Fascism is more than just the merger of governments and corporations, although that is a key component.
It is also an army of goons in the streets, abusing, threatening, and physically assaulting anyone who dares to express a contrary social or political opinion. This army of goons is supported by the fascist elite, in the sense that the elite do not criticize them or try to stop them. It is tacitly understood between the goons and the elite that what the goons are doing is approved by the elite.
Another aspect of fascism is de facto control over the media. This control need not be heavy-handed, since the media co-operates in its own subjugation, believing itself to be involved in a righteous battle with the forces of intransigence and ignorance.
The root symbol of fascism is a bundle of sticks bound together. Thus, all key control aspects of society, working together in harmony, to repress the free expression of the majority and impose upon them a particular social and political narrative against their will. It has nothing to do with a communist economic system, although the tools of repression perfected by the communists are used freely by fascists to achieve their ends.
This is why we see what appear to be communist movements in our society -- for example, in the rhetoric of the universities -- while the actual control system is pure fascism. Right now American society has a fascist leadership that has cloaked itself in communist rhetoric. The leadership of the major corporations has no intention of ever giving up its power. They are fascists, not communists. The politicians are their dupes, not their masters.
Another aspect of fascism is de facto control over the media.
Yes. It's either controlled because it's state owned or corporate owned. In either case, it is a hallmark of fascism.
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