This two-part post is not written in frustration or anger, although the actions and inactions of the Bush administration are certainly inspiring of both. It is a collection of thoughts which have developed over the last 8 years and which came into focus as I reflected on the state of the US economy and the underlying causes. More on that in the second post.
Here I want to address and clarify a charge that is often leveled at the Bush administration: that of fascism.
There is no question in my mind that the current administration is fascist. What follows is a 14-point description of fascism developed by political scientist Laurence Britt. There is such strong correspondence between the positions and actions of the Bush administration and each of the 14 points that the association of the term "fascist" with this administration can only be disputed if one disagrees with the 14 points.
While fascist regimes are usually totalitarian, it should be noted that totalitarianism is not among the 14 points, although one can argue that the continued expansion of the power of the presidency by executive fiat represents a trend towards totalitarianism as well.
14 POINTS OF FASCISM
- Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism
- Disdain for the importance of human rights
- Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause
- The supremacy of the military/avid militarism
- Rampant sexism
- A controlled mass media
- Obsession with national security
- Religion and ruling elite tied together
- Power of corporations protected
- Power of labor suppressed or eliminated
- Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts
- Obsession with crime and punishment
- Rampant cronyism and corruption
- Fraudulent elections
