so i'm studying social studies the other night

and im looking at characteristics of a facist regime, they are as follows

Facism: Dictatorship government, with (semi) market economy (extreme right wing)

1. Force (use or the threat of)
2. Indoctrination (use of propaganda)
3. Direction of popular discontent (scapegoating)
4. Controled participation (making it appear like the people have a say in issues)

then i thought about the united states government, and how it does kind of parallel these characteristics

1. The CIA
2. Fox News
3. "we have to take down the terrorists"
4. well...decide for yourself (the first Bush election, with the whole Florida incident)

i didnt really think about it too much, im just curious to know everyones opinion...

 

I agree on #1, and would add FBI, and Police in general perhaps.

#2 is obvious, not just FOX, but all of the major corp-media.

#3, add to that liberals, gays, and muslims, the first two which are threats to the moral fiber of the country, and the last who are all violent extremists willing to blow themselves up for Allah.

#4, well, that one is iffy, but some of the elections do seem fishy, I don't like the voting computers. And people don't have a say beyond their vote: it's a representative democracy, that is, a republic. We vote them in, they decide for us, hopefully how we want them to. The only thing stopping them from doing their own shit in office is re-election, and impeachment/recall (to a smaller extent). Oh, and the occasional honest-intentioned politician. Those are rare though.

 

I agree very much... There were several elections that had "iffy" results.

 

i dont think its just elections, its much more. just the general feeling they try to give to the people, through propaganda, to make out their contribution is their own and helping and whatever, its just controlling participation, which is what the american govt does a lot. election is a loose example. its more deepseeded than just events

 

yeah, I agree with that too Bill... Everything feels like it is tightening and you're either one of the "good" guys or you just one of the them

 

I agree on all of it, see with number 4 especially... You basically have democrat and republican, these two political parties are soooo similar they may as well be one but by having two they make you feel like you have a choice. As for 1-3 I agree with those, I just wanted to comment on 4

 

I say to hell with republicans and democrats. Maybe someone can show me different, but i don't see any benefit for the party system. Alot of people get so tied to their party they don't hear the candidates policies, and alot of politicians try so hard to form "party friendly" issues they forget about the people. This severely limits our leaders, but in a bad way. It forces them to conform into a good democrat or republican instead of a leader who can un-biasly follow the intrest of the common good. This elimination of labels would allow candidates to be develope their stance based on issues instead of backers, and people would have to determine their stance by listening reasoning and understanding. Now, the only way to win an election is to be associated with one of those two parties. When is the last time an Undecided won? As an American forced to choose between only two candidates every election I feel cheated. The average person doesn't even get to see the majority of an election, we don't hear anyone except the leading candidates speak. I feel that we should be able to choose our candidates, not just vote between the two we are given.

 

All we need to complete the vision is a dachau, North Dakota, and bush to grow a short mustache. lol

 

Well we're not really there yet on #1. The force and/or threat of force must be used on the citizens of the conutry in question, in this case the U.S.A. While our government does indeed use force it is on the citizens of Iraq. We may be getting to that point here at home, but not quite yet, at least not as a general condition.

#2 Yes indeed on this one, and fox news is only a small part. The extremist religion being pushed by the administration, as well as the "If you're not with us (the far right) you're a terrorist" stance do far more in the propagand dept. than fox news.

#3 Holy shit yes. essentially anybody who isn't either a religious nut or a corporate ass-kisser is the enemy, at least according to the far right.

#4 Obvious.

Your social studies book left out what is essentially the signle most important part of Fascism. In fact you could take away all four points listed and still have fascism. Fascism is essentially direct control (stated or otherwise) of the government by either corporations or corporate puppets. It does not have to be a one man dictatorship, it may be an oligarchy. In fact, while the fascist governments of history have been outward one man dictatorships in reality they all were oligarchies.

Fascism does not care whether or not it is brutal and tyrannical. Fascism is a system of by and for the ultra wealthy who, in our day and age, are the corporate big shots it cares only about them. If the "little people" are free and happy that's just fine, if they are horribly tortured and oppressed that's just fine too.

 

What's *really* scary is that you don't have to be a member of the fascist party to be helping fascism along. All the bad energy in people swirls around, jumps from person to person, and that means you and me as much as the GOP. Remember that next time someone talks about peace with an angry attitude.