"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
Fascism as defined by American Heritage Dictionary: "A philosophy or system of government that is marked by stringent social and economic control, a strong, centralized government usually headed by a dictator, and often a policy of belligerent nationalism."
10) Our economic and financial sector is controlled by the men from Goldman-Sachs - H. Paulson, R. Rubin. Their close friends are L. Summers, supporter of the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, and the mentee of R. Rubin and L. Summers, T. Geithner. Geithner meets regularly with his Wall Street friends in NYC at Four Seasons.
9) President Obama is keeping the power that President Bush gave him. He is not changing things as he said he would.
8) People who are called moderate today were called right wing in 1970.
7) If Richard Nixon were president today, he would be attacked as a liberal.
5) The rights of citizens are decreasing every year.
4) Habeus Corpus is now provided on a limited basis by our government.
3) Fascists hate communism and accuse people of being communist or socialist as a means of denigrating their ideas.
2) State intervention in economic production arises only when private initiative is lacking or insufficient, or when the political interests of the State are involved. This intervention may take the form of control, assistance or direct management. (pp. 135-136) - Benito Mussolini "The Doctrine of Fascism" [credit to PublicEye.org]1) "The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism—ownership of government by an individual, by a group, [read corporations and financial organizations],or by any other controlling private power." - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1938
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Shawn O'Shea
Rolling
Siobhan Curious
Moses Mendoza
Formerly Known As fibrogirl
Behind Blue Eyes
Salon.com
Comments
Obama is owned by the same corporations that own McCain and every other politician. monkey fingered.
The trend, barring a political upheaval originating from among the masses of people, is towards a kind of soft fascism in which many of the previously existing and operating institutions will continue to exist and function to some degree (e.g., the courts and the media) but the abridgment of civil liberties and freedom of speech and assembly are being and will continue to be curtailed sharply.
This is evident in the Obama administration. He is actually tightening up many of the key props of the Bush regime - sovereign immunity, prolonged detention, escalating the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan - even while putting a "nicer" face on it all.
I work with a woman who told us last week that if she were in Hitlers Germany she would have joined the Nazi's to stay alive, she would have done whatever it took; she told us about literally running over a classmate as they were racing from a potential mad man and leaving her behind. She was not embarrassed or ashamed: how many Americans feel this way?
What happened to fighting evil, not embracing it?
I had a similar circumstance with a woman here who when presented with this:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not protest;
I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me.
told me the words offended her.
When I informed her that it was written by a pastor in Germany at the time, she replied that the pastor was a p.o.s.!!!
And Leslie, I just TOTALLY agree with you.
With all due respect, I believe that it is important to label a government for what it is, although it may be "soft fascism." Any type of fascism is no good and should be identified as such. If we do not do so, we are neglecting our duties as citizens.
With all due respect, fascism is no joke. Fascism does not have to look like Hitler. It does not have to look like Mussolini. The sooner we educate ourselves and each other, the better off we all are. It was already fascist long ago...it is important to understand that this exists with Obama just as much as it did with Bush.
God bless America, citizen.
mishima666, you win the prize for the most astute comment here.