The 14 Characteristics of Fascism

[Stonecutter]

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Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.



The 14 characteristics are:

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.


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


Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to 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 is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.


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.

[Neo]

As I'm reading this I'm thinking "okay that one sounds like Bush, and that one, and that one kind of does too, and that's definitely Bush, and..."

[Acebot44]

Hasen't anyone read my sig?

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Acebot44

Hasen't anyone read my sig?

Well.....then all i can say to that is this picture.

[Crono]

Are you implying that Bush is a fascist? Give me a break. Seriously, if I was an American I'd be offended right now.

[Joeiss]

I think somebody should make an Alf - Hitler picture like that... I think it would be great.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Neo

As I'm reading this I'm thinking "okay that one sounds like Bush, and that one, and that one kind of does too, and that's definitely Bush, and..."

See, this is where anti-Bush arguments lose those in the middle. Say that you don't like Bush, but when you call him a fascist and and compare him to Hitler, you pretty much lose anyone who has an ounce of common sense.

BTW, when I read those, I thought NORTH KOREA. If you thought Bush before North Korea, you can't possibly think that your views aren't completely skewed.

[Blackmane]

Bush...fascist...

Well, I guess that these kook ideas won't ever end...

[Neo]

Well just take a look

The 14 characteristics are:

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.

We're constantly bombarded with images of flags and other patriotic displays. True this was because of 9/11, but that's what's happening nonetheless.

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."

Patriot Act anyone?

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.

Can find Osama? Let's get Saddam instead! According to a study Kerry is a middle of the road democrat? Let's call him a worse liberal than Ted Kennedy anyway!

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.

Isn't this obvious? Domestic problems being ignored in order to favor military operations.

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.

Replace "Sexism" with "Racism"

Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to 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.

Anyone watch Faux News? Saying they are "slanted" is a gross misunderestimation (to use bushy's words). Fox is a 24-hour white house propaganda machine.

Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Absurd colored alert level system that needs to be eliminated (which Kerry will do). No one gives a flying **** if today's color is orange or light orange. I can understand having an internal alert system, but not one announced to the public. It only serves to keep the American people in a constant state of tension and fear. Once that is accomplished the government convinces us that Bush is the only one who can save us. Btw, Fox News has the current alert level on their F'ING HOME PAGE.

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.

Bush gives millions to faith-based organizations which would be fine were it not for him ignoring AIDS and other social groups. He even had the audacity to suggest homosexuality is a choice. That's ignorance to the nth degree.

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.

Bush looks the other way when corporations exploit environmental loopholes allowing them to pollute our air and water. He gives tax breaks to corporations who send American jobs overseas. He caves in to every corporate interest group as he is clearly their bitch.

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 .

Bush doesn't give a damn about the average worker. He only sometimes fains to because it's an election year. Big corporations like Walmarts actively suppress unions with no word from the government.

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.

Bush's policy of FEAR has put a stranglehold on scientific growth. Scientists aren't allowed to collaborate and share information with other scientists across the globe like they used to. Scientists are told to edit reports which go against policy or risk them being shelved.

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.

Again, the Patriot Act.

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.

Oh boy, this is the heart of Republican politics. Enron, Halliburton, rich white people covering each other's asses.

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.

FLORIDA! HELLO! Republican voter fraud in Florida allowed Bush to outright STEAL the 2000 election. 3000 votes for Al Gore in which a "clear intent" was present were thrown out even though Florida law said they should be counted.

[Professor S]

Wow. Thats probably the best example of making mountains out of molehills I've ever seen. So now a conservative President with a high regard for national defense is the next HITLER!!! Wow, by those criteria I could easily make a case for Kerry being the next Stalin and Michael Moore being Satan incarnate!!! WOOOO!!! EVERYONE! OVERREACT!!!

*does the crazy knee jerk dance*

[Bond]

Another radical political post from Stonecutter. Always good for a laugh or two...

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by The Strangler

Wow. Thats probably the best example of making mountains out of molehills I've ever seen. So now a conservative President with a high regard for national defense is the next HITLER!!! Wow, by those criteria I could easily make a case for Kerry being the next Stalin and Michael Moore being Satan incarnate!!! WOOOO!!! EVERYONE! OVERREACT!!!

*does the crazy knee jerk dance*

You know instead of.. well I guess you are trying to seem sarcastic.. why don't you just rebut his points.. I mean show how he is making a mountain out of a molehill..

I mean even if you disagree, he did make his point..

[Blackmane]

Goddamn, my post that took at least a half hour got jacked for whatever reason.

Anyways, I was just going to try to point out some of the massive exaggerations and fallacies in your reasoning, but I don't have the time to do it anymore.

STUPID COMPUTER! YOU MUST BE TRYING TO CENSOR ME! YOUR A FASCIST COMPUTER, AREN'T YOU!!!

[Neo]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

You know instead of.. well I guess you are trying to seem sarcastic.. why don't you just rebut his points..

There's no need for that.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by BreakABone

You know instead of.. well I guess you are trying to seem sarcastic.. why don't you just rebut his points.. I mean show how he is making a mountain out of a molehill..

I mean even if you disagree, he did make his point..

I feel no need. Just look at his reasoning and what point is made? The point that you can turn pretty much anything into your argument if you stretch it enough? Its absurd, and I don't have the time for absurdity.

GWB = Hitler. Thats his point. Well made

I have to go to work.