According to research by Lawrence Britt almost all facist regimes have common threads. Here is what he came up with:
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
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Facism in America
AND YOUR POINT IS WHAT?
Happy Veteran's Day Paul
Thank you to all that serve and have served in our Armed Forces to keep our country safe.
Thank you to all that serve and have served in our Armed Forces to keep our country safe.
VOR, I believe the point is that the present governing party of the US, at this time, is guilty of all those "points".
According to research by Lawrence Britt almost all facist regimes have common threads. Here is what he came up with:
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
I submit the following:
* Labor unions are weak and the right to strike is denied by law. In Bush's America, the unions and their solidarity are extremely weak. The right to strike is still permitted by law, but strikes seldom happen and when they do, as in the last strike of Northwest Airlines, scabs are brought in and management and the White House collude about how best to crush the workers. A merging of giant corporations and the State is well along.
* Civil liberties are declining in number and the right to assert them grows increasingly chancy. When the Patriot Act is combined with a variety of authoritarian laws passed during the Clinton administration and fanatics are placed in charge of the secret police, those who do speak out against the government must carefully watch their words. Much of what was once permitted to rebels is now against the law. Indeed, with secret trials, undisclosed prisons and torture, one may question to what extent the law actually still exists.
* The increasingly Draconian regime faces a weak, dispirited and divided opposition. America is almost a de facto one party state where the Democrats pay Bush the highest compliment by trying to imitate him. And many in the radical left and progressive movements aren't able to go beyond silly sectarianism or tactical and organizational incompetence. --- The rise and glorification of irrational philosophy. The current government assault on scientific thought in the name of Christian extremism and phobic nationalism easily fills that requirement. Additionally, a cultural war rages where authoritarian religious values deride and delegitimize their opponents as practitioners of decadence and treason.
* Fascism tends to be warlike and criminally aggressive. The invasion of Iraq combined with the flag waving, ultraviolence and official big lies does the trick. And the ongoing threats to Syria and Iran strengthens the case.
* We usually find a "Duce" in charge. A character created by image manipulation and propaganda. Every attempt has been made to put Bush over as a triumph of the will cowboy hero who flies big airplanes and struts on flight decks in his special uniform. The effort to create a sneering superman hasn't completely worked because Dubya comes across as a little too dumb for the task.
* Racism is usually part of the fascist mix. The post 9/11 antidemocratic assault on Arabs and certain Muslim Asians combined with the panic and minute man vigilantism taking place on the Mexican border satisfies this similarity.
* Free elections no longer take place although fascism may permit some stage managed electoral activity. George Bush was not elected President in 2000. The Presidential election was fixed in Florida. Doubts continue about the integrity of the 2004 election. There is authentic concern about the introduction of non paper trail computer voting. And Republicans are redistricting to assure their Congressional power.
* Labor unions are weak and the right to strike is denied by law. In Bush's America, the unions and their solidarity are extremely weak. The right to strike is still permitted by law, but strikes seldom happen and when they do, as in the last strike of Northwest Airlines, scabs are brought in and management and the White House collude about how best to crush the workers. A merging of giant corporations and the State is well along.
* Civil liberties are declining in number and the right to assert them grows increasingly chancy. When the Patriot Act is combined with a variety of authoritarian laws passed during the Clinton administration and fanatics are placed in charge of the secret police, those who do speak out against the government must carefully watch their words. Much of what was once permitted to rebels is now against the law. Indeed, with secret trials, undisclosed prisons and torture, one may question to what extent the law actually still exists.
* The increasingly Draconian regime faces a weak, dispirited and divided opposition. America is almost a de facto one party state where the Democrats pay Bush the highest compliment by trying to imitate him. And many in the radical left and progressive movements aren't able to go beyond silly sectarianism or tactical and organizational incompetence. --- The rise and glorification of irrational philosophy. The current government assault on scientific thought in the name of Christian extremism and phobic nationalism easily fills that requirement. Additionally, a cultural war rages where authoritarian religious values deride and delegitimize their opponents as practitioners of decadence and treason.
* Fascism tends to be warlike and criminally aggressive. The invasion of Iraq combined with the flag waving, ultraviolence and official big lies does the trick. And the ongoing threats to Syria and Iran strengthens the case.
* We usually find a "Duce" in charge. A character created by image manipulation and propaganda. Every attempt has been made to put Bush over as a triumph of the will cowboy hero who flies big airplanes and struts on flight decks in his special uniform. The effort to create a sneering superman hasn't completely worked because Dubya comes across as a little too dumb for the task.
* Racism is usually part of the fascist mix. The post 9/11 antidemocratic assault on Arabs and certain Muslim Asians combined with the panic and minute man vigilantism taking place on the Mexican border satisfies this similarity.
* Free elections no longer take place although fascism may permit some stage managed electoral activity. George Bush was not elected President in 2000. The Presidential election was fixed in Florida. Doubts continue about the integrity of the 2004 election. There is authentic concern about the introduction of non paper trail computer voting. And Republicans are redistricting to assure their Congressional power.
Give me a break--Paul and Petunia. The very fact that you can write such drivel without fear of repercussions prooves how wrong you are. I thought better of you Petunia--You can join Pappy as the ultimate Bush Bashers. go join Rick Driver and the rest of the nut jobs at the REAL taxpayers association. This is a post worthyof their spew.
Give me a break--Paul and Petunia. The very fact that you can write such drivel without fear of repercussions prooves how wrong you are. I thought better of you Petunia--You can join Pappy as the ultimate Bush Bashers. go join Rick Driver and the rest of the nut jobs at the REAL taxpayers association. This is a post worthyof their spew.- one too many
The greater the ignorance the greater the dogmatism -
Sir William Osler
According to research by Lawrence Britt almost all facist regimes have common threads. Here is what he came up with:
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
Give me a break--Paul and Petunia. The very fact that you can write such drivel without fear of repercussions prooves how wrong you are. I thought better of you Petunia--You can join Pappy as the ultimate Bush Bashers. go join Rick Driver and the rest of the nut jobs at the REAL taxpayers association. This is a post worthyof their spew.- one too many
My point was not to “bash” Bush. I included Clinton in my diatribe. Why do all the self-described conservatives almost always attack any point of view that is different from the party line? I can only feel that most bloggers on this site as well as the majority of the state are conservatives. It has reached a point that conservatives can't accept any kind of dissent or difference of opinion. I don't have much time for self-described conservatives, neither do I have much time for self-described liberals. I tend to think members of both are out of whack, that they don't really like America being American. I think they want it to be something else. Conservatives would probably be more comfortable living in a dictatorship where there was only one sanctioned political party, one sanctioned religion and one sanctioned world view. Anyone who believed otherwise could be dealt with. Bush has even stated that a dictatorship would be easier. Liberals, on the other hand, would probably be more comfortable living in some kind of tree-hugging, lets-all-hold-hands kind of non-existent, socialist utopia in which everyone's needs were met all the time. While I consider myself a Libertarian, I have to say that, based on my experience
According to research by Lawrence Britt almost all facist regimes have common threads. Here is what he came up with:
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
I also was not "bashing" Bush. I have just carefully re read Paul's comments by Lawrence Britt. ( BTW, Paul what are his credentials?)
All of the points do apply to the United States Government now. It has taken may years to arrive at this point and several different administrations have made this possible.
I am a moderate. I believe in conservative fiscal responsibility. Fair taxation for the good of all. Giving a helping hand when needed but not a "free ride". No more robbing of the Social Security funding. Reasonable health care for all. Freedom of religion, that is what this country was built on. Our government should be the strongest and best in the world but not an island unto ourselves.
This is not a "Party" fight so get over it. This is about fighting for the best for America. Electing the person best to lead our country at the election in November '08 is important. Get out and Vote!
I resent being called a "liberal lunatic" and I am sure Pappy does too. If calling us names rather than thinking about and discussing the problems our country faces without rancor is important you, have at it. Us "old birds" have tough skin.
God Bless our Soldiers and Veterans on this beautiful Veterans Day weekend.
All of the points do apply to the United States Government now. It has taken may years to arrive at this point and several different administrations have made this possible.
I am a moderate. I believe in conservative fiscal responsibility. Fair taxation for the good of all. Giving a helping hand when needed but not a "free ride". No more robbing of the Social Security funding. Reasonable health care for all. Freedom of religion, that is what this country was built on. Our government should be the strongest and best in the world but not an island unto ourselves.
This is not a "Party" fight so get over it. This is about fighting for the best for America. Electing the person best to lead our country at the election in November '08 is important. Get out and Vote!
I resent being called a "liberal lunatic" and I am sure Pappy does too. If calling us names rather than thinking about and discussing the problems our country faces without rancor is important you, have at it. Us "old birds" have tough skin.
God Bless our Soldiers and Veterans on this beautiful Veterans Day weekend.
I also was not "bashing" Bush. I have just carefully re read Paul's comments by Lawrence Britt. ( BTW, Paul what are his credentials?)
All of the points do apply to the United States Government now. It has taken may years to arrive at this point and several different administrations have made this possible.
I am a moderate. I believe in conservative fiscal responsibility. Fair taxation for the good of all. Giving a helping hand when needed but not a "free ride". No more robbing of the Social Security funding. Reasonable health care for all. Freedom of religion, that is what this country was built on. Our government should be the strongest and best in the world but not an island unto ourselves.
This is not a "Party" fight so get over it. This is about fighting for the best for America. Electing the person best to lead our country at the election in November '08 is important. Get out and Vote!
I resent being called a "liberal lunatic" and I am sure Pappy does too. If calling us names rather than thinking about and discussing the problems our country faces without rancor is important you, have at it. Us "old birds" have tough skin.
God Bless our Soldiers and Veterans on this beautiful Veterans Day weekend.
- Petunia
Amen to that, Petunia. . .
Give me a break--Paul and Petunia. The very fact that you can write such drivel without fear of repercussions prooves how wrong you are. I thought better of you Petunia--You can join Pappy as the ultimate Bush Bashers. go join Rick Driver and the rest of the nut jobs at the REAL taxpayers association. This is a post worthyof their spew.- one too many
Wow, don't show your political ignorance.
Pappy and Rick Driver ? Oil and water. . .
Your anonomous name seems very appropriate.
Well, Paul, do you see the uselessness of actually giving any thought to what you post? See, you can learn something on this blog!
I find it difficult to understand how those folks who slam the government of the U.S. for being too fascist in nature always seem to throw in at the end of the statement that they support the military, love Veteran's Day, etc. The military is now all voluntary. No one is having his or her arm twisted to join. That military is the arm of the government that makes some of these so called fascist actions happen, such as invading Iraq. Are you merely pandering to the poor troops? Or can someone explain how you can dislike the government on one hand, but love the troops on the other? If those citizens who join the military don't like what the government stands for then they didn't have to join.
kilkenny and any of the rest of you that agree with his sentiments.
Have you ever known a family with a hardworking caring woman, who has raised beautiful, polite, successful children? This woman is married to an alcoholic, womanizing, wife beater. Can you not love the woman and strongly disapprove of these actions by the man.
How dare you criticize my support of the military? I am a retired military wife. I have had the pleasure to meet many returning or soldiers on leave from Iraq. I have taken the time to thank each and every one of them personally for what they do for us. I have given to the Disabled Veterans fund for years.
Many of the soldiers in Iraq joined the military because they were promised an education they could not otherwise afford. These soldiers are serving bravely and dying today. Soldiers that had already served their country,after their commitment, joined the Reserve or Guard. Some joined for the extra money to help support their families. Others loved the military and wanted to serve and protect our country if a need ever presented its self. These soldiers are serving and dying today.
All knew that there was always a possibilty that they could be called upon in times of emergency or threat to our country, one of our allies or to defend peace in any
part of the world. They committed to this willingly and with a great love of our great country.
What are you doing to this weekend to celebrate and remember these brave Soldiers and Veterans?
Have you ever known a family with a hardworking caring woman, who has raised beautiful, polite, successful children? This woman is married to an alcoholic, womanizing, wife beater. Can you not love the woman and strongly disapprove of these actions by the man.
How dare you criticize my support of the military? I am a retired military wife. I have had the pleasure to meet many returning or soldiers on leave from Iraq. I have taken the time to thank each and every one of them personally for what they do for us. I have given to the Disabled Veterans fund for years.
Many of the soldiers in Iraq joined the military because they were promised an education they could not otherwise afford. These soldiers are serving bravely and dying today. Soldiers that had already served their country,after their commitment, joined the Reserve or Guard. Some joined for the extra money to help support their families. Others loved the military and wanted to serve and protect our country if a need ever presented its self. These soldiers are serving and dying today.
All knew that there was always a possibilty that they could be called upon in times of emergency or threat to our country, one of our allies or to defend peace in any
part of the world. They committed to this willingly and with a great love of our great country.
What are you doing to this weekend to celebrate and remember these brave Soldiers and Veterans?
kilkenny and any of the rest of you that agree with his sentiments.
Have you ever known a family with a hardworking caring woman, who has raised beautiful, polite, successful children? This woman is married to an alcoholic, womanizing, wife beater. Can you not love the woman and strongly disapprove of these actions by the man.
How dare you criticize my support of the military? I am a retired military wife. I have had the pleasure to meet many returning or soldiers on leave from Iraq. I have taken the time to thank each and every one of them personally for what they do for us. I have given to the Disabled Veterans fund for years.
Many of the soldiers in Iraq joined the military because they were promised an education they could not otherwise afford. These soldiers are serving bravely and dying today. Soldiers that had already served their country,after their commitment, joined the Reserve or Guard. Some joined for the extra money to help support their families. Others loved the military and wanted to serve and protect our country if a need ever presented its self. These soldiers are serving and dying today.
All knew that there was always a possibilty that they could be called upon in times of emergency or threat to our country, one of our allies or to defend peace in any
part of the world. They committed to this willingly and with a great love of our great country.
What are you doing to this weekend to celebrate and remember these brave Soldiers and Veterans?
- Petunia
Petunia,
Once again I agree with you. Much more of this and people will be talking. . .
Let me add that I too, was military. I enlisted in the 40’s, theoretically to keep this great country free so even opponents could be free to speak.
But I expected that free speech entailed some effort to avoid personal attacks such as too many immature posters seem unable to avoid.
Let every American celebrate this Veteran’s Day by asking themselves, ‘ what personal sacrifice or service have I given my Country ? ‘
How do youall answer that question
I am proud to say that many of my family are and have been prior military personel. Not once have I ever been told be either of the ones that I've known that they ever regretted serving our Country. They always supported whoever the Commander in Chief was at the time, and never seemed to worry that they were putting their lives on the line for whatever reason. I have bags and bags of letters from my Marine brother who served under Ronald Reagan, and was stationed at the Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Those letters only spoke of how much he loved us and how he thought about us everyday...the sweetest letters ever written. He also told us how the children there would trade ammunition for candy with the Marines there on base. He saw some of those same children killed by grenades from their own people.
As proud as I was of him and what he did, I am battling another sensitive subject at this time...My son is 19 years old and has talked about joining the military. Not because he wants praise, but because he is not sure what he wants to do right now...he sees it as an opportunity. He doesn't seem to think about what's going on in the world, or even seem to care...he just sees it as what he thinks he needs to do for him. As much as I want to harbor the thought that my son will always need his mother around, it's a sense of selfish false security on my behalf...Do I want him to join? All I can say is that it would be hard for me to let go, but I would honor his decision. I would never turn my back on him regardless of any president, any war, or anything else for that matter. These people are so special, and have given us their lives...there will never be a way to truly honor them.
A close friend of mine was in Vietnam the year that I was born...he was 19 years old at the time and he was a door gunner on a helicopter. He has told me so many stories about Vietnam. He said that it was the weirdest feeling to be put into a Country, knowing noone, and having to fight for your life every single day. Not knowing who your enemies were, trying to stay alive. He talked about how the people lived over there and said he could never get used to it. He was there for over a year and when he returned, he felt like he was put into a country that he didn't know once again...people were not the same loving people they were before he left. He said it took him several years to adapt here in America after that war. I asked him if he regretted being in Vietnam...he looked at me and said "no, not once."
We should never turn our backs on our troops, they are what America is all about. Whether they are fighting a war about something we don't understand or agree with, they are there on our belhaf. I couldn't be more proud.
As proud as I was of him and what he did, I am battling another sensitive subject at this time...My son is 19 years old and has talked about joining the military. Not because he wants praise, but because he is not sure what he wants to do right now...he sees it as an opportunity. He doesn't seem to think about what's going on in the world, or even seem to care...he just sees it as what he thinks he needs to do for him. As much as I want to harbor the thought that my son will always need his mother around, it's a sense of selfish false security on my behalf...Do I want him to join? All I can say is that it would be hard for me to let go, but I would honor his decision. I would never turn my back on him regardless of any president, any war, or anything else for that matter. These people are so special, and have given us their lives...there will never be a way to truly honor them.
A close friend of mine was in Vietnam the year that I was born...he was 19 years old at the time and he was a door gunner on a helicopter. He has told me so many stories about Vietnam. He said that it was the weirdest feeling to be put into a Country, knowing noone, and having to fight for your life every single day. Not knowing who your enemies were, trying to stay alive. He talked about how the people lived over there and said he could never get used to it. He was there for over a year and when he returned, he felt like he was put into a country that he didn't know once again...people were not the same loving people they were before he left. He said it took him several years to adapt here in America after that war. I asked him if he regretted being in Vietnam...he looked at me and said "no, not once."
We should never turn our backs on our troops, they are what America is all about. Whether they are fighting a war about something we don't understand or agree with, they are there on our belhaf. I couldn't be more proud.
I also was not "bashing" Bush. I have just carefully re read Paul's comments by Lawrence Britt. ( BTW, Paul what are his credentials?)
All of the points do apply to the United States Government now. It has taken may years to arrive at this point and several different administrations have made this possible.
I am a moderate. I believe in conservative fiscal responsibility. Fair taxation for the good of all. Giving a helping hand when needed but not a "free ride". No more robbing of the Social Security funding. Reasonable health care for all. Freedom of religion, that is what this country was built on. Our government should be the strongest and best in the world but not an island unto ourselves.
This is not a "Party" fight so get over it. This is about fighting for the best for America. Electing the person best to lead our country at the election in November '08 is important. Get out and Vote!
I resent being called a "liberal lunatic" and I am sure Pappy does too. If calling us names rather than thinking about and discussing the problems our country faces without rancor is important you, have at it. Us "old birds" have tough skin.
God Bless our Soldiers and Veterans on this beautiful Veterans Day weekend.
- Petunia
I was calling Paul a "liberal lunatic" because of similar comments like "right wing nut job" being used on here before, but if you agree with him that America is turning into a Fascist state then, I would include you in that category also.
