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- inactive, on 02/02/2008, -22/+139Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, published research on fascism in which he examined the fascist regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each fascist State:
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 incarceration 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 are glamorized.
5. Rampant sexism - The government 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 the 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 - Government 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 are often 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, or are severely restricted.
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 assassinations 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.
Benito Mussolini - who knew something about fascism - had a more straightforward definition: “Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power.”
Abraham Lincoln stated, “I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me, and causes me to tremble for the safety of our country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people, until wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed.” - Jimmyb207, on 02/02/2008, -8/+43Court rules cease-and-desist letters can be copyrighted, so corporations can legally threaten you, and then sue you when you publicize their legal threat. Fascism has made it's way into the judicial system as well.
Here:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20080125/18070575.sht ... - Hallucinogenic, on 02/02/2008, -7/+34"A presidency of hypocrisy, an administration of exploitation, a labyrinth of leadership, in which every vital fact is a puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in a enigma hidden under a claim of executive privilege supervised by an idiot."
BEAUTIFUL! - Kinglouis3, on 02/02/2008, -7/+32Franklin D. Roosevelt in an April 29, 1938 message to Congress warned that the growth of private power could lead to fascism:
"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, or by any other controlling private power."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatism - Napoleone, on 02/02/2008, -5/+26The CFR (www.cfr.org) is dedicated to the goal of having the world run by corporations and a small elite. They describe this in their own website. They also happen to support both Clinton and Obama.
Would they support a candidate that would not advance their agenda? - digitalagent, on 02/02/2008, -0/+20I am totally baffled by the fact that Congress cannot drop the immunity from this bill and send it to the president. I just don't get why they are having such a hard time with such an obvious issue. Well, I guess I get it, but I am afraid to think it. Congress will not allow immunity because it may cause open revolt. First the telecoms will go broke from class action lawsuits, and then once the truth and extent of the spying comes out in court, the government will not be able to contain the peoples' rage. Am I missing something here? It just seems like a total no-brainer. Olberman is completely on the mark here. If you give them immunity, you know they broke the law. If you don't give them immunity, you will know how insanely your rights have been trampled, and someone will be held accountable. But either way it's obvious: the executive branch of your government, in collusion with corporations, took away your rights as an American citizen and are now desperate to stop you from knowing how far those rights were abused. We know that both the executive branch and the corporations broke the law because they are trying to change the law to give themselves immunity.
- slantedview, on 02/02/2008, -1/+17I think he's right on with the use of the Fascism word.
- pigfister, on 02/02/2008, -1/+17what are free speech zones America, i though free speech was a god given right to all in the USA? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_speech_zone
http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/11423prs200 ...
FTA: When President Bush came to Neville Island, PA last year, protesters were herded behind a chain-link fence in a remote area while supporters were allowed to line the motorcade route. One man who refused to be corralled was arrested.
During President Bush's visit to Neville Island, PA last year, supporters were allowed to line the motorcade route, while protesters were herded to a remote area out of sight of the press corps and the President. - Erich100, on 02/02/2008, -2/+18If our government acted properly and the telecom companies did nothing wrong,why is immunity so important that it would delay legislation to enhance the security of America? Because the immunity for the presidents pals is more important. And the supposed threat to our security is a sham. This is further proof that the War on Terror is actually the War on American Freedom. Our government is going way too far to protect corporate interests over those of the American people. Call And write your elected officials to put a stop to this madness.
- cualcrees, on 02/02/2008, -2/+18Check... check.... check.....
- Altotus, on 02/02/2008, -1/+16It should be pointed out that you're talking about totalitarian socialist states. There are also democratic socialist states -- and they enjoy the highest standards of living and most individual freedoms in the world. Look at Denmark, and Norway, for example. Ridiculous tax rates, expensive to live, but they have 100% literacy, universal healthcare, low unemployment, a high degree of self-sufficiency, good ecological policy, and they are generally the top two for quality of life and individual liberty indices. Certainly, they take civil rights far more seriously than we in the USA do.
- plaxdan, on 02/02/2008, -25/+40Observe also the 10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto. Any of these look familiar? Americans have forgotten who they are...
10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3. Abolition of all right of inheritance.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.
7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, &c., &c.[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Communist_Manifes ... - ThE0eNiGmA, on 02/02/2008, -4/+19"We don't have centralization of authority, as all three branches of government are fully functioning." Fully functioning my ass. Have you taken a look at Congress lately? Also, how many laws Bush has pushed through to add even more power to the seat in the Oval Office? Quite a few, I'll bet. And what does Congress do? Takes it in the ass.
While you have many good points, I still see so many things wrong with your rebuttal, but at 12:31 in the morning I don't quite feel like conjuring up a wall of text. But let me throw in a parting shot: You ARE a right-wing lackey, and a tool to boot. - Azerael, on 02/02/2008, -2/+17Does anyone else get the feeling that Olbermann is like the token mainstream critic which the MSM only allows to exist so they can point to him when people accuse them of corruption or supporting fascism?
- gernblansted, on 02/02/2008, -2/+15And now, off to FOX News... Where significance is what you're told it is.
- s1mph0ny, on 02/02/2008, -2/+14It would seem that Olbermann is bothering the tools.
- Napoleone, on 02/02/2008, -1/+13AT&T (corporation) + Government ... spying on us TOGETHER = Fascism
- ukthom, on 02/02/2008, -1/+13I really, really, really can't wait until 20 January 2009...Let's just hope we can get there in one piece.
- positron, on 02/02/2008, -3/+14Massive bureaucracy is just a symptom of the authoritarian cancer.
- nirav72, on 02/02/2008, -3/+14"it's no better than right-wingers calling everyone they dislike a commie."
You mean socialism. Right-wingers get their terminology confused. Last time I check, people weren't afraid of a little socialism. You know things like Police protection, fire departments , highways , 911 service etc. Stuff the right-wingers take for granted. But reasonable people are afraid of corporations that are not held accountable for their actions and given a free pass by the very government they elected. - elliotys, on 02/02/2008, -4/+15I think Olbermans over-obsession with the truth, and logic, has alienated him from the right wing.
- Kschreck, on 02/02/2008, -5/+16Olberman is truth!
- lordshank, on 02/02/2008, -3/+13I've said it once, and I'll say it again. ***** Neo-Cons and all of their *****! I am tired of hearing of it, and I am damn sure tired of living it. Monitor this *****!
- kingcam, on 02/02/2008, -1/+11Dude, you do know that almost the entire US media is owned by less than 10 (I think that the number is 5) corporations right, ABC, NBC and all the other wonderful broadcasters that you mentioned all all different manifestations of the same corporations.
- londubh, on 02/02/2008, -5/+15Time to whip out those red, white, and blue armbands.
- s1mph0ny, on 02/02/2008, -2/+12I can't see how it would not be fascist. Privacy like every other basic human right is meant to be protected by the government, and actions to invade privacy by corporations or government is nothing short of assault, and is unconstitutional.
- gernblansted, on 02/02/2008, -2/+12Since he's doing pretty well with ratings, I'd guess things aren't as desperate for him as you might believe.
- Bittermanscolon, on 02/02/2008, -4/+12He talks about nothing but the truth. Essential listening.
- alphasixtyone, on 02/02/2008, -1/+9i dont get why people hate on rawstory. There's a video there to the original. It's not like its unrealiable. it happened. Olberman did say those exact things. So what's your problem?
- alittleroy101, on 02/02/2008, -3/+11Very true. It's refreshing.
- TheSwashbuckler, on 02/02/2008, -5/+13Yeah, every show in the last two weeks *****...
- Squires, on 02/02/2008, -1/+9I thought Olberman was talking about the blatant hypocrisy of the Bush administration. Maybe I missed his lecture about IT 101.
- enclaved, on 02/02/2008, -1/+8"Less than two years ago our country was attacked."
what? - bossm4n, on 02/02/2008, -11/+18Please, enlighten us. How exactly are we living in a communist state? And please feel free to compare us to current or former communist societies.
- Napoleone, on 02/02/2008, -7/+14The U.S.S.R, Cuba, China, etc... were aspirational communists, but in fact they were merely socialist.
Our country is aspirational socialist, and we have many socialist programs in place, i.e., 2 and 10 in the examples above. We also have Social Security and Medicare and, some hope, Universal Health Care.
Socialism has a short lifespan, because of the dampening effect it has on initiative by curtailing the profit motive. Allow me to give you a personal example:
Before I did what I do now, I used to have a regular 9-5 job. If I'd work 40hrs a week, I'd get payed about $500, after taxes. If I did overtime work (time and a half rate), and put in an extra 10 hours, I'd get about $660, after taxes. If instead I did 20 hrs of overtime, I'd get about $780, after taxes.
See what happened to my pay? The more I worked --even at a higher pay rate-- the less valuable my labor became, because I was taxed progressively more. That killed the incentive to be more productive.
Now imagine that at the national scale. You get a society that is used to getting looked after, but who doesn't want to work harder, because they get less out of it.
Capitalism has its faults, but socialism can be catastrophic. We have a Social Security system that used to be a trust fund and now it is not. It is empty. Poorly reasoned progressive tax rates have disincentivized production, and have in turn dried up the coffers. Since the coffers are dry, we tax more to fill them, but that just compounds the problem, because it diminishes the value of labor. It's a vicious circle. - adooga, on 02/02/2008, -0/+7Iran, Iraq, Eurasia, Eastasia - it's not important, just remember they're evil.
- capiCrimm, on 02/02/2008, -2/+8I'm not aware of any communist states. Perhaps Soviet Russia for the first five seconds before Lenin took over? Even that isn't the best picture. Russia didn't have class distinction like Marx envisioned, which is why it was an "agrarian revolution", a shortcut to communism as you will. A country is supposed to become industrialized(like the US and Europe), and then slowly turn to socialism(as Europe is). Of course I haven't read up on communism in years so I might be a little off. I do know that there is no good example of Communism that got off-ground. Catalonia was a fairly interesting one though.
- LungGravy, on 02/02/2008, -1/+7As far as Feinsteins version, I wrote her, and the following is part of her response:
"I introduced an amendment on the Senate floor that would limit this grant of immunity. Under my amendment, cases against the telecommunications companies would go to the FISA Court for judicial review. The Court would only provide immunity if it finds that the alleged assistance was not provided, that assistance met legal requirements, or that a company had a good faith, reasonable belief that assistance was legal."
Now does this make sense?
Conditions under which Immunity would be provided:
1) "the alleged assistance was not provided"
- Okay, why does this warrant immunity...they didn't do anything.
2) "that assistance met legal requirements"
- If it met legal requirements why would immunity be warranted? Immunity from what?
3) "or that a company had a good faith, reasonable belief that assistance was legal."
- What ever happened to "ignorance of the law is no excuse?" Do you really think that the legal dept. of these huge corporations can't make sense of the law. On the issue of the wholesale passing of regional domestic communications over to the NSA unfiltered, of which there are cases pending litigation as we speak, FISA is so explicitly clear that even I can understand it. Read it for yourself, it's brief and to the point: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/50/usc_sec_50_0 ...
The immunity from prosecution would also shield them from several other laws prohibiting them from many of their alleged actions. To include the Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2522), the Communications Act (47 U.S.C. § 605.), Stored Communications (Act, 18 U.S.C § 2702), not to mention the 1st and 4th amendment.
She's saying that she'd propose immunity not only for those who provided assistance but for those who did not, of those that did, both for those who did so legally and those who only believed the were acting lawfully. WTF! She says that her amendment would "limit this grant of immunity" proposed by the Whitehouse. Well *****, not by much as far as I can tell. - gadgetlust, on 02/02/2008, -0/+6See #11
- PhilMoskowitz, on 02/02/2008, -1/+7That's pure fail right there. Congratulations on your completely lack of conceptualization of fascism.
- mmd643, on 02/02/2008, -4/+10As a libertarian I find it funny that you pick sides and don't see that Bush has taken this country in a fascist direction. People so want to move us in the direction of socialism and the welfare state are no better, but Bush has definitely hurt this country in many ways. Breaking laws, bending the rules and doing whatever necessary to forward his "correct" agenda.
Please stop looking at this as Red vs. Blue and instead as right vs. wrong. - Bakrain, on 02/02/2008, -1/+6I'm reading "The end of America" by Naomi Wolf, the parallels are amazing.
- Bhima, on 02/02/2008, -0/+5If the telco's get prosecuted I'm sure they'll be telling just who asked them to break the law... thus the Bush administration will get theirs
- adooga, on 02/02/2008, -1/+6Socialism != fascism.
- inactive, on 02/02/2008, -0/+5Do you really think that something is going to be so radically changed? The corporate money and power have death grip on our "democratic" system in Washington. The only way to change something is to mobilize people to blast their elected representatives with endless telephone calls of outrage. We have witnessed such event in case of "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" - People have spoken and their voice was so loud that corrupted politicians and corporate lobbyists in Washington run for cover.
- nirav72, on 02/02/2008, -1/+6Got any proof of that?
- GhostBear, on 02/02/2008, -2/+7Fascist
- PhilMoskowitz, on 02/02/2008, -1/+6Do any of you people take any social science anymore?
- skags, on 02/02/2008, -0/+5Not entirely true, that site has since posted an update:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080126/13203876 ...
I don't know if I would label this a sign of fascism, buts its certainly an unfair legal tactic that should not be allowed by our legal system. -
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