america a facist nation?

[not just souLLy now]

The 14 Characteristics of Fascism
by Lawrence Britt
Spring 2003
Free Inquiry magazine


Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military

Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism

The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

6. Controlled Mass Media

Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security

Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected

The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed

Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections

Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

scary stuff... how many of those apply to the US?[/quote]

[I.M. Weasel]

A little bit of 11 or 14 doesnt apply to the US buts thats about it. This has been a fascist country since 9/11/2001. I hope more people will realize it.

[MystiK]

wow, if i didnt see the title of the thread i'd say he was giving a description of america.

[Matt]

Some good points, having an openly Christian president who bases everything he does, and laws etc on the Bible and his belifs dosen't exactly make America look like the land of the free

[greay]

A little bit of 11 or 14 doesnt apply to the US buts thats about it. This has been a fascist country since 9/11/2001. I hope more people will realize it.

A little bit of 1-14 apply to the US, not the other way around.

America's not fucking fascist, and Bush isn't fucking Hitler.

[BlackAura]

A little bit of 1-14 apply to the US, not the other way around.

Actually, quite a lot of 1 - 14 apply to the US. Some more than others. However, the fact that most of them apply at all is very worrying.

[Jeeba Jabba]

Oh no, We're coming to get you.


Look out.

[MystiK]

Actually, quite a lot of 1 - 14 apply to the US. Some more than others. However, the fact that most of them apply at all is very worrying.

yep...and very quickly :

1. Yes there are flags everywhere and bush wears that stars and stripes pin

2. Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, those other unknown prisons in Afghanistan.

3. Terrorism was the fuel of both parties during the election.

4. 1000-lb bombs, jets being developed that move past the speed of sound, ''prism tanks'', gunships, psy-ops....

5. ''Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. '' - no need to even add anything to that.

6. ''Don't talk about the problems in the war in Iraq, it endangers the troops''

7. ''Obsession with National Security''

8. ''Religion and Government are Intertwined'' - Bush has said more than once that HE BELIEVES THAT GOD wants all the people of the world to BE FREE

9. the clean-air act, dropping out of the kyoto-protocol, tax cuts..

10. i cant see this one though...

11. neither this one. I don't know if movies can be classified as ''art'', if so then just look at the way michael moore is treated and the way bill maher got fired

12. jose padilla is an enemy combatant...and enemy combatants don't deserve to know how long they are being held for or even have the right to a lawyer

13. swift boat ads..all those discrepancies in the election last week...

[farrell2k]

A facist nation? lol. You're missing the dictator. Wait! Is Bush the dictator? Many of those apply to every country in the world. What country is not obsessed with national security?

Why is this moronic post in current events? Isn't this more OT?

[MrSiggler]

What country is not obsessed with national security?

I can think of lots. Starting with me own, for one.

There is a difference between concern, and obsession.

[Ex-Cyber]

A facist nation? lol. You're missing the dictator.

Fascism and dictatorship are not the same thing. Fascism is also not socialism or communism, despite the name of the Nazi party.

[farrell2k]

What country is not obsessed with national security?

I can think of lots. Starting with me own, for one.

There is a difference between concern, and obsession.

You're mistaken, and you should be happy that your gov't is obsessed with natl security. They should be.

Go ask any of your representatives to admit that they only "concerned" with national security, as opposed to obsessed with it.

Every country is obsessed with national security...

[farrell2k]

A facist nation? lol. You're missing the dictator.

Fascism and dictatorship are not the same thing. Fascism is also not socialism or communism, despite the name of the Nazi party.

Facism = A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=fascism

[Ex-Cyber]

That definition simplifies fascism into little more than "authoritarianism + racism". Then again, I'm not convinced that it's possible to write a useful one-sentence definition of fascism.

[farrell2k]

That definition simplifies fascism into little more than "authoritarianism + racism". Then again, I'm not convinced that it's possible to write a useful one-sentence definition of fascism.

I ackowledge your opinion.

[MystiK]

A facist nation? lol. You're missing the dictator. Wait! Is Bush the dictator? Many of those apply to every country in the world. What country is not obsessed with national security?

Why is this moronic post in current events? Isn't this more OT?

Regardless of what bush makes u think, there is no such thing as terrorists just running rampant around the world wildly killing people. Countries like finland, holland, sweden, norway, the entire caribbean, south and central america..they have no reason to be concerned with national security. Maybe not unconcerned but certainly not obsessed.

And yes bush is the dictator, name one thing he wishes which he hasnt successfully implemented.

[Christuserloeser]

America's not fudging fascist, and Bush isn't fudging Hitler.

Exaclty.

It would also miss some "Anti-Semitism" (it's a religion, not a race ) that's what all facistic countries had in common and always will.

The USA are pretty much of a state-of-the-art democracy (though capitalistic), where people of different origins do live in peace - that's pretty much the opposite of most other countries that I know about, ask any African, Asian or Jew that tries to settle down in other countries!

Because of the constitution and as reality proves, the USA in fact are (still) closer to communism as most other countries throughout the world, though there are a lot of problems that have to be solved...

scary stuff... how many of those apply to the US?

Let's have a look...

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

Applies.

...though not in a nationalistic way. Beeing proud of a democracy isn't exactly the same as beeing proud of a race or a religion.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

Applies.

...though "summary executions"

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

Doesn't apply: There's no "need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists"

To fight against terrorists doesn't prove that there's facism involved as a reason. The terrorist could be facists as well: e.g. Hitler was a terrorist before he came to powers too.

4. Supremacy of the Military

Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

Doesn't apply: Just because there's a strong military force, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's used for facistic purposes or controls the state. A military force is needed to prevent a country from foreign threats. Even socialistic countries needed to defend themselfes from intruders or other nations, e.g. Soviet Union, Cuba, China etc. Same for Israel, as soon as they'd drop there defenses they'd be wiped out.

It's the image that's beeing created from the media (EU, www, etc.) that lets the USA look like a facistic country, though I personally would prefer that there's no need of an army at all - and no use

5. Rampant Sexism

The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

Doesn't apply and there's no need to prove that.

6. Controlled Mass Media

Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Doesn't apply and there's no need to prove that...

...though I should mention that there's always "censorship", especially in war time When the NATO/Germany bombed Yugoslavia into the middle ages, there wasn't any media reports at all here in Germany.

Anyway. In the US, there are lots of opinions and lots of people beeing critic. "Freedom of speech"...

7. Obsession with National Security

Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Applies.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

Doesn't apply and there's no need to prove that.

9. Corporate Power is Protected

The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

Doesn't apply. There are lots of companies sharing the power... but on the other hand, as Lenin said, capitalism is the little brother of facism

10. Labor Power is Suppressed

Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

Doesn't apply. There are trade unions. Protect and support them as long as they exist. Without them life is hell - Any Chinese could tell you more about it

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

Doesn't apply. No need to prove that.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

Doesn't apply. No need to prove that.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Doesn't apply. The USA is a democracy.

14. Fraudulent Elections

Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Doesn't apply. No need to prove that.

---

Conclusion:
Yes, the USA are capitalistic, not facistic. Don't mix that up! Those 14 points by that Lawrence Britt are okay, but facism is even worse.
...but it can't be wrong to think about all these 14 points

[Christuserloeser]

Regardless of what bush makes u think, there is no such thing as terrorists just running rampant around the world wildly killing people.

Exactly. They are facists.

[nymus]

Any intelligent person should be worried about America and its friends right now.

[hearld500]

America isn't a facist nation right now, and I don't see it happening for awhile.

America is in trouble right now, there's not exactly a ton of pro-America nations at the moment, but I think that will all clear up once we get Iraq back and on it's feet again.