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Laurence Britt, a political scientist, wrote an article about fascism which appeared in Free Inquiry magazine -- a journal of humanist thought. Mr. Britt studied the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile). He found the regimes all had 14 things in common, and he calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The article is titled 'Fascism Anyone?', by Laurence Britt, and appears in Free
Inquiry's Spring 2003 issue on page 20.
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.
Here is a reply. I don't see anything wrong with a fascist state (in relation to your points), unless they start taking it to the level that the Nazi's did. More control in society is not a bad thing.
1. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic, even intensely, to your country or flag. Human beings are all about symbolism, just look at the Catholic Church. The flag is an important part of being a patriotic American, despite what liberals will say.
2. Nothing wrong with point two, as long as not taken too far. We are at war right now with fundamentalism.
3. While I don't believe in scapegoating our problems, as seemed to be the case with Iraq, I think it is perfectly acceptable to pass blame to Islamic terrorists in an attempt to eliminate them.
4. SO?! Our nations military is the most important domestic and foreign service we have set up. I am starting to wonder whether or not we will get the luxury, in our lifetime's, to see our conservative military rise up against the socialism that is liberalism...
5. This is probably one of the only negative aspects you listed, but you implied in the first post that republicans/neo-cons support this, which is far from the truth. As a conservative who leans more towards the republican party, I would not mind if my wife made more money than I do. I do, however, believe a traditional role must be played in the part of child growth, so at some point a grandparent or relative must come into play.
6. There is no evidence that the media is controlled by neo-cons, republicans, or the like.
7. It isn't that hard to slip a bio weapon into the US.
8. I don't believe religion should be used as a tool by politicians, but I believe it is perfectly acceptable for politicians to use religion as a reason to justify their social stances on certain issues.
9. The elitism that would take place under fascism would not be preferable, I agree.
10. Again, elimination of the worker's ability to bargain would not be preferable.
11. Not really in agreement with this policy, but to an extent I wouldn't care.
12. I don't see the problem. I think police should play a bigger role in society by creating fear to reduce crime rates.
13. Government corruption is never a good thing.
14. Fraud is never a good thing.
I don't understand the point of this thread, truly. That republicans believe in more structure? Doesn't mean they are fascists.
Here is a reply. I don't see anything wrong with a fascist state (in relation to your points), unless they start taking it to the level that the Nazi's did. More control in society is not a bad thing.
1. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic, even intensely, to your country or flag. Human beings are all about symbolism, just look at the Catholic Church. The flag is an important part of being a patriotic American, despite what liberals will say.
2. Nothing wrong with point two, as long as not taken too far. We are at war right now with fundamentalism.
3. While I don't believe in scapegoating our problems, as seemed to be the case with Iraq, I think it is perfectly acceptable to pass blame to Islamic terrorists in an attempt to eliminate them.
4. SO?! Our nations military is the most important domestic and foreign service we have set up. I am starting to wonder whether or not we will get the luxury, in our lifetime's, to see our conservative military rise up against the socialism that is liberalism...
5. This is probably one of the only negative aspects you listed, but you implied in the first post that republicans/neo-cons support this, which is far from the truth. As a conservative who leans more towards the republican party, I would not mind if my wife made more money than I do. I do, however, believe a traditional role must be played in the part of child growth, so at some point a grandparent or relative must come into play.
6. There is no evidence that the media is controlled by neo-cons, republicans, or the like.
7. It isn't that hard to slip a bio weapon into the US.
8. I don't believe religion should be used as a tool by politicians, but I believe it is perfectly acceptable for politicians to use religion as a reason to justify their social stances on certain issues.
9. The elitism that would take place under fascism would not be preferable, I agree.
10. Again, elimination of the worker's ability to bargain would not be preferable.
11. Not really in agreement with this policy, but to an extent I wouldn't care.
12. I don't see the problem. I think police should play a bigger role in society by creating fear to reduce crime rates.
13. Government corruption is never a good thing.
14. Fraud is never a good thing.
I don't understand the point of this thread, truly. That republicans believe in more structure? Doesn't mean they are fascists.
"What no one seemed to notice. . . was the ever widening gap. . .between the government and the people. . . And it became always wider. . . the whole process of its coming into being, was above all diverting, it provided an excuse not to think for people who did not want to think anyway . . . (it) gave us some dreadful, fundamental things to think about . . .and kept us so busy with continuous changes and 'crises' and so fascinated . . . by the machinations of the 'national enemies,' without and within, that we had no time to think about these dreadful things that were growing, little by little, all around us. . . Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, 'regretted,' that unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these 'little measures'. . . must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing. . . .Each act. . . is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join you in resisting somehow.
You don't want to act, or even talk, alone. . . you don't want to 'go out of your way to make trouble.' . . .But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That's the difficulty. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves, when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. . . .You have accepted things you would not have accepted five years ago, a year ago, things your father. . . could never have imagined." :
From Milton Mayer, They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1938-45 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955)
Here is a reply. I don't see anything wrong with a fascist state (in relation to your points), unless they start taking it to the level that the Nazi's did. More control in society is not a bad thing.
1. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic, even intensely, to your country or flag. Human beings are all about symbolism, just look at the Catholic Church. The flag is an important part of being a patriotic American, despite what liberals will say.
Japan was very patriotic between 1941 and 1945 and there wasn't a place you couldn't find a sunrise flag.
There's a fine line between believing your country and fake rah rah nationalism.
Quote:
2. Nothing wrong with point two, as long as not taken too far. We are at war right now with fundamentalism.
Declaration of war please? I cannot seem to find it. I forgot: the Constitution is a living breathing document and we're just being "progressive" here. Nothing wrong with a little progressive thought among supposed conservatives, eh?
Quote:
3. While I don't believe in scapegoating our problems, as seemed to be the case with Iraq, I think it is perfectly acceptable to pass blame to Islamic terrorists in an attempt to eliminate them.
Quote:
4. SO?! Our nations military is the most important domestic and foreign service we have set up. I am starting to wonder whether or not we will get the luxury, in our lifetime's, to see our conservative military rise up against the socialism that is liberalism...
Our military isn't conservative. War is revolutionary and actually a liberal philosophy, especially when we employe bolshevik policies to spread our utopian form of government to others, similar to the Soviets.
Quote:
5. This is probably one of the only negative aspects you listed, but you implied in the first post that republicans/neo-cons support this, which is far from the truth. As a conservative who leans more towards the republican party, I would not mind if my wife made more money than I do. I do, however, believe a traditional role must be played in the part of child growth, so at some point a grandparent or relative must come into play.
You would LIKE to think you're conservative.
Quote:
6. There is no evidence that the media is controlled by neo-cons, republicans, or the like.
The media is controlled by globalists, so here I agree.
Quote:
7. It isn't that hard to slip a bio weapon into the US.
So bankrupting our country and allowing the eventual slippage of many bio weapons is preferred as law enforcement turns a blind eye when bribed with gold or silver instead of their worthless dollars?
Quote:
8. I don't believe religion should be used as a tool by politicians, but I believe it is perfectly acceptable for politicians to use religion as a reason to justify their social stances on certain issues.
No Constituionalist (the true blue conservatives) would agree.
Quote:
12. I don't see the problem. I think police should play a bigger role in society by creating fear to reduce crime rates.
Wow.
Quote:
13. Government corruption is never a good thing.
Ya think?
Quote:
14. Fraud is never a good thing.
Ya think?
Quote:
I don't understand the point of this thread, truly. That republicans believe in more structure? Doesn't mean they are fascists.
The republicans believe in forced structure. That is the opposite of freedom and thus unAmerican.
Japan was very patriotic between 1941 and 1945 and there wasn't a place you couldn't find a sunrise flag.
There's a fine line between believing your country and fake rah rah nationalism.
Declaration of war please? I cannot seem to find it. I forgot: the Constitution is a living breathing document and we're just being "progressive" here. Nothing wrong with a little progressive thought among supposed conservatives, eh?
Our military isn't conservative. War is revolutionary and actually a liberal philosophy, especially when we employe bolshevik policies to spread our utopian form of government to others, similar to the Soviets.
You would LIKE to think you're conservative.
The media is controlled by globalists, so here I agree.
So bankrupting our country and allowing the eventual slippage of many bio weapons is preferred as law enforcement turns a blind eye when bribed with gold or silver instead of their worthless dollars?
No Constituionalist (the true blue conservatives) would agree.
Wow.
Ya think?
Ya think?
The republicans believe in forced structure. That is the opposite of freedom and thus unAmerican.
Good points!
[Mod edited]
Last edited by TnHilltopper; 06-09-2008 at 11:19 AM..
Reason: Lets not incite a flame war, please
To respond to the OP's primary question as asked in the header
What Rep/neocons BELIEVE & Do-Ready to Vote?
I think it would help to keep in mind that what a Republican believes is as varied as snow flakes, but at least neoconservative is more narrowly defined.
Can we honestly say the Democratic Party is comprised of a homogeneous block of voters who all vote and think alike? Of course not.
By the same notion, there are a great number of conservative minded people who reject contemporary Republicanism and most definitely reject neoconservatism wholesale.
The biggest single distinction between neoconservatism and paleoconservatism is in foreign policy. Traditionally, conservatives have tended to be less interventionist minded and preferred that America takes care of its own people and back yard before heading off to interject into the affairs of other nations, most notably by military means. It is a rather liberal or progressive idea to "spread" or advance democracy, our way of life, or our ideals, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to do so. It is when the progressing of Americanism (for lack of a better word) comes at the point of a sword where most liberals leave off and where neoconservatism takes up. I happen to think this is an idea that is rejected by true conservatives and liberals alike.
The contemporary Republican Party is not the party I grew up knowing as it has almost all but abandoned notions such as smaller government, fiscal responsibility, strong national defense(not offense) , no new nation building or a lessened participation in foreign intervention. etc...
My point of this post is to attempt to erase these tendencies we have of trying to compartmentalize everything into neat boxes as though political parties are either this or that, represent one way of thinking or another, as that is simply not true and discounts much of the dynamics within each party themselves. While I to a degree actually agree with some of the basis of the contemporary GOP being more akin to a form of soft fascism today, this in no way quantifies the entirety of the GOP, but in fact a shrinking mind set of a faction of it.
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.
Right, because being patriotic is Fascist. Last time I checked this pretty much applies to every nation on the planet...I guess we live in a Fascist world?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Sounds George W. Bushy to me. Do realize that Liberals share a lot in common with this 'point'. Socialism/Communism are based on the notion that some personal freedoms must be sacrificed for the good of the whole.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Scapegoats have been used for so long, that if you associate it with anyone specific you truly are lost. The United States rallied behind her European Allies in World War I and II, does this mean we were Fascist for helping friends in need?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Well there is no sense in building up a society if you can't defend it. Being a solider is a very honorable thing, I suppose joining the military is one of the 'deadly sins' as defined by Liberals now? Last time I checked it was a great way to pay for college and to get a high paying job. But why do that when you can just get free handouts without working?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
A lot of countries have male-dominated governments, that isn't necessarily sexist. If killing babies is your thing, fine, abortion for you! But you better pay for it yourself. And stop saying "Abortion on Demand" that IS scary. But then again, what if you just aborted the baby that would go on to cure cancer, bring about world peace? You would be surprised what that one little life could have done.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
All media is biased, welcome to the real world. The British Broadcasting Corporation is wholly government owned, but no one complains.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
7. Obsession with National Security -- Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
National Security is important, but I wouldn't call it an 'obsession'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Cry me a river. Liberals lie to us with things like Global Warming, or other 'everyone will die' plots just to get the vote.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
If your economy hinged on such companies, would you be so quick to throw them out the door? Obviously there should be no companies, right? Let everyone make their own stuff, or let our corrupt government handle it, fantastic! The Liberal mindset finally makes sense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
You mean Labour Unions? The same Unions that send our manufacturing sector overseas? The same Unions that drove prices up so high that no one can afford to live on the Rust Belt? Nice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
If you are going to directly lie to us, at least make it look legit. Why should the government fund 'the arts' anyways? If I start painting in my basement, should I get 6-figure checks from the government as 'encouragement'?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Don't burst a blood vessel! The real world isn't like whatever crappy movie you watched the other night!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
Smells pretty leftist to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Who?Me?!
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.
So the far-left governments are now being grouped with Fascists? Even check out some current events in China or Russia?
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Neo-Conservatives are Leftists anyways. In case you didn't know it, Nazis (who were Socialists), were Fascist, but that were as left as they can be. If you go too far to the right, you end up on the Left.
And for the Record, if you think that Neo-Cons represent all Republicans, then you are either extremely Ignorant, or have been living in a remote cave somewhere in Mongolia all of your life. So please, spare us the trolling.
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