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Is the USA fascist or becoming?

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  • Is the USA fascist or becoming?

    Oh dear! Am I setting the cat among the pigeons again?

    Fourteen Defining
    Characteristics Of Fascism

    By Dr. Lawrence Britt
    Source Free Inquiry.co
    5-28-3


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

    6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes the 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 and letters is openly attacked.

    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 forgo 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.

  • #2
    Re: Is the USA fascist or becoming?

    Lizzie,

    The article fits the current [and the recent--or longer ] administrations right to the last letter. They appear to delight in pushing their own agenda around the world [interfering] or We are right or you are wrong attitude . The problem is other governments are so gullible that they follow on as though under the trance of "The Pied Piper" .

    Bring on the pigeons...........this cat has very sharp claws.


    Gordon.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Is the USA fascist or becoming?

      This is just to cover Item 3. in the opening summation.................................

      General criticises Australia's Afghan 'experiment'
      By chief political correspondent Simon Cullen
      ABC News Australia. Updated 10 minutes ago


      Australia's former top commander in Afghanistan has described the war effort there as an "experiment" that will not end well.




      Retired Major General John Cantwell has also criticised how politicians are portraying Australia's role and success in Afghanistan, describing the comments as "misleading".

      It is not the first time Mr Cantwell has spoken out about the problems with the war in Afghanistan and has questioned whether it has been worth the lives lost.

      His latest criticism of the war comes as Australia prepares to begin handing over control for local security in Uruzgan province to Afghan forces.

      "I think it's a very noble and brave and courageous experiment, but I think it's also not going to end well." Mr Cantwell told ABC Radio National.

      "Afghanistan is a deeply divided country in so many ways, it's riven by tribal enmities and hatreds, it's divided geographically, it's divided by economy, it's divided by politics, it is a mess and it's a mess which will be in the same terrible condition for decades to come.

      "We are deluding ourselves if we think we're going to turn Afghanistan into some little democracy, some gleaming bastion of Westernised ideas in that part of the world.

      "It's just not going to happen."

      Mr Cantwell has described Australia's mission in Afghanistan as "elastic", given that troops are now involved in a "nation-building" program which is not what they were originally sent there for.

      And despite the wonderful work being done by the troops, Mr Cantwell says their role and success has been overstated by politicians back home.

      "It is a little over-egging the pie, the politicians - our minister and others - talking about what we're doing in Afghanistan," Mr Cantwell said.

      "We're not doing anything in Afghanistan in the whole, we're doing something in a small part of it - an important part, but nonetheless, a minor process."

      Australia's war effort in Afghanistan has strong bipartisan support, although the Greens have repeatedly called for the troops to be brought home.

      Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has described Mr Cantwell as a "very impressive man", adding that no-one wants Australian troops in Afghanistan for a moment longer than necessary.

      "I think everyone associated with the commitment of our armed forces in Afghanistan... is constantly asking himself or herself 'are we doing the right thing?'," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra.

      We are deluding ourselves if we think we're going to turn Afghanistan into some little democracy, some gleaming bastion of Westernised ideas in that part of the world.
      John Cantwell
      "Now my judgment is that we are doing the right thing."

      Psychological effects
      Mr Cantwell, who has written a soon-to-be-released book on his experiences as a soldier, has detailed some of the trauma he experienced after coming home from his first deployment during the Gulf War.

      "When I came home and I suddenly found myself constantly plagued by nightmares and flashbacks and irrational behaviour, it started to dawn on me that I'd brought home more than just a few memories, I'd brought home very, very painful recollections and, as it turned out, an affliction that would plague me for another two decades."

      After retiring from the Army in February, he says he spent a week in a mental health facility because of the accumulated psychological effects of war.

      Mr Cantwell says he decided to write about it to encourage other soldiers to seek professional help.

      "I was very, very reluctant to be as open as I have been, but I did so for a single purpose and that is to draw attention to the mental and emotional toll that is being imposed upon our service men and women through contemporary operations."

      "It is an insidious, deadly and difficult problem to deal with, post traumatic stress disorder.

      "But it's something we must confront and the first ones who need to confront it are those who are suffering because almost all deny they've got a problem."

      Mr Cantwell says he is now recovering, thanks to the support of his wife and the professional help he has received.

      http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-2...an-war/4277240


      As a footnote.............. this was a conflict that Australia and other countries were 'Dragged" into .. Remember Vietnam [no win] Iraq [no win] Afghanistan No win.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Is the USA fascist or becoming?

        Scary, isn't it Lizzie?

        Elda

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        • #5
          Re: Is the USA fascist or becoming?

          Just a little bit from the dictionary: Fascism---the extreme right-wing theory of government introduced into Italy by Benito Mussolini in 1922, the object of which was to oppose socialism and communism by controlling every form of national activity. Plus: any ideology or system regarded as brutal, repressive, excessively nationalistic or militaristic.

          At this point in the USA, I do not feel that we are anywhere being fascists. Yes, I think we have a national pride. However, I do agree that going into Afghanistan on top of being in Iraq was rather stupid. The Afghans are not
          "accepting" of our "help", so do feel that our forces should get out of Dodge. But, on the other hand, I also feel that the Taliban then would continue to take over, & start doing 911 terrorism once again. We are standing on the point of a needle. If we do not balance...we will fall. Joan (meanderings of an old bookish person!)

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Is the USA fascist or becoming?

            Hello Elda:

            The state of things is rather troublesome. Here's another for you to chew on. I read an article recently by a noted sociologist who 'worried' that the impending civil unrest could produce another Hitler. Now, go pop your high blood pressure pill. I did on that goodie! :shocked::laugh2:

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