Fascism is not subtle and has always used the threat of violence as a political tool. American political history is full of such threats. Arizona Representative Gosar may joke about his cartoon killing of AOC but underneath it is a real threat. He smiles about it and enjoys the publicity and power it gives him. The Jan 6th rioters wanted to hang Mike Pence. It wasn't a joke. They constructed a symbolic gallows. People died. Pro Trump supporters threatened poll workers and election officials. "I know where you live." was their refrain. If caught they say they don't really mean it or they were joking but they weren't. They were waiting for permission to act. Most of them of course prefer to remain anonymous.

"When do we get to use the guns?" Charlie Kirk was asked last week. It wasn't meant as a joke. Members in the audience listened and applauded the bearded speaker. "How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?" In their minds violence is justified. And this is how fascism works. Sadly many Republicans, even the ones in office who have sworn to defend the Constitution, remain silent. The lies about election fraud like the lies repeated during the Civil War that the war was not about about slavery but states' rights, justified the violence and led to deaths. All that's needed is a spark, some sort of justification.

What is the defense? Truth is the main one, then the law, backed by the police, then the courts and the judges. The Fourth Estate, all the branches of the news media, is the bulwark of freedom. It's the rampart of democracy itself on which we stand and behind which we shelter. A Fourth Estate under the control government or separate financial interests eats away at the fabric of democracy. Without a healthy Fourth Estate devoted to telling the truth, we are blind. In this age of almost universal internet access, each of us is responsible for searching out and understanding the truth and distinguishing it from lies. Only that way can our democracy be safe. It's an on-going struggle. It always has been. Democracy must be fought for, day by day, year by year, election by election. This struggle may be messy and feel incomplete but neither fascism nor totalitarianism or threats of violence are the answer.