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Old May 1st 04, 05:13 PM
Laura
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Default The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism


"3vil 0ne" wrote in message
...
If you don't like the present state of the U.S, get the **** out of

here!!!!
Quit wasting my time!


Your time? It was your choice to read the post, and then to post a pointless
rant as a reply. Don't waste your own time if you don't like it.


I didn't hear a peep from you pre 9/11.....you all should be rounded up

and
deported!!!


Are you sure that's strong enough? Wouldn't it be better if they were stood
up against a wall and shot? Some of them could be kept alive long enough to
dig a mass grave, too. Fascist... who? You?



"MagicMush" wrote in message
news:xxvkc.325216$oR5.288719@pd7tw3no...
LOL. Sounds like the current state of the US.


"*" wrote in message
...
http://www.omnicenter.org/warpeacecollection/facism.htm

The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism
Free Inquiry http://www.secularhumanism.org/fi/
Spring 2003; 5-11-03

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 (sic) 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.