14 signs of fascism...............?

[RedSkunk]

14 characteristics of fascism excerpted from Free Inquiry Magazine, (Volume 23, #2)
http://www.secularhumanism.org/fi/index.htm

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.

US Flags seen on every car, truck and suv across the nation. Strongly worded nationalistic rhetoric..

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.

Patriot act? Protesting zones. Guatanamo Bay. Bounties on Bin Laden, Hussein. That video of an execution of a POW? Disregarding civilian body counts in Afghanistan, Iraq. "Harsh Interrogation" of family members to find the location of Hussein?

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.

Afghanistan. Iraq. Bin Laden, Hussein. Muslims.

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.

Largest military budget in the world, dwarfing all others. Highest crime rates, highest incarceration rates. State programs nationwide are underfunded. Schools, hospitals lacking. (nearest hospital to us just closed recently..)

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. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

Male dominated administration (Condoleeza Rice, and....??). Homosexuality suppressed (Bush says changed amendment stating a union as between 'man and woman' is not "needed yet"). Illegalization of partial birth abortions, ended funding of any nonprofit groups that support abortion.

6. 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.

Sympathetic executives? TimeWarner, GE, other major contributors to the republicrats. Censorship. neglection of civilian body counts, body counts of enemy troops.

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

national security. Patriot Act 1 (and soon 2(?)). Homeland Security. National security color-codes. Red/orange= be fearful?

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.

christianity. 'God,' 'Jesus' used in presidential speechs. Religious leaders cite Jesus for Bush's rise to power. [over]funding of faith-based programs on the federal scale. The Heritage Foundation.
"My god is bigger than yours"
"Your god is an empty idol"

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.

Coorporations and industries that put the current administration in power? GE, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Phillip-Morris. wide-scale corporate welfare. Tax breaks for corporations. Enron execs, others, get away with massive fraud

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.

US has always been overly anti-Union as compared to the rest of the world. Labor rallies set aside (see WTO and labor unions in Seattle, 99, FTAA rallies in '03, etc.)

[RedSkunk]

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 and letters is openly attacked.

Bush, "good ol' boy from texas" hated 'snooty intellectuals' at Harvard. Bush and arts? He never reads..

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.

police and limitless power? tapping of phone lines, Judge unable to turn down a search warrant (as long as its in the name of 'national security'). Searching of library records. Overlooking police abuses and civil liberties? Ashcroft, Patriot Act. Jailing of 'enemy combatants' indefinitely, without charge or legal representation. Military courts for citizens?

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 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.

Haliburton? Overcharge US government by billions? "Please give it back?". Large campaign contributors sealing deals in military sector; enlarged star wars. US buying hundreds of more troop transport planes than requested, to benefit manufacturer.

14.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.

complete sham. Florida. overall electoral ballet system. Gore winning by 1/2 million votes. A few thousand cubans in florida deciding the overall election? Smear campaigns? How about during the republican primaries, when bush's team ran ads and a whole campaign in the south asking if they would vote for McCain 'if he had had a black love-child'. Not directly saying it, of course, but even by putting that idea in voters heads (even though it was a total lie..).. Use of legislation to control district boundaries? Jerrymandering.. Manipulation of media (cry liberal slant, eliminate all dissenting liberal opinions on major news channels, newspapers, label them 'op-ed')

[lapslf]

Nothing but agreement here.

[swaenK]

The fact is, that could be said about almost any country. I do agree with you, on the most part.

[RedSkunk]

it's official - I'm sick of dialup.
continuation:
If it looks, smells, feels and tastes like shit, then what is being shoveled down our collective throats?
- Not shit quite yet, more like shit-lite.

The fact is, that could be said about almost any country.

That's very true, practically every country has similies to at least some of these signs. And I'm not saying what we have in the U.S. is fascism yet, what I wanted to get from everyone here is: where do you draw the line? When does a country go from just meeting some or a majority of these signs, to overly qualifying for every single one? When does a country go from just mild oppression to full-scale tyranny?

[Sterling-Sinner]

Don't twist American Actions to Facism. Some of that stuff can easily be twisted. Personally I'm not in agreement with everything our government does. Don't mistake everything like that as something of a facist intent. I'm not saying everything is twisted. A lot of that fits with most countries. Yet a lot of that could be twisting our actions to meet the definitions of facism.

[cockjockey]

Don't stress about it. Sure, you're being run by a facist government, but I think it's healthy to be run by facists at least once in your countries life, it's character building. That's the problem with America, you've only ever had things to be proud of. Take a couple of knocks and you soon learn humility. The UK used to have an empire, then we gave it all back out of guilt, then we won 2 world wars. Since then though, it's been a bit crap. We sucked at sport, and then Thatcher took over in '79 and we enjoyed a decade of facism. Then we got rid of it for a decade and now we have the Bush controlled Blair who will do anything to avoid being accused of harbouring WMAs/being arabic.

[Sterling-Sinner]

I'm just a soldier. I don't really know enough about the government to debate about it. I just know that I'm getting paid very well, my education is free, and I've found a family away from my family. Sometimes I wonder how the government truly works and why they makes us do the things they do, but I'm content with only being a soldier.
I'm intelligent enough not to try to argue about something I don't know much about. So you may have a point, but I'm sure someone who knows the government well could prove some of those points wrong.

[cockjockey]

At 1/8/04 05:31 AM, Sterling_Sinner wrote: I'm just a soldier. I don't really know enough about the government to debate about it.

I have nothing but admiration and respect for what you guys at the front end of it do. If it wasn't for men like yourselves, we'd all be speaking Russian/German/Arabic/take your pick.
However, not knowing how the government works is no excuse not to debate about it. The people are the reason a government exists, yet we're the only ones who know nothing about their actions. So any debate, be it pointless or meaningful, is essential just to remind them that we're free not because they keep us that way, but because we chose them to protect and serve us. A kick up the arse is a kick up the arse, and we should be asking questions, be they the right ones or not. The minute we cease to do this is the minute we become the very evil we're trying to defeat.

[Sterling-Sinner]

What I'm asking is how I can debate a position I know very little about? People get into trouble when they pretend to know things and debate them. I acknowledge that they need to be debated, I just don't think that newgrounds is a qualified area to debate the government. I really can't imagine many people qualified to debate the issue visit this site

[cockjockey]

I can definately see your logic there. Generally, the NG community have the social conscience of a gnat and about as much intelligence (no offence to the 500 14 year olds who are reading this while waiting for their masterpiece "DBZ stickman Turbo Edition uber 1337 megamix" to upload, meg by painstaking meg on their 28.5k modem). But this section seems to encourage debate that actually resembles the English language, and if nothing else gives me the chance to talk to people whos interests extend further than hentai and arfenhouse spoofs.

[Sterling-Sinner]

I can understand. Don't want to pick a fight where there isn't one due, Post on, but watch the military, we don't make the decisions, just enforce them

But this quote nearly tickled me to tears..............

At 1/8/04 06:25 AM, cockjockey wrote:

(no offence to the 500 14 year olds who are reading this while waiting for their masterpiece "DBZ stickman Turbo Edition uber 1337 megamix" to upload, meg by painstaking meg on their 28.5k modem)

[cockjockey]

Glad to be of service. Just so it's clear, I have absolutely no problem with the military, quite the contarary. It's just when the men in suits get to tell them what to do and what to shoot start getting it wrong that I have an issue with. If a dog attacks a child on a park, I'd much sooner have the owner put to sleep than the dog.

[Sterling-Sinner]

My God! We have a man of considerable intelligence in attendance. Glad to have you aboard. I hope to get some more funny quotes to. I'm still chuckling after that first one because it's so true

[cockjockey]

It's quite ironic that the only thing I have trouble responding to is a compliment. Anything more than "thanks" and I wind up feeling (and no doubt looking) conceited. So... thanks.

[Kurt-1]

whats faceism?

[bumcheekcity]

*Shock* RedSkunk, are you implying that George Bush is a facist? </blatantlyfakeshock>

[RedSkunk]

At 1/8/04 11:47 AM, bumcheekcity wrote: *Shock* RedSkunk, are you implying that George Bush is a facist? </blatantlyfakeshock>

I wouldn't dream of it.

[CapitalistSocialist]

George Bush a fascist?
Nah I'd say more of a neo-fascist.

[bumcheekcity]

At 1/9/04 03:41 PM, JamsterBoyoRock wrote: George Bush a fascist?
Nah I'd say more of a neo-fascist.

Yes, I'd probably agree with you. Although you could argue a good case for both sides.

[CapitalistSocialist]

At 1/9/04 03:57 PM, bumcheekcity wrote: Yes, I'd probably agree with you. Although you could argue a good case for both sides.

I was just thinking how everthing has to be new e.g. New Labour, Neo-conservatives and Neo-imperialism. You know I thought old BUSH wouldn't want to buck the trend.

[FUNKbrs]

*mumbles menacingly* goddamn anti-fascist propaganda *mumbles menacingly*

[bumcheekcity]

At 1/11/04 10:23 AM, JudgeFUNK wrote: *mumbles menacingly* goddamn anti-fascist propaganda *mumbles menacingly*

Yes, thankyou very much, FUNK. We all know about your facist ideals.

[PretzelLogic88]

......... when will the skewing of facts ever end on this board ........ how the hell is this country facist when u urself are able to post against what u believe to be facist???????

[JoS]

I wonder if anybody from the US Federal government (I dont mean like troops or other low level civil servants, I mean people higher up such as aides, think tanks, military brass(Pentagon people) and other top level officals) comes into this forum? Maybe not even to post, just to see what we are talking about.
*George BUsh closes his laptop*

[bumcheekcity]

At 1/11/04 12:57 PM, PretzelLogic88 wrote: ......... when will the skewing of facts ever end on this board ........ how the hell is this country facist when u urself are able to post against what u believe to be facist???????

I think it was kind of a joke as to how bush was just not COMPLETELY facist.

[RedSkunk]

At 1/11/04 12:57 PM, PretzelLogic88 wrote: ......... when will the skewing of facts ever end on this board ........ how the hell is this country facist when u urself are able to post against what u believe to be facist???????

I never said the current administration or the country was fascist, I simply made some comparisons, and then you decided that (and I quote) "this country facist"

muhaha ;D

[Empanado]

At 1/11/04 01:00 PM, RugbyMacDaddy wrote: *George BUsh closes his laptop*

You missed the *after unsuscessfuly trying to understand how to get it started*

[Empanado]

Oh and i'd like to add that, altho i have a slight dislike for the U.S (for the US as A NATION , not towards each single american guy/girl out there) i actually kind of admire the american soldier that risks his life out there for a reason that he doesn't quite understand, but that he knows it means to protect and serve his country (i highly dislike the US army itself tho).

ummm thats all.

[cockjockey]

At 1/11/04 12:57 PM, PretzelLogic88 wrote: ......... when will the skewing of facts ever end on this board ........ how the hell is this country facist when u urself are able to post against what u believe to be facist???????

If the US was a facist nation, then that would be the genius part for me. How clever is it to pump your citizens so full of rhetoric, that even when given freedom of speech and the liberties that the constitution offers, the majority still defend their country like a newborn child. All hypothetical you understand, personally I think it's all bunk. While the leaders of the nation are definately doing things that they shouldn't (as with the UK, France, Germany or any developed country in the western hemisphere), I sincerely doubt that theres any chance of a red flag being raised in the states any time soon.
Unless China invade of course.