Word Meaning of the Day: FASCIST

[feistydem]

Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality --


link: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=Fascist

Now, you tell me... do we have Fascists in the White House?

:hide:

[rkc3]

1. That's a rhetorical question? Right?

[phantom power]

2. The aspect of "economic regimentation" is debatable.

In general, the BushCo approach to economics has been the opposite of regimentation. It's been a dismantling of every economic regulation they can get their hands on.

For that matter, even in the case of classic fascism, this seems ambiguous to me. For instance, "fascism" has been called the merging of govt and corporations. That also seems like the opposite of regimentation.

[feistydem]

4. I think the basic Bush fiscal plan is regimented:

Eliminate funding social services for the poor and infirmed and provide fiscal empowerment to the wealthy and corporate multinationals.

No doubt in my mind that the merging of government and corporations is occurring.

[TahitiNut]

7. Look more closely at the word "REGIMEntation."

It has little to do with regulation (moderation) and EVERYTHING to do with favoring the REGIME -- autocratic/plutocratic and authoritarian. It's a "keep in step" and compliance with authority bias, not an egalitarian bias.

[feistydem]

9. good footer quotes.... here's my quote

"On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does."

Will Rogers
US humorist & showman (1879 - 1935)


I am sick at the thought of 3 more years putting up with BushCo.

[TahitiNut]

12. Impeachments and recalls should be as common as elections.

It's only the "powers that be" (incumbents) who fill our heads with the notion that impeachments and recalls are "dangerous." The Constitution is "dangerous"?? Riiight. Funny how self-serving that is for them.

[Greyhound]

10. I don't think it has to be governmental regimentation and the

corporations are regimenting the the economy in ways that most sheeple are not even aware of. Essential services have been given away to large campaign contributers with no input from constituents. Vital industries are already controlled by cooperative cabals if not owned by actual monopolies. Hell, we've lost the means to even feed ourselves thanks to the agri-corps.

[mestup]

3. WH Foreign Policy Manual: "The Book of Revelation"

http://www.removerepublicans.com

[randomelement]

5. A little comparison for the historically challenged

A snippet from an online term paper:


...Although the accepted opinion is that German fascism was an evil and isolated abhorrence that was ended forever by the Allied victory in World War II, this paper proposes that its success was achieved through a set of political, social and economic conditions that could occur in any country, at any time.

From the paper:

"Yet, despite achieving power on the basis of overwhelming popularity among the German public, it became immediately apparent that German fascism intended to control all aspects of national life, ensuring that their patriotic propaganda was able to permeate every area of German society with little resistance (Brady, 1969). Hitler's powerful personal charisma, aided by his meticulously organized public appearances and the saturation of everyday life with Nazi symbols, posters and indoctrination, established him as the infallible, hero-worshiped savior of the German people (Payne, 1995). Despite the fact that his repressive totalitarian regime had abolished many of their basic liberties, and that every area of their lives was pervaded and controlled by state police organizations (Berwick, 23), many of the German people responded with uncritical loyalty to their leader and a frightening willingness to obey all state issued directives. The Nazification of German society was greatly assisted by the efforts of the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under the control of Joseph Goebbels, which was highly effective at promoting the fascism regime as a well-oiled Nazi machine (Eatwell, 111), by means of mass rallies, military parades, and sophisticated manipulation and censorship of the media. Such was the appeal of the fascist philosophy and propaganda that, in Germany in particular, the majority of people were willing to sacrifice their individual freedoms and ambitions for the greater good of their nation."

Sound familiar?

[feistydem]

8. frighteningly so.

[delete_bush]

6. I prefer to call them fescists.

[Neocondriac]

11. there have been several through the years......

these are just sloppy Fascists.