Early warning signs of Fascism.....

[Coyul]

...and before any moderates start whining about the use of the word Fascism, or fascist....These are merely signs, if you can't "see" they fit any party in this country right now...you are welcome to your opinion, and I know the name of a good optical care specialist!

1. Powerful and Continuing NATIONALISM

2. Disdain for HUMAN RIGHTS

3. Identification of ENEMIES/SCAPEGOATS as a Unifying cause

4. Supremacy of the MILITARY

5. Rampant SEXISM

6. Controlled MASS MEDIA

7. OBSESSION with National Security

8. RELIGION and GOVERNMENT are intertwined

9. Corporate POWER is protected

10. Labor POWER is SUPRESSED

11. Disdain for INTELLECTUALS and the ARTS

12. Obsession with CRIME and PUNISHMENT

13. Rampant cronyism and CORRUPTION

14. FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

This list is brought to you by the good folks at the Syracuse Cultural Workers Tools for Change catalog....
http://www.syrculturalworkers.com

Great site for all of your christmas needs!

Coyul

[Anakin Skywalker]

1. No Whines Here!

Hey, that list sounds like Republican talking points! :)

[Vox_Reason]

2. That list really raises wingnut hackles

Never fails. It really spooked a repug friend of mine. It seems to have gotten to him; he sent me this bizarro message this weekend:


"Leave it to the fascist left wing ninth circuit court of appeals:

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041203/2004-12-03T175928Z_01_N03712990_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-COURT-INTERNET-DC.html

Bush is NOT the problem. When the left will wake up to this fact is beyond me."


"Fascist left-wing" ninth circuit? Is that like the right-wing communist supreme court? I considered writing him back to inform him that left-wingers can't be fascists, but I've not responded to any of his messages since the election, the first of which was titled "Not gloating, just reflecting" and was essentially 7 or 8 paragraphs of gloating and free advice (err, talking points) that the dems needed to become more right-wing in order to win elections.

:puke:

[Vox_Reason]

3. Here's the verbose version

In "Fascism Anyone?," Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, identifies 14 characteristics common to fascist regimes. His comparisons of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet yielded this list of 14 "identifying characteristics of fascism."

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, 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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Coyul]

4. Thank you for posting the whole thing!

It is important that the full meaning be brought forward to all of these things, thanks for doing the legwork. Couldn't find it to copy and paste, and with work and school, typing is someting I tend to keep to a minimum....LOL

Thanks again,
Coyul

[ShaneGR]

5. My comments, I disagree with some.. oh yeah, I'm a "moderate"

1. Powerful and Continuing NATIONALISM

Agreed.

2. Disdain for HUMAN RIGHTS

I wouldn't use the word "disdain", especially when you look at the work of many American groups worldwide, and the fact that the United States still gives more money for humanitarian aid than, in some cases, a combination of several other large powers.

The US does on the other hand have a real and very scary dilemna with their treatment of their war enemies. It's basically a national disgrace.

3. Identification of ENEMIES/SCAPEGOATS as a Unifying cause

I would hardly describe Osama Bin Laden or Al-Qaeda as an "identified" group, their is no dispute that they were very active pre-911.

Iraq is a different story.

4. Supremacy of the MILITARY

I'll buy this argument when I see troops marching the streets. Don't forget we had National Guard troops gunning down student protestors in the 60s.

5. Rampant SEXISM

Uh, in what form? Keep in mind that the United States current policy towards women is better than 90% of the combined world in terms of both employment and living opportunities. We're not perfect, but definitely not bad in this regard.

6. Controlled MASS MEDIA

Agreed.

7. OBSESSION with National Security

Agreed, though this is post-911 and may not last more than a few more years. Of course, this doesn't take into account another terrorist attack.

8. RELIGION and GOVERNMENT are intertwined

The Separation of Church and State is under-fire, but we've had "In God We Trust on our money, on our buildings, in our writing, etc. for two centuries. When the Republican Party Re-Alignment De-Aligns (Because nothing lasts forever) a more progressive voice will win-out on this subject.

9. Corporate POWER is protected

Agreed.

10. Labor POWER is SUPRESSED

Somewhat, the problem with the labor unions today is that their leadership, for the most part, aren't listened to by their membership. Over 40% of the Union households voted Bush in some very key areas, like Ohio.

I think this comes down to poor leadership at the head of the AFL. Also a real drought on GOOD candidates to back. Gore and Kerry don't quite fit the bill. Clinton did, politics is 70% personality to a lot of people.

11. Disdain for INTELLECTUALS and the ARTS

Guess I just hate the word disdain, though the Republican Party's "Arts is a waste of money" thing is a bunch of crap. But, of course, we never call them on it.

I really hate to harp on the language, like disdain, but I really think that's why we lost this election. We pick the wrong issues, and the issues we do pick to talk about, we do a terrible job of using simple terms and phrases to rip the Republicans to shreds. We never call the Republicans out on what they really think. We use terms like "cuts" to say what they're going to do, but we never explain why it's really bad.

12. Obsession with CRIME and PUNISHMENT

Our Justice system is a complete atrocity (We should have advanced even farther), but still better than 90% of the world. Go ANYWHERE in Africa, most of South America, all of the Middle East, and the majority of East Asia and see how bad you think the American Justice system is.

13. Rampant cronyism and CORRUPTION

Agreed.

14. FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

I sort of agree, about 2000. This time however, we got beat. I'll go into it if you want, but the bottom line is we lost. BUT, we definitely need paper trails in the future. If we had won, the Republicans would be saying EXACTLY what we're saying right now about those machines.

I'm not saying we shouldn't follow through on Ohio, or that the BBV stuff shouldn't be done, because I DO think we DEFINITELY need to make sure everythings legit.

[Coyul]

6. As I said, if you need the number....

...of a good optical care specialist.

As a note, just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it isn't happening. After all isn't Michael Moore an enemy of the United states? If you are unclear on the answer to this question....ask a republican.

Oh, and the soldiers in the streets?
Just a matter of time....just a matter of time.

But once again, you are entitled to your opinion, just remember the list, and keep it in mind....but for the gods sake, don't say it outloud in mixed company. ;-)

Coyul

[ShaneGR]

8. See Vox's response

Much better I think. My eye-sight is fine, 20/10.

[Coyul]

9. Oh I saw it...but I also caught the end....

"We must learn from their example and be ever vigilant. Many things we take for granted in our society today would take 10 times the effort to restore than it would take to remove them."

Arguing that it isn't fascism yet....does not make me feel any better at all...does it you?

C
P.S. Congrats on the eyesight...I assume you can see things from a distance? That light at the end of the tunnel...don't worry, just a train headed straight for all of us!

[Vox_Reason]

7. In general, I agree with your analysis

Certainly we're not in a situation just like Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, etc. However, I think the point of the list is to point out the common traits of those regimes in order to raise awareness, so people will recognize them when they manifest in various ways--some subtle, some less so.

Could Germans in 1933 have had any idea where they would be by the early 1940s? Obviously some did, and managed to escape, but for many others, I'm guessing it was the "frog in the slowly-heating pot of water" thing.

We must learn from their example and be ever vigilant. Many things we take for granted in our society today would take 10 times the effort to restore than it would take to remove them.