Thread: Has the US become a fascist state? The 14 characteristics of a fascist state

Fourteen Characteristics of Fascism

By Dr. Lawrence Britt

November 2, 2004

From ECOTERRA Intl:

Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, wrote an article about fascism which appeared in Free Inquiry magazine -- a journal of humanist thought.


The 14 characteristics are:

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.

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. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

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 through sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in wartime, 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 is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

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 who 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 the assassination of) opposition candidates, the use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and the manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

[see http://www.secularhumanism.org/libra...britt_23_2.htm for complete text of article.]

Another cut and paste job by another member. Does anybody like to discuss rather than post material form other sources here?

Originally Posted by partofme

Another cut and paste job by another member. Does anybody like to discuss rather than post material form other sources here?

Start a thread on Libertarianism or something then...

Originally Posted by HexenDefinitive

Start a thread on Libertarianism or something then...

I don't mind starting threads and I do all the time. What bugs me is the fact that I see a thread that might be interesting and it is just a member posting somebody elses material and in many cases without making a single comment on it or starting any discussion.

Originally Posted by partofme

I don't mind starting threads and I do all the time. What bugs me is the fact that I see a thread that might be interesting and it is just a member posting somebody elses material and in many cases without making a single comment on it or starting any discussion.

Well, yes you do, and I'd agree that "copy 'n' paste" is overused by some. Best to swamp them with decent threads then...

Originally Posted by HexenDefinitive

Well, yes you do, and I'd agree that "copy 'n' paste" is overused by some. Best to swamp them with decent threads then...

That is an idea but I still do not think it hurts to call them on it and see if they even have a response.

So, actually discussing the thread. I'd say the idea is interesting, but I don't think it has gone that far yet. We may have some or even many of these symptoms, but I'd say America is not dictatorial/fascist.

Here is a question to debate, how far do you need to go before it is a problem?

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism:

One needs not go much farther than my own public high school to see morons who need bumper stickers on their heads that say "USA all the way." On my way out of a Kohl's the other day, I saw a giant SUV with several nationalist bumper stickers, including "Boycott France." Don't remember too many of the other ones.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights:

Do I even need to talk about this? Quantanimo should be enough to cover any discussion, with several flagrant Constitution rights violations. But who cares? They're all enemy combatants and so they don't count.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause:

Middle East. Need to remove Islamist governments. Might be true in some places, but shouldn't be used as a blanket to cover everything in the region. Oddly enough, Pakistan seems to just slip though the grasp of our Arsenal of Democracy...

4. Supremacy of the Military:

??? Yeah, probably, I just don't care enough to do any research. Of course, there was the day a couple of weeks ago when the Marines came to our gym class and tried to get some of us to sign up. F*** that, I'm a cowardly math nerd, dammit!

5. Rampant Sexism:

Republicans hate gays, but then Queer Eye is flourishing like nobody's business, with a spinoff all the way (not as helpful to me, but entertaining nonetheless).

7. Obsession with National Security:

I'm a little surprised that we even have Green and Blue colors on the Homeland Security chart--they don't inspire fear, and so they are competely useless to the government.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined:

Does Bush have a mandate from God? I think a mandate from Vishnu would be just as good, dammit. Now there's an entity who knew a thing or two about fighting against Adharma. But there shouldn't be any religion used as the basis for decisions today anyways.

9. Corporate Power is Protected:

This argument is far too complicated for me. But if I take evidence of this just straight from the condition of the environment, I would swear that the Secret Service itself protects entrepreneurs. Maybe when things get really bad, people will turn on the companies. But probably not.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts:

Anyone smart is bad. The only way anyone can get power is by being "one of the boys." Why? Smart makes people feel inferior, and God knows we don't want someone smart running the country. Intelligence and wit are seen as tools of elitists. Maybe people should try to be smart.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment:

Death penalty. However, this most extreme of punishments does not sway America from having an assload, that's right, an ASSLOAD of deaths every year. Why not prevention? Because getting rid of the 2nd Amendment would give the King of England a chance to get some sweet revenge. In the American justice system, there is no room for compromise.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption:

I can see where this is coming from, but I don't know how far the spoils system goes as far as the government anymore. The politicians just give out subsidies to their buddies in businesses. But what do I know? My extent of this knowledge comes from Michael Moore and Al Franken -- I need to read more Noam Chomsky. No one can beat that dude in a debate.

14. Fraudulent Elections:

I don't give a damn what anyone is gonna say: the election in 2000 got jacked. But in today's age of quickened voting results, there is little anyone can do about election fraud. Maybe that's something we should change.

Obviously when you look at the current state of America and the fourteen characteristics of fascism you can only conclude that yes America is a fascist state.

Why you may ask?

Apart from meeting all the fourteen characteristics those of use who know realize that there is no terrorism, there never was and there never will be.
All alleged terrorism is caused by governments (read illuminati) There is no Al-Qaeda, never has been, never will be. The US government was behind 9/11 and the Other Side has spoken and said that in Bush's 2nd term the truth about 9/11 will come out. So there was never a need for Patriot Act I and II, no need for Police State ID card, no need for frisking you at airports etc.

Don't let them fool you. Fight for your freedom.