Written by: Craig Edwin Holdway
Chronological proof that Trump is purposely inflaming his supporters to violence: his first three campaign rallies were held in the three cities where there has been profound unrest due to racially motivated police killings. The vilification and overt support of intolerance is chilling and troubling as it pertains to a large portion of the electorate supporting this front-running candidate.
Parallels can be drawn between this and the beginning of support in Nazi Germany if we research Authoritarianism and views widely prevalent within the Republican Parties base demographic. Rhetoric, vilification of certain segments of society, fear of misunderstood external perceived threats, blanket empty promises, return to conservative hardline values and militant suppression of civilian freedom to ensure security.
The move into authoritarianism is terrifying as its value structure support will compound on itself until the values themselves are ultimately unstoppable and may begin to elect its leaders harbouring more and more radical ideology with profound consequences. The issue at hand, as I see it, is the segment of the electorate who have always been on the fringe without a common voice but have now been coalesced into a political movement by a charismatic leader pandering to their dangerous views. As a Canadian, I am left to wonder how this may change the world if left unchecked.
The views are my own and are based on my own experiences and are written from personal insights and observations.