Tuesday, May 31, 2005

The Ways To Become A Fascist State

My UPC colleague Dean over at Today's Democracy has an interesting post on the nature of fascism. Dean has a list of characteristics for a fascist state:

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism..
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.

Dean asks "Do these ring as warning signs for the United States? Is America slowly becoming a fascist state?"

Hmmm...I'm not sure about numbers 6 and 14, I think those are still tinfoil hat territory, but as for the rest....

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