Tim West at Liberty for Sale argues that America has adopted these 14 defining characteristics of fascism. Unfortunately, I think he might be right. Read them for yourself and think long and hard about it.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Obsession with National Security – Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
I’ve provided just a few examples. I leave the question to you. Are we on the path to fascism?
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dr Dave
Aug 28, 2005
While I would certainly full-heartedly agree with the overall idea that the US are slowly but surely slipping into a form of modern-day fascism, I must say that the fact Mr. Britt stuck pretty much any non-communist totalitarian regimes under the “fascist” label, does little to his credit as a serious political analyst. I mean, it should be quite obvious that Hitler and National Socialism, however close to Fascism, are not the same thing: the comparison stopped there, especially in terms of economical policies.
Otherwise, yea, I’d say it’s been a while major signs have been showing clearly in US politics. If I had to pick only a few, I’d say the moment you start hearing: 1) “security over liberties” 2) “with us or against us” 3) “unconditional support to our president”, you pretty much got the exact symptoms of fascism right there…
Aug 28, 2005
Has America become Communist? [ Tempus Fugit | TxFx.net ]
Mark J
Aug 28, 2005
Well, the good thing is that not many people have fallen for number 3 (recent poll says 87% of Americans say it is okay to protest the war), and the Libertarians and Left-wingers in America are fighting really hard against number 1. Number 2 is obviously false… (I assume we’re talking bout terrorism here), because while most reasonable people want to eliminate terrorism, some are not willing to endure the cost (both monetary, and a potential temporary rise in terrorism). Spain, for example, decided it wasn’t worth it. That doesn’t mean that they’re for terrorism or against those who fight it. Complete elimination of terrorism is impossible, and the closer you get to it, the more you have to give up to gain any ground. So there obviously has to be a point where you stop trying. Different people have different ideas of where that point is.
I was, and am, in favor of the war in Afghanistan and the continuation of the war in Iraq, but not at any cost. I don’t like erosions in personal freedoms ont bit. I don’t at all buy into the “right to safety” nonsense that is rather epidemic in this country. One of the side effects of having an open society is that people are free to do bad things. You can accept that, and start carrying a gun, or something… or you can accept that increasing your safety means decreasing your freedom. And you can also accept that I’m not going to give up my freedoms without a fight.
James
Aug 28, 2005
Going by those standards, every country in the world is fascist. If you think you are so oppressed in the US, then go over to Iran or Syria and see how “free” they are… hell go to any country in Europe and see.
These “signs” are very broad and could cover any number of things.
It’s easy to throw out accusations, but I don’t see any documetned proof of such things happening in the US. The tinfoil hat paranoia conspiracy theories don’t count either.
Aug 29, 2005
Hal Rottenberg
Steve
Aug 30, 2005
James, your a dumb ass. Hey try this quiz and confirm it for yourself, mind slave.
http://www.naturalnews.com/gullibility.html
Jun 20, 2006
Make mine freedom, too - Homeland Stupidity
Jul 10, 2006
Smoking or Communism? - Homeland Stupidity
An European
Oct 02, 2006
hell go to any country in Europe and see.
Pardon me? As someone from a European union i find this quite offending. Yes, not all nations are on the same line yet, however, saying that alot of European countries have strong sings of fascism and compare it to Syra etc is complete rubbish.
Orion
Apr 27, 2007
fascism is the same as total control or totalitarianism. The world inevitably polarises because of it becoming smaller and therefore causing a clash of civilizations. extremism breeds counterextremism.
Morgan
May 01, 2007
SIEG HEIL VON BUSH! SIEG HEIL VON BUSH!
Adam
May 24, 2007
I hope it is accidental that you misspell Laurence Britt’s name and attribute him a doctorate in political science. The original article
stands on it’s own very well without false credentials. Please for the sake of credibility correct these errors.
Michael Hampton
May 24, 2007
Where were you two years ago when this was published?
In any case, you are quite correct. The name is misspelled and he was incorrectly attributed as being a doctor of something or other.
A Google search reveals that I certainly wasn’t the only one.
derrick
Feb 27, 2008
As much as we all(those educated enough to think for themselves) would like to change these things the average blind sheep american lives by these things because they know no better and don’t want to so I ask how can we change these things
Pat
Sep 02, 2011
Round it out to 15 and include the fact that government perceives its consituents (i.e., voters) to be the “public or the masses” rather than a system based upon accountability to the voters who elected them.
America is set up not with fiefdoms but of voting districts through which all within it have vested interest (not private interest) in the decisions made by Senators and Congress. That perception is often lost among the slick talking elected who stay too long in Congress, and is the best illustration of why term limits are needed – to remember who’s working for whom.
helpless In NWO
Nov 04, 2011
“What good fortune for governments that the people do not think.” Mein Kampf