VLVL Count Drugula, or Mucho the Munificent

[Terrance]

Williams Kris A SSgt 305 MDSS/SGSL wrote:
> 
> I don't know what qualifies as 'dangerously' close, but how would you
> classify Lincoln's actions with the copperheads, his suppression of
> habeas corpus and his assumption of all powers not expressly given by
> the constitution?  These actions were belligerently nationalistic.  Is
> it only fascism when the guy calling the shots is an asshole?

No. Lincoln was not an asshole, but we've had assholes in the White
house,  none of them were fascists. The USA has never experienced
fascism. Ask the millions living in the USA about the fascist
governments they have lived under and they will tell you what fascism is
and why the USA is not and never has been dangerously close to fascism.
In VL, Pynchon doesn't argue that the USA is fascist or was dangerously
close to fascism under Nixon or Reagan-Bush. Pynchon is a wealthy guy
and he can hop a flight to Japan or Europe or Mexico or Canada. He lives
in NYC, USA. Why would he stay living a nation that is dangerously close
to fascism? Why would you? I wouldn't. Mucho and Zoyd and Frenesi and
the whole sick sixties crew are not living a in fictional-fascist USA.
Not by a long shot.