Dino Louis: The Nature of Fascism and its precursorsExcerpted from the book:The 15% Solution: A Political History of American Fascism, 2001-2022 |
1. There may or may not be a single charismatic leader in charge of the government, i.e., a "dictator".
2. Government establishes and enforces the rules of "right" thinking, "right" action, and "right" religious devotion.
3. There is no constitution recognized by all political forces as having an authority beyond that stated by the government in power, to which that government is subject. The rule of men, not law, is supreme.
4. Official or unofficial force, internal terror, and routine torture of captured opponents are major means of government control.
5.The fascist takeover of the government of a major power always leads to foreign war, sooner or later.
6. Racism, homophobia, misogyny, and national chauvinism are major factors in national politics and policy-making.
7. All communications media are government-owned or otherwise government-controlled.
8. Built as it on terror, repression, and an ultimately fictional/delusional representation of historical, political, and economic reality, fascism is inherently unstable and always carries with it the seeds of its own destruction. To date, such seeds have always sprouted in a relatively short period of time.
9. There are few or no employee rights or protections, including the right of workers to bargain collectively. Only government approved labor unions or associations are permitted to exist, and that approval may be removed at any time, without prior notice.
10. The economy is based on capitalism, with a tight central control of the distribution of resources among the producers, and strict limitations on the free market for labor.
11. All entertainment, music, art, and organized sport is controlled by the government.
12. There is no recognition of inherent personal rights. Only the government can grant "rights". Any "rights" granted by the government may be diminished or removed by it from any individual or group at any time without prior notice, explanation, or judicial review. Thus, there is no presumed freedom of speech, press, religion, or even belief, automatically accompanying citizenship. There are no inherent or presumed protections against any violations of personal liberty committed by law-enforcement or other government agencies.
13. There is complete executive branch control of government policy and action. There is no independent judicial or legislative branch of government.
14. There is only one political party, and no mass organizations of any kind other than those approved by the government are permitted.
Ten or eleven of these precursors were recognizable during the Bush administration.
Subscribe to the Rightardia feed: feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/IGiu
