"The Roots of Fascism" - (dial-up warning - large graphic included)

[Cerridwen]

In his article, Dr. Maneker makes the case that:

<gullible people> + <unenlightened self-interest> + <human neurobiology> + <us (good) vs. them (bad) mentality> + <"institutionalized religion"> + <rhetoric> + <"bureaucracy driven educational institutions"> + <corporate cultivation of "rules over people's needs" in the workplace> = Fascism

The Roots of Fascism

Jerry S. Maneker, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Sociology, California State University, Chico

..."Simply stated, a fascist government always has one class of citizens that is considered superior (good) to another (bad) based upon race, creed or origin. It is possible to be both a republic and a fascist state. The preferred class lives in a republic while the oppressed class lives in a fascist state."

<snip>

When there is a nation largely composed of people with uncritical intellects; people who are trained by assorted advertisers and other media savvy people to be gullible and develop "false needs," there is no need to impose fascism on them. They willingly, gladly, embrace fascism as a salve, an antidote to their fears and perceived needs that are inculcated and reinforced by those who seek to gain and maintain power over them.

<snip>

Some of this embracing of fascism is neurobiological,..."Before you are even consciously aware that you are afraid, your lizard brain responds by clicking into survival mode. No time to assess the situation, no time to look at the facts, just: fight, flight or freeze."

<big snip>

I sought to remind them that we couldn't have "collective bargaining" unless we were a "collective." It made no difference! Their short-sighted self-interest ruled the day for them, and for the rest of us.

<bigger snip>

<much more in this Article> (emphasis added)

Corporate America wants good, little, compliant workers; follow the rules, obey authority, don't "rock the boat". Educational institutions (nope, not talking teachers; talking "the system") want good, little, compliant students; follow the rules, obey authority, don't "rock the boat". Corporate advertisers want good, little, compliant consumers; follow the fads, "obey your thirst", "just buy it". And on and on; each system, it's "needs", each individual, their obedience.

A confluence of common goals within systems of control, which reduce the individual to human pieces on a chess board, manipulated to benefit the few at the expense of the many. Fascism, corporatism, monarchy, despotism, dictatorship, oligarchy, tyranny...call it what you will. Those of us in the lower 98 percentile will never be allowed access to the heady, hallowed halls of the upper 2 percent. We will never be viewed as anything more than just an inconvenient mass of "unwashed" human bodies to be marginally tolerated for use by the top 2 percent.

The sooner we recognize this rather uncomfortable truth, the sooner we can work together as the overwhelming majority we are and refuse to perpetuate our own "short sighted self-interests".

[whistle]

1. Good article and graphic...thanks

[Cerridwen]

7. You bet. Glad you enjoyed. :D...n/t

[Kosmos Mariner]

2. That's an awesome graphic

very good.. :)



:dem:

[Cerridwen]

4. Thanks. I wish I was talented enough to update it...

Sad it still applies almost a hundred years later.

[Greyhound]

3. The underlying truth behind "The Big Lie" that we are victims of.

Thank you. :kick: & R

[Cerridwen]

9. It appears we will remain victims of "The Big Lie"....

for a long time to come.

[ryanus]

5. Describes any political\economic system I can think of. Power corrupts. nt

[Cerridwen]

8. Power "over" corrupts. Maybe we need to think about why

and how to deal with that. Otherwise, all we're going to have is one system after another in which "We, the People" get royally screwed.

[Greyhound]

10. Please see the system in Holland, not perfect but light-years

beyond our crappy illusion of choice.

[Greyhound]

6. I know this has nothing to do with the distraction du jour, but fuck it

I'm kicking it again. :kick: