Is the US a Fascist State?

[catbirdseat]

The author was comparing Nazi Germany and Italy under Mussolini. But it all seemed eerily familiar to current events.

 

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.You are either with us or with the Terrorists!

 

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation. The Patriot Act, Arrest of peaceful demonstrators

 

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly. Osama bin Laden, the "Terrorists", Axis of Evil.

 

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite. Any politician who desires to cut military budget is accused of being against the security of the country.

 

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

 

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.Reporters who make unflattering stories lose access to he president.

 

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.Constant rachetting up and down of the Terrorism Threat levels to maintain fear.

 

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

 

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.Halliburton and the oil companies have done better these past four years than they have in the past twenty.

 

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.Walmart and union busting. Laws protecting corporations from the consequenses of union busting activities.

 

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.Attacks on the NEA. Attacks on The Dixie Chicks, Michael Moore.

 

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.Three strikes you're out laws.

 

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.Enron, Arthur Anderson, Halliburton

 

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

 

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

 

Source

Edited November 8, 2004 by catbirdseat

[Dave_Schuldt]

And I thought I was the paranoid one around here.

[catbirdseat]

Dave, you just think you are paranoid.

[Snafflehunter]

Give me a break.

[catbirdseat]

Think of the boiled frog analogy. If you put a frog in a pot and heat the water very slowly, he won't jump out, even as he is being cooked.

[Snafflehunter]

The only thing cooked here is your brain.

[EWolfe]

Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

[catbirdseat]

I've climbed that route. It's at Club Paradiso at Exit 38.

[marylou]

Yes, we are in the process of becoming a fascist state.

 

We the people rubber stamped progress in this direction with our votes last Tuesday. There is a great book on this subject called "The F Word" or something like that. It's pretty bombastic, but it makes the point of how we are developing into a fascist country quite nicely.

 

Sad as it sounds, it seems to be what the people want.

[catbirdseat]

The word and the implications are so horrible that no one can believe that it could be true.

[Jim]

The republican convention, with the giant flag in the background, rampant nationalism, frothing-at-the-mouth retoric, and painting dissenters as traitors was scary to watch for its resemblence to the best showcase from the Nazi era. We are not in a good place these days with the combination of these types of politics and religion.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

The depth of utter stupidity from the left never ceases to amaze me, especially in light of their claims of self-professed superior intelligence. I suppose I should not be too surprised, however. The trend has been growing for this type of irrational, hysterical drivel - from the likes of Michael Moore and other liberal mouth-pieces.

 

To compare the United States to a fascist state is not only disingenous, it is a sick, seditious lie, and propaganda of the most disgusting sort. By making this inane, idiotic comparison you diminish the victims of fascism in the last 100 years, and dangerously water down the term so it has less impact when it needs to be appropriately applied to some regime - like Saddam's Iraq, for example.

 

You liberals have lost an election, that's it. In a fascist state, there would not have been an election, or if there were, there would have been on candidate. In a fascist state the opposition is silenced permanently - with a bullet to the head, and an unmarked mass grave. You do not have a clue what fascism is, that fact is obvious.

 

Shame on you.

[MollyWorld]

I wish we'd hurry up. I can't wait for the fascist state completion so I can put a few liberals to work.

 

Heh. Working liberals. That's an oxymoron.

[iain]

Heh. Working liberals. That's an oxymoron.

 

Hahah you make funny!

[Norman_Clyde]

Hey CBS, thanks.

 

Those of you who follow my posts have no doubt gotten sick of me comparing Bush to Hitler. I should clarify: Bush is a long way from being Hitler. However, the USA is not such an extremely long way from being a fascist state. Recall that Hitler was in fact elected by popular vote (though more than two parties were running, so he got a Clintonian plurality rather than a Bushonian majority).

 

If any of you, left or right wing, want to learn more about this and care to take the time to read a heavy book, check out William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich , or if you have less time, watch The World at War on DVD, especially the special feature on Germany before war was declared. Then make up your own mind, while you still can.

[klenke]

Hey, look, it's like this. If you really think this is becoming a fascist state:

1. You are free to leave the country. No one's stopping you. Your problem will be getting into some other country.

2. You can vote out those who are making it so and...oh wait, that's what democracy is. :superrolleyes:

 

I don't see any conservatives calling this a fascist state. If Kerry had won would you wussy ass liberals be spewing this garbage? And let me tell you garbage is exactly what it is. Give me (give us) a frickin' break, morons.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

I should clarify: Bush is a long way from being Hitler. However, the USA is not such an extremely long way from being a fascist state.

 

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid.

 

No matter what happens in the next four years, Bush will be gone in 2008. We, unlike Nazi Germany or Communist Russian, have a presidential term-limit written in to our constitution, and that will not change.

[Snafflehunter]

Hey, look, it's like this. If you really think this is becoming a fascist state:

1. You are free to leave the country. No one's stopping you. Your problem will be getting into some other country.

2. You can vote out those who are making it so and...oh wait, that's what democracy is. :superrolleyes:

 

I don't see any conservatives calling this a fascist state. If Kerry had won would you wussy ass liberals be spewing this garbage? And let me tell you garbage is exactly what it is. Give me (give us) a frickin' break, morons.

 

I agree 100%.

 

BTW, hi Klenke.

[JayB]

We've met, and I respect you - and I have read every page of Shirers book, and thousands upon thousands more on the history of just about all of the totalitarian states that blighted the past century - and I have to say that I think that the comparison that you are making is not only false, but profoundly disrespectful to the memory of all of those who were slaughtered within them.

 

The foundation of every totalitarian state was built upon a foundation of economic collectivism - with the state seizing all of the society's productive assets in the people's name. I defy anyone to show me an example where this hasn't been true - yet this factor seems to be absent from every analysis of the phenomenon that emerges from the mind of anyone who's politics run left of center. Wonder why?

[Distel32]

I should clarify: Bush is a long way from being Hitler. However, the USA is not such an extremely long way from being a fascist state.

 

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid.

 

No matter what happens in the next four years, Bush will be gone in 2008. We, unlike Nazi Germany or Communist Russian, have a presidential term-limit written in to our constitution, and that will not change.

 

the constitution was already violated in the last four years, just pointing that out, thats all

[MollyWorld]

I should clarify: Bush is a long way from being Hitler. However, the USA is not such an extremely long way from being a fascist state.

 

Keep drinking that Kool-Aid.

 

No matter what happens in the next four years, Bush will be gone in 2008. We, unlike Nazi Germany or Communist Russian, have a presidential term-limit written in to our constitution, and that will not change.

 

the constitution was already violated in the last four years, just pointing that out, thats all

 

Yeah? That pisses me off. Where?

[klenke]

Yeah, when and where, Distel? (Maybe so, but I can't remember. Refresh my memory.)

[Distel32]

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

[Snafflehunter]

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

 

I believe Klenke meant specific instances of constitutional violations. You merely restated the 6th Amendment.

[Distel32]

mollyworld

 

I really don't care if it pisses you off.

 

I worked for the United States House of Representatives and this past year I worked for Campus Democrats of America so I'm not your normal "spew shit out just because I read it somewhere on the internet jackass"