Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Symptoms of Fascism

A recent compilation of data from historic fascist states presents a list of symptoms that will alert one to the development of a fascists state. Laurence Britt uses the examples of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Franco’s Spain, Salazar’s Portugal, Papadopoulos’s Greece, Pinochet’s Chile, and Suharto’s Indonesiav to create this list of fourteen symptoms of a fascist state.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.

Nice list, but I don't think we need to be concerned around here, do we? Ok Folks, move on, nothing to see here.


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