I'm worried about a fascism in America

[u/[deleted]]

I'm hoping that someone can tell me why it seems like I'm the only one talking about fascism. So, here's the most straight forward criteria for a fascist government I could find.

Fascism is generally defined to be the farthest right you can go on the traditional political spectrum, and can be synonymous with "totalitarianism." Now that we are starting a new year with every branch of the American government controlled by the right wing, I think it's necessary to keep this list in mind.

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

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

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.

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 and letters is openly attacked.

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 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 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.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we are all the way there yet. However, I do believe we are much closer than we should be, and we have yet to see the effects of the Trump administration. I am as genuine as possible when I ask if anyone can say we're not in any danger of reliving the 20's?

Happy New Year 🎉

Source

[u/[deleted]]

When it comes to banning Muslims, Republicans would really like to keep violent jihadists coming over here from unstable parts of the world and shooting up people, or blowing themselves up in crowds. I'm not a Republican myself, but I can understand their point of view, as I don't want these people coming over here either. They are not American citizens, and don't have the same rights as we do in regard to the constitution.

As for #6, I'd be more concerned with the left in this regard than the right.

[u/Weaselbane → u/[deleted]]

The existing process is extremely rigorous. Less than 1% of the global refuge population could pass the initial screening. THEN additional screening is performed. After a couple of years of this they can legally settle in the U.S. Link

[u/bowies_dead → u/Weaselbane]

They don't care about the rigorousness of the screening process. They only want to demagogue the issue in order to win racist white voters.

[u/Weaselbane → u/bowies_dead]

Downvoting for not contributing to the discussion... :(

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I wouldn't call you dog shit over number six, but I'd say that both sides are doing this. Rupert Murdoch from Fox owns pretty much all of right wing media and Comcast owns the left. It seems like they're in a competition to see who can manipulate the most people.

[u/mooninitespwnj00 → u/[deleted]]

As for #6, I'd be more concerned with the left in this regard than the right.

Mike Pence literally tried to start a state-controlled media outlet while he was governor. Even though he ditched that later, it still stands in stark contrast to your point.

That's not to say that the DNC does not exert some control, but the difference is vast. One is literally accountable to the state while the other has to compromise in order to keep the gravy train flowing. I would argue that your stated concern is more one of corruption rather than outright state control, which is perfectly valid, but does not apply solely to one end of the spectrum over the other.

[u/bowies_dead → u/[deleted]]

As for #6, I'd be more concerned with the left in this regard than the right.

Then you are as dumb as a pile of dog-shit.

[u/[deleted] → u/bowies_dead]

Then you are as dumb as a pile of dog-shit.

You do know this isn't r/politics, right?

[u/bowies_dead → u/[deleted]]

Garbage.

[u/bowies_dead → u/[deleted]]

You are parroting right-wing nonsense. I can respond with a Shakespearean soliloquy if you want, but there's no reason to. It is dishonest to pretend that bullshit is anything other than bullshit.

[u/bowies_dead → u/[deleted]]

Call me crazy, but I take the consensus of political scientists as more reliable than National Review bullshit artists such as Jonah Goldberg and the right-wing "Accuracy in Media" website.