025

*Photo is Metamorphosis by Joan Miró, 1935.

The War for the Internet

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“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.” – Ray Bradbury

Today we may lose the internet as we know it. We may lose the “neutrality” which keeps it relatively democratized. Nominated by President Obama at the recommendation of Senator Mitch McConnell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, has been gunning for the destruction of net neutrality for years. And today, with one of the most mendacious governments at the helm, he might just get what he desires.

Net neutrality isn’t a glamorous cause. There are no passionate hashtags or viral videos of abuse that make its case. But its destiny is that of democracy itself, in the 21st century. Its what makes the internet viable and vibrant by allowing small websites with little money to compete with multi-billion dollar corporations. It provides diversity of speech and thought in this precarious age when it is so desperately needed; and this is what makes it a threat to the powerful. Although this decision is taking place in the US, and other nations have said they will strengthen their commitment to net neutrality, the internet does not exist in a bubble. And US corporations are major players in a global game that impacts virtually everyone.

None of this is new. A war of conquest over the internet has been waging for many years because its relatively free flow of information is the single greatest threat to the corporate elite’s monopoly on   influence and information. With useful tools in both political parties this has manifested in several ways. And thanks to the current President’s penchant for outright duplicity the term “fake news” has become a raison d’être among their ranks. Their disingenuous campaign to eliminate false information belies a more dubious wish to censor dissenting views.

I was recently informed by several reliable sources that the content and access to this blog has been frequently blocked or marked as spam. While this does not have to do with net neutrality directly, it does indicate how the democratization of the internet is under assault from many angles. Powerful internet providers and telecommunications corporations create algorithms which make certain websites less visible and accessible on search engines or block content in order to “protect” users.  And it is fast proving to be yet another effective and insidious form of censorship as several left or progressive websites have been tracking a staggering decrease in traffic to their sites.

As ecocide and climate change accelerate, the industrial war machine expands, and socio-economic inequities grow, the wealthy and powerful elite will only become more ruthless in their desire to extinguish democracy and stamp out any defiance that comes as a response. Of course their only real interest is in securing their moneyed interests and political power, but censorship is a tactic which has proven very useful throughout history in achieving that end. The internet will not be the last place they attempt this, but it is certainly ground zero. And today’s battle might very well seal its fate.

***Addendum: Within a short time of this publication it has been confirmed that the FCC has voted in favour of repealing protections for net neutrality. It appears as though Mr. Pai, and the elite plutocrats he represents, have gotten their way. But the battle is far from over. Many of us will fight this and perhaps something will be salvaged of internet freedom. Only time will tell.
Kenn Orphan  2017