For this reason, elected authoritarians who wish to consolidate control typically win not by flashy displays of might, but by convincing a critical mass of people that they’re just a normal politician — no threat to democracy at all.
That means the survival of democracy depends, to an extent not fully appreciated, on perceptions and narratives. In three recent countries where a democracy survived an incumbent government bent on destroying it — Brazil, South Korea, and Poland — the belief among elites, the public, and the opposition that democracy was at stake played a critical role in motivating pushback.
I’m a progressive. I see all those issues and my response is to vote as progressively as I can.
Why is it that viewers of Fox “News” and consumers of right-wing radio, who all preach some nevulous, nationwide hoodwink to the point that a third of our country is living in a parallel universe - why is it the issues that drive them to be insane and embrace fascism?
I think your premise is wildly off-base.
That said, I agree with your last para - except when things go bad enough the fascists start to doubt, that’s when you have a chance to try and engage and convert a few out of the cult.