Appeasement got us where we are — can we stop now?

So, is it finally OK to use the F-word?

One shouldn’t use the term “fascist” lightly. It isn’t a catch-all for “people you disagree with.” It isn’t even a synonym for “bad political actors.” Mitch McConnell’s brand of politics has, in my view, greatly damaged America; but cynical legislative maneuvers aren’t the same as threatening and encouraging violence, and I wouldn’t call McConnell a fascist.

DonaldTrump, however, is indeed a fascist— an authoritarian willing to use violence to achieve his racial nationalist goals. So are many of his supporters. If you had any doubts about that, Wednesday’s attack on Congress should have ended them.

And if history teaches us one lesson about dealing with fascists, it is the futility of appeasement. Giving in to fascists doesn’t pacify them, it just encourages them.

Sowhy have somany public figures who should have knownwhat Trump and his movementwere tried, again andagain, toplacatethemby giving in to their demands? Why are they still doing it even now?

Consider a fewmilestones on theway to the sacking of the Capitol.

One big step happened in February, wheneveryRepublican senator other than Mitt Romney voted against convicting the president on impeachment charges despite clear evidence of his guilt. SusanCollins famously justified her vote by hoping that Trump had “learned his lesson.” What he actually learned was that he could easily abuse his power.

Another big step came in the spring, when armed protesters, withTrump’sencouragement, menaced Michigan authorities over COVID19 restrictions. That dress rehearsal for thisweek’s violence drew some tut-tutting fromRepublican politicians, but no serious pushback. Indeed, one of the leaders in these events, MeshawnMaddock— whowasalso involved inWednesday’s rioting — is in line to become co-chair of the Michigan GOP.

Again, the lesson was clear: Right-wing activists can get away with threatening elected officials, even when this includes brandishingweaponsin public spaces.

Then came Trump’s unprecedented refusal to accept electoral defeat. Many Republicans joined him in trying to reject the will of the voters — almost two-thirds of House Republicans voted against accepting Pennsylvania’s electors after the Trumpist riot.

But even thosewho didn’t actively join his attempts to stage a coup tried to let Trump and his followers down easy. McConnell waited more than a month before accepting Joe Biden as president-elect. One senior Republicansaid toTheWashington Post, “What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time?” Well, now we know.

Finally, what happened onWednesday? A Trumpist attack during the confirmation of Biden’s victory was completely predictable. So why was security so lax?

What we know suggests the people who were in charge of protecting Congress failed to do so because they didn’t want to be seen treating the MAGA mob as the danger it was. And once again the attempt to appease fascists will surely end up encouraging them. Sofar, the lesson for Trumpist extremists is that they can engage in violent attacks and face hardly any consequences.

So what can be done? It’s time to stop appeasing the fascists among us. Law enforcement should seek to arrest asmany of the participants inWednesday’s attack as possible. Andanyonewho tries to violently interfere with the transfer of power should also be arrested.

Finally, there needs to be an accounting for crimes took place the past four years — and does anyone doubt Trump allies and associates engaged in criminal acts? Don’t say we should look forward; accountability for past actions will be crucial.

Appeasement iswhat got us towherewe are. It has to stop, now.