ot 14 Identifying Characteristics of Fascist Nations

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*_I dont go wildly off topic often and i will try to refraine from more

of this kind of thing but i feel that i am supposed to share this here

 

 

14 Identifying Characteristics of Fascist Nations_*

 

*1. Powerful and continuing nationalism* - Fascist regimes tend to make

constant use of patriotic mottoes, 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 of 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 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 regimes tend to be

almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional

gender roles are 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 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 of 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 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.

 

- Dr. Lawrence Britt: political scientist, who studied the fascist

regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto and Pinochet to compile

their shared identifying characteristics -

 

http://www.disinfotainmenttoday.com/issue121.htm#littleguantanamo

 

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