In the US we're not quite USSR/CCP-levels of these things yet (which are the countries anti-socialist people think of when they demonize socialism) (therefore the post is hyperbole/propaganda), but we've been making big leaps lately so I think this meme will be true soon.

I think the much more coherent, accurate, and therefore effective facet of this is pointing out that it's authoritarianism that does this, not socialism. We've had (very limited) socialism in the US for many years, and many prosperous and well-regarded-in-supposed-anti-socialist-people's-eyes countries have more socialism than the US has.

Give it a few years, and we won't even have porn...

The pot is calling the kettle black.

We can still protest. We still have a legal right to free speech. It's not worth the hyperbole. It also perpetuates a misconception that authoritarianism doesn't allow for protests and free speech.

The model we are emulating is competitive authoritarianism. For the past four decades it has been an increasingly popular form of government.

There will be elections. There will be protests. There will be opposing parties and anti-government speech.

But the tables will be tilted heavily. They will allow small opposition wins, but the majority will stay with one party.

Speech won't be illegal, but you will be harassed. Asked questions by law enforcement. Press will be sued.

They will leverage the private/public surveillance apparatus to monitor public sentiment on all topics and how far they can push (and release pressure when needed) and what opposition to monitor/harass. Decades of data from political science, sociology, and psychology will make this an art.

It's dangerous if we perpetuate the idea that authoritarianism only exists when we can't protest or say anti-government things. The underlying institutional foundations are being changed now. The referees are being captured now. Press and citizens can legally say what they want, but the chilling effect is happening now.

We need more mobilization. Hyperbolic takes and not being clear on what authoritarianism actually looks like in the 21st century will make it harder.

I broadly agree, but the idea that the USA doesn't have protests at all is overstating the case to an obvious degree, given the widespread coverage each No Kings protest gets, with particular emphasis on how large the crowds are. One could argue that these protests are ineffective, but the phrasing in the OP is "no protests", which is provably wrong.

I point this out because in my experience, when attempting to persuade, it's better to make 99 good points than to make 99 good points and 1 weak one. Because people hostile to your overall argument will focus on that 1 weak point and make it seem (to casual observers) like your entire argument must be that weak.

On top of that you also get to own nothing.

…so can we try the socialism now…?

Not even capitalism right now, it's full on fascism.

Finally got my full bill for my no-insurance emergency “we have to do this or you die” surgery from a month ago. (At least I think that’s it - who knows if I’ll get more random “I was in the room for five minutes that’ll be $1000” bills)

$24,000. That’s after the self-pay discount from something like $300,000. I’m making around $2400 this month.

And every product looks the same and has shitty quality