The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism (USA is not a Democracy)

[OutsourceBush]

The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism by Dr. Lawrence Britt

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14-defining characteristics common to each:

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. TOP

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. TOP

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. TOP

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. TOP

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. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution. TOP

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. TOP

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. TOP

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. TOP

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. TOP

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 and letters is openly attacked. TOP

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. TOP

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.

http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Politics/Structure3.htm

[bryant69]

1. This is pretty incontrovertable

I guess if we aren't a democracy there is little point to voting here in a couple of weeks. And of course we may as well all stop our get out the vote efforts.

This is eye-opening.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[bowens43]

7. We're not a Democracy.

If we were, Gore would be president. A true Democracy would be a true nightmare. Abortion would be illegal, homosexuality would be illegal, slavery may have never ended, women may not have the right to vote, Christianity would be the state religion, English the official language....

Our Constitution protects from the tyranny of Democracy.

[OutsourceBush]

8. "tyranny of Democracy"

That's what Freepers say.

[Eloriel]

11. He meant --

either "true Democracy" or

"tyrrany of the majority," which is the more used phrase.

The Founding Fathers worked very hard as they built our Constitution and institutions to ensure that minority interests WOULD have an opportunity to be heard and acted upon -- so that, as our history unfolded, things like slavery could be abolished, women given the vote, etc. Were it for a pure democracy, none of that and so much more would ever have happened.

[bryant69]

16. If we took a straight up or down vote

I'm not sure but what both homosexuality and abortion would be illegal in this country; not sure that's a convincing argument in favor of pure democracy.

[FDRrocks]

23. If only voting were mandatory

:) *tongue in cheek*

[sweetheart]

2. Well, how about 14 out of 14

To question the evidence is unthinkable... and how can so few
people not recognize the face of fascism when it arises?

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Military Dicatatorship USA

Military Dicatatorship USA

By Norman Livergood, former Dept Head, US Army War College.

We usually think of a nation being controlled by a military dictatorship when a military leader seizes control through a putsch, as in the case of General Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan or Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The previous government is overthrown and a military strong man places himself in power with few if any constraints from judicial or legislative oversight.

But we must look for the essence of a military dictatorship, those features which are present whenever this form of oppression occurs. In essence, a military dictatorship is a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a repressive ruler or a small clique who use military and police power to dominate the people mentally and physically.

Taking this definition as our touchstone, in the United States we know we're living under a military dictatorship when we see:

* a leader put into power through a coup d'etat, not through democratic elections

* the military used to control the civilian population in violation of the U.S. Constitution

* the president ordering a US citizen held indefinitely by the military

* a shadow government being set up consisting entirely of executive branch officials in violation of the Constitution

* government informants spying on fellow citizens

www.hermes-press.com/militarismindex.htm

[Selatius]

4. People don't know what fascism is

People could tell what communism is because there is the Communist Manifesto, but there is no such thing as a Fascist Manifesto. Whenever fascism is mentioned, people automatically equate it to Adolf Hitler and the nazi swastika, not these 14 points mentioned above. They only see the decadence and imagery that was Nazi Germany, not the underlying power structure.

As a result, the US population is probably more vulnerable to a resurgence of corporatism (aka fascism) than some form of authoritarian socialism because they simply are not informed enough to identify the hallmarks of authoritarian corporatism.

[MatrixEscape]

5. Yes ...

To me Fascism is rather polymorphic in its manifestation. It has basic concepts and tenets, but the outer form can mutate and shape shift as required.

I would also add that I sense that Fascism is not an external/other phenomena,(is any political/social phenomena in essence) but that it plays on the "inner" Fascist primarily. I think that helps to explain why it goes under the radar and how Germany was transformed so easily.

The question is, if people who research this phenomena observe an emerging, (or extant)form of it taking hold, can it be expressed on a larger scale? Another related issue is the agitprop of fear and terror and its obvious manipulative psychological ramifications.

Is there any major debate or discussion in Academia on these subjects? That is often a good place for initial investigationa to begin.

Also, since the media is, in effect, already in the hands of the corporate government, is it any wonder that counter-active information is easily suppressed? The filters and distortions are easily discovered by comparisons and the weapons of mass distraction only serve to keep a large part of the populace distracted from vital matters that concern and effect them.

[hansberrym]

13. There is a Fascist manifesto.

Is is a rejection of individualism in favor of collectivism.

Mussolini started out as a socialist but moved to the more authoritarian approach of the facist. The same can be said for the Neo-cons who are now running the country.



http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaster/Reading/Germany/mussolini.htm

[Eloriel]

21. Not only that, but

think about it. We defeated Hitler and Mussolini, the only two "fascists" that we have ever seriously demonized in our own pubic discourse. After that, we energetically worked against all forms of communism, even some of them mostly imaginary (e.g., via the House Committee on Unamerican Activities).

For all intents and purposes, most Americans no doubt think that fascism has been defeated for all times -- except, perhaps, in other places and other times, not America.

Of course, all this NON-Anti-Fascism has been assisted greatly by the fact that the U.S. literally imported so many hysterically anti-Communist fascists (Nazis after WW2) and made comfortable homes for them in our intelligence operations, and in the Republican party. Of COURSe as policy we were not going to spout anti-fascist rhetoric, or fear fascism at home or abroad. (We also made nice homes for them in Italy -- google for Operation Gladio -- and who know where else.)

[datasuspect]

6. i hear ya'

and i often wonder what usefulness ANY presidential candidate (dem or repug) can bring to the average person.

we all fully know that both parties are deep in the pockets of corporate interests.

sometimes i wonder if the two party system is simply a ruse used by the elites in this country to divide and conquer the largely narcotized, intoxicated, lusting, and ignorant masses (the former vulgar and unwashed).

the branding and marketing are there. there is an almost cartoonish aspect to the presentation of the views and positions of the two parties given to us by the corporate controlled media - complete with color schemes, logos, and catchphrases. any analysis is reduced to absurdity or to ad hominem attack, there is no true debate on issues in the presence of party-line stereotype mongering and bickering.

all the while, the debt-rich drive around with their various political bumper stickers on cars they take out for 72 months while their nest eggs are robbed by the new robber barons.

what effective choice is there?

kerry is the lesser of two evils. bush is simply insane.

the only hope i can gather is that a democratic administration will at least be marginally more HUMANE than the continued bushco fraud.

still, i cannot shake the sinking feeling that they are all in cahoots with each other, jesus fucking christ, bush and kerry both share noble pedigrees and can trace ancestry to european nobility.

i know for a fact that i (a relative house slave on the corporate plantation) will never be accorded the privilege to sup with either of the them at their respective tables.

that dignity is not accorded to the HELP.

and if you're not a captain of industry or wildly and perversely wealthy, you simply remain a SERVANT. that's what ANYONE is who trades labor (physical or mental) to further enrich those who are already wealthy.

[Cleita]

9. ....

:kick:

[MGKrebs]

10. Please stop saying we are not a democracy. It is not true.

We may not be a PERFECT democracy, but we are not a PERFECT fascist state either. We may stumble occasionally along our road, but in the long run, the will of the people is what we achieve. And that is all that democracy means.

Democracy is an idea. An ideal to be strived for. When talking about it in practical terms, it really only makes sense as a relative term: are we more or less of a democracy than (something else), or, are we more or less of a democracy than we used to be? That sort of thing.

I recognize the fascist tendencies of the current administration, and it scares me. But you know what? We are having an election in two weeks. So, even if we vote to have a fascist government, it is STILL a democracy. (Unless they win by coup d'etat.)

It bothers me when we deny our democracy. It opens the door for those who want soemthing else. "We aren't a democracy anyway, so why NOT turn over more power to corporations? Hell, we're almost there anyway!".

I choose to defend our democracy. I choose to fight for it even- especially- when it is under attack. I will not abandon democracy just because we have lost a bit of ground against it's enemies. DEMOCRACY LIVES!

[sweetheart]

12. nice pep talk

Better selling something like brushes or tupperware.

There is no democracy. It has been an effective plutocracy for
decades and lets stop putting lipstick on a pig.

I donna know about fascism... but the plutocratic decay is clear... and
it has led us to the door of fascism, aggressive war crime and
the very thing the nuremburg trials persecuted.

I'm sure jose padilla is pleased that the constitution has been
abrogated just for him, and i'm sure that the rest of americana
is pleased as well that democracy is alive.

Lets win this election and bury this evil body.... however if it
cannot be buried, then there is no point in pretending any further
that there is continuity with the founder's experiment.

[hansberrym]

18. If the plutocrats (Bush, Cheney, and other's pushing NAFTA,

FTAA, and other international trade agreements for the benefit of the global corporations) it will not be the fault of the founder's experiment. It will be our own damned fault.


The founder's never promised a government that would run without constant oversight by the people to check corruption of one faction or another. In fact they warned again and again that such a government does not exist. The best that can be had, is to set up one that gives us a chance to prevent one faction from gaining complete control.

For a discussion of the benefits of a pure democracy vs. a republic(meaning an indirect democracy), see federalist #10 and the ant-federalist counter-arguments (Centinel #1, Penn. Minoriy)

http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm
http://www.constitution.org/afp/centin01.htm

Note that neither side was arguing for a pure democracy, both favored the republican form(indirect democracy) but they differed on how to best keep the representatives of the people beholden to all the people's interests as opposed to an aristocratic or other faction.

[sweetheart]

20. THe world has moved on since america's democracy

Its very funny to hear american government representatives referring
to "old europe" as, in fact, it is american demcocracy that is so
old that it is creaking at the seams.

Liberal democracy has moved on since 1800, and given modern computer
technology is moving way ahead of the gerriatric american focus that
an antique constitution can still be realistic given our time.

The british have an advantage as the constitution is unwritten
except for the human rights law incorporated from the EU, so that
there is no "process" defined that cannot be re-defined given new
circumstances, realities, technologies and such... whereas, the USA
constitution relegates the nation to an antique process that is
disabling. It is no wonder the repukes have subverted the beast, as
it is indeed in dire need of update.

I'm halfway through a texbook called "models of democracy" by
david held, that is probably used to teach elementary constitutional
law for people who write constitutions for a living. It is quite
amazing how early in the book the american experiment is relevant...
as liberal democracy has evolved quite a bit in 200 years... as any
evolutionist would expect... and really , the current constitution
and as well, the federalist discussion, are locked in an ancient
paradigm of what nation states are, what liberty is, and what
equality is, that has been left behind by modern feminism,
racial equality and modern concept of workers rights brougth about
by the 19th century movements of marxism and that whole lot.

I totally see why the neocons have dumped the constitution in the
potomac... i'm less impressed that they did it in secret, as that is
really treason.... i would rather look towards what type of
constitution, given a clean slate, would best serve a modern nation
of evolved sophistocated human beings looking towards a true
tolerate, multiethnic, multireligious complex, technological society
that spans the globe... and that old slaver's document is a wet
piece of potomac sludge.

[MGKrebs]

22. Well, I disagree with your terminology, but

let's not get into a semantics debate. I would ask- what is your point? I think you are running a warning flag against fascism up the pole (which I appreciate), but at the same time, you say that democracy is dead. I am not hungry for anarchy, so what should fill the void left by the absence of the "plutocracy" ? Or is the plutocracy OK?

edit to add: Isn't the fact that we can openly have this conversation validation of some sort of democracy?

[sweetheart]

27. Its circuitious aggreement

I'm only saying that the constitution is a bit of paper and too much
trust has been put in to it, rather than the living constitution
which might be the education levels of the citizens. In this regard
as britain has not written constitution, the living constitution has
been kept alive through its plural media, the BBC (public media),
and its public education. Perhaps in not having a constitution,
the focus is better kept on making sure the light stays lit.

Instead, we have a blind bunch of plutocrats who can take an oath to
a cocktail napkin and that makes them American.

"Man was born free and he is everywhere in chains." - J.J.Rousseau

[JohnOneillsMemory]

25. HA HA Ha ha ha...ha? You're serious? Hmm. Wishing Don't Make It So.

The sentiment and July 4th propaganda have successfully PREVENTED the realization of actual representative government because we are taught from early childhood that Americans are the Master Race Who Discovered the Perfect System. We are told we live in a democracy just as sure as the sky is blue and few of us examine the veracity of this myth.

The Senate is NOT proportionally representative, is it? Remember the egalitarian creed "one man, one vote"? (Forget women and people of color. Blacks are still disenfranchised by the thousands just to weaken the Democratic vote.)

The senators from Utah have the same power as those from California.

The Electoral College was invented to keep rich white men picking the president, not the people.

And we see what happens when the people's choice is shunted aside.

No, Virginia. We do not live in a democracy, my naive and propagandized friend.

[Killarney]

14. very interesting

thanks

[sundancekid]

15. we always work toward a MORE PERFECT UNION ... while I do appreciate

your thoughtful post, I hardly conclude what you suggest-- your parenthetical comment of "(USA is not a democracy)"

... the HELL it isn't.

And, BTW, the fact I could post this very item makes at least ONE of a million more points that would contradict your supposed point.

edit: pronoun and quote marks correction

[robertpaulsen]

17. Don't forget Mussolini's definition of fascism.

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism
because it is a merger of State and Corporate power".

-Benito Mussolini, 1883-1945, Fascist dictator of Italy

[AntiFascist]

19. The fact that we are spending 200 times more on Pentagon adventurism.....

than researching hydrogen as an alternative fuel source, clearly underlines this point.

[RainDog]

24. kick them out n/t

[aaronbees]

26. we bat 100 percent on that ....

fourteen for fourteen.

[Insider]

28. .

:kick: