The New Exchange

You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?



2/07/2017 11:48 am  #1


14 Characteristics of Fascism

I'm fairly certain someone may have posted or addressed this before, but it's worth taking a look at again.  I might point out that Britt studied and researched this many years ago, and published it in 2003.  I believe it's worth re-visiting the topic and the result of his work on the subject.  The list is concise and to the point.  Some of it may sound quite familiar in light of where we are today:

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html


 

Last edited by Just Fred (2/07/2017 11:48 am)

 

2/07/2017 12:11 pm  #2


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Thanks Fred. We're seeing them all, aren't we?


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

2/07/2017 12:25 pm  #3


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Worth printing out and posting it next to your computer or desk.  Lest it looks like some kind "fake news", "alternative fact", or some kind of Trump hit piece, let's remember the research was done over 14 years ago.

     Thread Starter
 

2/09/2017 12:27 pm  #4


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

 

2/09/2017 12:29 pm  #5


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Tim, what does this mean? Please explain.
I see the elephant logo. Are you agreeing that the Republicans have a budding fascist as president?
That would be progress.


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

2/09/2017 1:13 pm  #6


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

I don't know, and I can't speak for Tim, but I think it's a rather poignant poster.  Reminds of something Huey Long said many years ago when asked if fascism could ever come to America.  His response was, "Sure, but they won't call it that."

     Thread Starter
 

2/09/2017 1:23 pm  #7


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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 . 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Last edited by Goose (2/09/2017 1:25 pm)


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

2/09/2017 1:26 pm  #8


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

You could pull examples of nearly all of these from today's headlines.
Just sayin'


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

2/12/2017 9:46 am  #9


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Goose, you are constantly calling Trump a fascist, please list the things he's done to justify that.

 

2/12/2017 10:50 am  #10


Re: 14 Characteristics of Fascism

Tim15856 wrote:

Goose, you are constantly calling Trump a fascist, please list the things he's done to justify that.

Powerful and continuing nationalism.
"America First". Sending Haley to the UN to threaten the world, "America is going to take names".

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights 
Call for mandatory death sentences. Embrace of torture. Religious based bans.

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause 
Mexicans. China. Muslims

Supremacy of the Military 
Calling for a huge increase in military spending in the face of unprecedented national debt.

Rampant Sexism 
"Look at that face. Who would vote for that?" "Blood coming out of her whatever". "You do anything you want. You can grab them by the pussy"

Controlled Mass Media 
Issuing daily lies. Warring with some segments of the media while embracing others.

Obsession with National Security 
Fear mongering about terrorism way out of proportion to actual threat.

Corporate Power is Protected 
Relaxation of government oversight and regulations to benefit big business.

Labor Power is Suppressed 
Appointing a secretary of Labor who is hostile to labor.

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts 
Trump has proposed eliminating funding to the arts. He has attacked scientists.

Obsession with Crime and Punishment 
How many times does Trump say "Law and order" in a given week.

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption 
Billionaire Cabinet, failure to divorce oneself from his business empire. Pressuring a retailing to protect family business.

Fraudulent Elections 
He doesn't have the power to meddle in actual vote counts, but Trump has engaged  in undermining faith in elections as a prelude.


Attacks on an independent Judiciary.
Attacks on a free press.
Oh, and Trump's closest advisor is an admitted fan of an Italian fascist writer.

Anything else I can help you with, Tim?

Last edited by Goose (2/12/2017 11:20 am)


We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists. 
 

Board footera

 

Powered by Boardhost. Create a Free Forum