The Fascistic Nature of Compelled Speech
Or, Why Donald Trump Is Now Sitting Behind The Resolute Desk
Compelled speech happens when someone is forced to say things they don’t believe in. It’s a controlling idea that fits with fascism, a system where the government demands total obedience and wipes out personal freedom. By looking at how compelled speech affects people’s rights, honesty, and society, we can see why it’s against freedom and feels like something fascist governments do. This essay explains why forcing people to speak certain words is like fascism, using simple ideas, history, and real-world examples, including how Americans pushed back against it.
Compelled speech takes away personal freedom, which is a big part of free countries. Fascism wants everyone to follow the government’s ideas, often making people say things they don’t agree with, like oaths or slogans. When someone is forced to say these things, they lose control over their own thoughts and words. This is like how fascist governments, such as Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia, made people follow one strict set of beliefs, punishing anyone who didn’t agree.
It also stops people from speaking out against the government. Fascist leaders hate disagreement because it threatens their power, so they use things like propaganda to keep everyone in line. Compelled speech is a way to silence different opinions by making people say only what the government wants. For example, forcing someone to repeat a political idea they don’t believe in (Trans Women Are Women) shuts down debate. This creates fear, where people stay quiet to avoid trouble, just like in fascist countries that control what everyone says.
Compelled speech goes against free speech, which is key to finding truth and running a free society. Thinkers like John Stuart Mill said free speech helps us figure out what’s true. But when people are forced to say lies or ideas they don’t support, it messes up the search for truth. Fascist governments love controlling what people think by pushing their own version of “truth” through propaganda. Forcing people to repeat these ideas helps them control both words and thoughts, which is a big part of fascism.
In America, many people saw compelled speech—like being forced to say certain things at work or school—as a threat to freedom. They felt it was like being controlled, so they supported Donald Trump in 2016 and 2024 because he promised to fight against these rules. By voting for him, Americans showed they didn’t want to be forced to say things they didn’t believe, rejecting ideas that felt like fascism and choosing freedom instead.
Forcing people to speak against their beliefs takes away their dignity. Fascism treats people like tools for the government, not as individuals with their own ideas. When someone has to say something they don’t believe, they’re just being used to push the government’s message. History shows this in things like loyalty oaths in dictatorships, where saying no could mean jail or worse. This focus on government power over people is a clear sign of fascism.
Compelled speech creates fear, which is how fascist governments control people. It uses threats—like losing a job or getting in legal trouble—to make people obey. This is similar to how fascist leaders made people show loyalty to avoid punishment. When someone is scared to say what they really think, they lose their creativity and courage. This fear is something fascist systems use on purpose to keep everyone under control.
It also twists the truth, which fascist governments do through propaganda. Like in George Orwell’s 1984, where people had to believe lies, compelled speech makes people say things that aren’t true. This messes with their sense of reality and makes them part of a big lie. Fascist leaders use this to control how people see the world, making sure everyone follows their version of the truth.
Compelled speech pushes everyone to think the same way, which is what fascism wants. Fascist governments demand loyalty to one big idea, like nationalism, and don’t allow different opinions. Forcing people to say the same things, like Nazi salutes or Soviet pledges, wipes out unique ideas and creates a society where everyone seems the same. This is exactly what fascism aims for—a world without differences.
It also breaks trust in society. When people are forced to say things they don’t believe, they act fake, saying one thing in public but thinking something else in private. Fascist governments like this because it keeps people divided and weak. Over time, this makes people stop trusting each other or the government, which helps fascist leaders stay in power by making it hard for people to work together against them.
Language becomes a tool to control people in compelled speech. Fascist governments know words can shape how people think, so they use them to push their ideas. Forcing people to say certain things turns language into a way to oppress, not communicate. This happened in places like Mussolini’s Italy, where slogans were used to control people, showing how fascism uses words to dominate.
Compelled speech makes it normal for the government to control people’s thoughts. When someone is forced to say something they don’t believe, it’s like the government is reaching into their mind. This is a big part of fascism, where leaders want to control not just what people do but what they think. Over time, people might stop thinking for themselves to avoid trouble, making it easier for fascism to take over.
It also opens the door for more government control. Starting with small things, like making people say certain words, can lead to bigger restrictions. Fascist governments often start small, then take more and more freedom away. By allowing compelled speech, societies risk moving toward a point where the government controls everything, which is what fascism wants.
Finally, compelled speech goes against what makes us human. Fascism wants everyone to act the same, ignoring that people have their own unique thoughts. Forcing someone to say something they don’t believe treats them like a robot, not a person with their own ideas. This fits with fascism’s goal of making everyone the same, wiping out differences to create a society that’s easier to control.