Fascism implies (paraphrasing Wikipedia):

* a dictatorial leader

* an authoritarian government

* nationalism and/or racism

* militarism

* promotion of a "natural order"

I don't think any of those accurately characterize a dominant ideology on HN. If anything, in my observation, HN is somewhat libertarian-leaning, rather than fascist.

Even that is an incredibly vague and ahistorical definition. It’s strange how much ink is spilled over redefining ‘fascism’ in as vague a way as possible (thinking of Eco here, who remains perennially popular among those who tilt at hooked windmills).

Mussolini did a great job as delineating exactly what fascism was, and the NSDAP fit it, but in general it really doesn’t fit states outside of that particular time and place, including most regimes described as ‘fascist’ today.

The arguments for why Trump is somehow a fascist are among the most facile I’ve ever heard, and I say that having never voted for nor supported Trump, and having even more negative an opinion of him now than I did previously.

Political discourse will never be anything beyond laughable until we can get past screeching at each other over which side is the secret fascist.

Trump won't even do H1B reform which is something plenty of non-nationalist moderates want.