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Is Fascism Lurking?

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print/33692/

 

 

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 16th, 2011 at 2:17 PM and filed under Extremism, Philosophy, Politics. Follow comments here with the RSS 2.0 feed. Skip to the end and leave a response. Trackbacks are closed.

One Response to “Is Fascism Lurking?”

  1. Ian Alterman said:

    The following is Wolf’s “Fascist America in 10 Easy Steps”:

    1. Invoke a terrifying internal and external enemy

    2. Create a gulag

    3. Develop a thug caste

    4. Set up an internal surveillance system

    5. Harass citizens’ groups

    6. Engage in arbitrary detention and release

    7. Target key individuals

    8. Control the press

    9. Dissent equals treason

    10. Suspend the rule of law

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/24/usa.comment

    However, although a few items overlap, I think Lawrence Britt’s “14 Characteristics of Fascism” is actually closer to the mark (although the reality of potential fascism in America is probably a combination of elements of the two):

    1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

    2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

    3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

    4. Supremacy of the Military

    5. Rampant Sexism

    6. Controlled Mass Media

    7. Obsession with National Security

    8. Religion and Government are Intertwined

    9. Corporate Power is Protected

    10. Labor Power is Suppressed

    11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

    12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment

    13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

    14. Fraudulent Elections

    http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

    By my count, we are closer to fascism based on Britt’s elements than we are with Wolf’s.

    Peace.

    Posted on 17-Jan-11 at 9:37 am | Permalink

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