[MD] "just right-wing politics"

[david buchanan]

Arlo, Platt and all MOQers:

I found another interesting article on fascism that included the following 
extraction from a political scientist named Dr. Lawrence Britt. His essay 
titled "Fascism Anyone?" identifies 14 "identifying characteristics of 
fascism". He compiled this list by looking at Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, 
Pinochet and Suharto to see what they all had in common. I thought it might 
be fun to see if any of these characteristics can be located in the present 
situation. Feel free to treat this as a game. If you're anything like me, 
you'll notice that many current events come to mind as you read through this 
list. Perhaps you'd like to name them or otherwise keep score? I think it 
would be fun to compare Arlo's score with Platt's, but that's probably just 
me. In any case, enjoy!

dmb

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. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay 
legislation and national policy.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes the media are directly controlled by the government, but in other 
cases, the media are 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 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.

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