Benito Mussolini: ”Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”
Consider the following characteristics of fascism:
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
NOW – consider how many, how much, of these characteristics have, are occurring in America; how much, how many, do certain people and groups WANT. to achieve these characteristics
1]. nationalism exists in many forms, often as “us – vs- them”; or, ”my country, right or wrong” [usually said when a country is guilty of serious misconduct].
2]. this is now playing out in courts and streets; select groups are victims of prejudice and injury
3] rampant in some quarters; a post-1915 staple; serious escalation since 2016
4]. the Pentagon can’t pass an audit; see Eisenhower’s two warnings on “military-industrial complex”
5]. women don’t vote, 1789-1920; experience “glass ceiling” since; expected to tolerate unwanted male attention
[some rebuffed males kill]; significant numbers of women will be raped
6]. media in USA not controlled by government – but IS controlled by big money {stories will NOT be discussed: media learn to self-censor [to avoid unpleasant consequences}
8]. this. IS. the post-1980 Republican Party; strenuous efforts made, 1980-202x made to create a right-wing “Christian” theocracy - visible in numerous punitive laws restricting ‘un-Christian’ behaviors
9}. see “Citizens United” and numerous McConnell-Leo-Roberts “supreme court’ decisions in THE. most :business-friendly “supreme court” since 1945; see corrupt Congressional laws, 1865-202x
10]. numerous big “American” corporations are OPENLY hostile – some have moved a business if a union won certification; law firms specialize in union-busting; ”right-to-work” states; use of government force to break strikes
11]. in the internet age, everybody is an “expert” [even people who are OBVIOUSLY not]; open attacks in media on real experts [education and training means nothing – “You” have ‘common sense’!!!]; if true intellectuals are brought down to common levels – then why listen to them?
12]. the USA is #1 in prison population!!!; Nixon”s “War on drugs” a documented failure was a cynical ploy against two groups of “enemies: ”law and order” is a BIG political wedge issue for the Far Right.
With Justice For All 