I learned pretty recently that “degenerate” has roots in eugenics so I try to avoid that one.

Yes, I got the joke. And I was suggesting that Americans have always been on about other Americans not assimilating into their American culture. I also just find jokes about fascists being hypocritical or contradictory are no longer funny when the assumption that it's an indication of foolish lack of self-awareness no longer holds because double-think is the active goal.