Timothy Sexton Presents

 

Might America become a Fascist Country?

---

Too late, it already is. Wait, before you dismiss this as the ravings of a Bush hater, do you know what fascism really is? Probably one of the best set of definitions that everyone can understand comes from a paper written in 2004 by political scientist Dr Laurence Britt. His “14 points” give the lay person an easy understanding of what classic fascism is. Most people hear the word and automatically think of the Nazi regime and Adolph Hitler. While the Nazi’s were fascist, all fascists aren’t Nazis.

 

I challenge anyone to read the “14 points” written by Dr. Britt and not see the current American political, religious, and corporate climates. After each of Dr Britt’s points I will offer some observations.

1.      Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism

From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often       bordered on xenophobia.

-The silly slogans like “fight ‘em over there so we don’t have to fight ‘em here,” the hero worship attitude toward anyone in the military, the attacks on anyone who questions the occupation of Iraq, all current examples.

2.      Disdain for the importance of human rights

The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those who were being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

-Abu Gharib? Gitmo? Extraordinary rendition? Illegal wiretapping? Scrapping the Geneva Conventions? The “I can’t recall” testimony? More recently, the dehumanization of illegal immigrants.

3.      Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause

The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of                                  scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

-Most recently, the scapegoating of Hillary Clinton because she had the audacity to ask the Pentagon about their exit strategy, the visceral attacks on brown-skinned immigrants, the incessant fear mongering, the hate against groups like the ACLU or anyone that doesn’t follow their twisted visions.

4.      The supremacy of the military/avid militarism

Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

-A discussion can’t even begin with the Bush supporters about ending the occupation of Iraq without those questioning the policies being labeled “unpatriotic,” the almost mythological heroism attached to anyone who is in the military, regardless of the circumstances of their service, the obscenely bloated military budgets.

5.      Rampant sexism

Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

-The right side of Christianity has always been male-dominated with a subservient position for women, just as fundamentalist Islam is. The visceral hatred felt toward homosexuals has been useful, and is now being augmented with anti-immigrant slogans.

6.      A controlled mass media

Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

 

-First the obvious – Fox News – has there ever been a more vocal mouthpiece for the right wing agenda? More subtly, there remains the fact that major media outlets are corporate owned, and operate in the interest of the corporations who own them. There is a natural tendency to avoid reporting news that would harm that self-interest.

7.      Obsession with national security

Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

-We are told that national security is the reason behind keeping secrets, placing cronies and political operatives in high positions, lying to Congress and the public, ignoring basic Constitutional precepts, “needing” to torture, and why we must go outside of the rule of law. We have a president and a vice president who feel that laws are for commoners, not for them or their corporate and religious partners.

8.      Religion and ruling elite tied together

Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

-The melding of religion and government has been the primary focus of a good part of the evangelical community in America since Reagan. It has been very successful under the current president. Religious leaders have been very successful in getting their people into government. From the 150+ graduates of Pat Robertson’s “law school” currently working in the Bush Administration to the school boards and courts of America, they have been on a mission to infiltrate and then control government. And a more recent phenomenon is the favoring of excess by the religious right. They proclaim that it is God’s will for them to take control of every segment of public life. And that it is also his will for some to be rich.

9.      Power of corporations protected

Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

-The power of the corporation has exceeded the power of the individual in America. Corporations are more protected from debt and liability, and taxed less. They are also given more sway in Washington. When Reagan took office, there were 500 registered lobbyists in Washington. Now, there are over 35,000. Incidentally, that number has more than doubled under the current Mr. Bush. Corporations call the shots when big legislation comes up, and they also keep legislation they don’t like from coming up at all.

10.  Power of labor suppressed or eliminated

Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

-Working class citizens are finding they have less economic security while also having more economic stress. The health care system is eating up more and more of their earnings, while providing them with less service. Diversion, that most favored tactic by fascist leaders, is being employed. We are tacitly led to believe that the pressure on the working classes isn’t coming from the government or corporations; it is the fault of the immigrant or the civil rights movement.

11.  Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts

Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

-While the current generation of fascist-leaning leaders recognizes the value of mindless entertainment when it comes to distracting the masses, they also are seeking more and more to control the output. Especially when it comes to education. They don’t want good education for everyone. That’s why college costs are skyrocketing and public k-8 education is under attack. The elites want separate systems for them and theirs, and don’t want the rest of us to have education beyond what is needed for basic service jobs. Of course, they also want an educated upper middle class of technicians, engineers, doctors and lawyers. But they want it to be small and politically inline.

12.  Obsession with crime and punishment

Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

-America incarcerates more of its population than any other country, and that trend will only continue as we add more “wars on.” The “war on drugs” hasn’t done anything to really restrict drugs, but it has greatly increased the prison population. This does two things. First, it provides more potential for prisoners to held. If America is to begin imprisoning political opponents, it needs a place to keep them. Secondly, it provides for a cheap labor pool. Expect internment of illegal aliens to expand, and for them to be used for labor.

13.  Rampant cronyism and corruption

Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

-The Katrina debacle, Halliburton and KBR, record oil company profits, Enron, The looming home mortgage collapse, the fact that one percent of America controls more than 15 percent of it’s wealth, the Attorney General being a lying stooge for Bush, and more. The investigations exposing Alberto Gonzales as a lie and fraud are just the tip of a very large iceberg. This is really the first line of investigation that Democrats took after winning majorities. It was expected to be one of the more minor. The stench of the Bush Administration will take years to wash clean from the halls of Washington.

14.  Fraudulent elections

Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

 

-The last two elections have been manipulated by eliminating and/or intimidating voters, questionable counting methods, and all of the other methods described above.

What we have seen come to pass in America over the past six years is really an end to a process began decades ago. Many conservatives have been determined to undermine the success of F.D.R.’s New Deal, and have embraced fascist idealism to one degree or another. Going back even more, you find the ideals of the Robber Baron capitalists of the late 1800’s and on up to the Great Depression were very much in favor of what would later be dubbed fascism. From Henry Ford to Prescott Bush, American industrialists felt corporations and the profits derived from them should be the primary benefactor of government. Many were very sympathetic to the views of the WWII despots, especially Mussolini. Those who subscribe to this line of thought also have very little regard for the common person. They see most people as existing to keep the machine moving, and to keep consuming. They don’t want outright serfdom, just close. They still want people to have enough to buy things.

What they don’t seem to realize is that unrestrained profit machines always lead to economic disaster. The next Great Depression is being minted now. The “profit like there is no tomorrow” attitude is going to come home to roost, unless dramatic action is taken soon. When the economy does crash, the danger will increase. Religious zealots will be even more emboldened. Immigrants will become targets of blame.

They also want perpetual war. Not all-out, full commitment war. Just enough war to keep the profits coming, and the war machine whipped up. Just enough war to keep a region on edge enough so that multi-billion dollar arms deals stay the norm. There isn’t nearly as much money to be made from peace.

It is unfortunate, in a way, that what Hitler did so burned the word fascism into the minds of people that they fail to see it in front of them. Actually, the opposite might be true, it might, end the end, show us just how horrible fascism can become, and drive us away from it.

---

Jeff Musall is one of the leading lights for progressive thoughts on the internet.  Please be sure to visit Jeff Musall's AssociatedContent page here and read what else he has uncovered about the NeoCon plan to rule the world. 

---

Carol Gilbert is one of Associated Content’s most interesting and thoughtful producers.  She remains something of an enigma while writing very informatively on a broad range of topics.  I encourage you to check out her stuff. 

Let me pretend to be Robert Novak: are you now or have you ever been an undercover CIA agent? Come on, you know what I'm talking about.

[REDACTED] could tell you but [REDACTED] probably would not do so.

I have experienced international intrigue in multifaceted contexts, observed unusual events and employed uniquely strategic and surreptitious remedies to alter circumstances that could be described as [REDACTED.]

You can read about some of these experiences in my articles.

Re: a specific recent request to CIA for information that could be deemed relevant to this question, CIA has asserted that responsive information is classified to protect CIA's sources and methods.

 Do you actually travel a lot or are you just a good researcher?

Although I'm a solid researcher and write some research-based travel articles, my favorites are based on personal experience. How can a research-based travel article compare with a tantalizing topic like being stranded in Europe during the air traffic controllers' strike or having someone plant a story in a newspaper that you're an undercover FBI agent who sneaked into Israel under a false pretext?

Even my more traditional travel articles reflect personal experience. Before I wrote about the scalawag who lost his sock in Lauterbach, for example, I researched the subject here in the U.S. and came up empty-handed. Only by interviewing people in the tiny Hessian town of Lauterbach, Germany did I uncover the details of the scalawag story.

 In addition to travel articles, you also write a lot of product reviews. What's the single greatest product you ever bought and the single worst product?

It's probably because I' m technologically compromised, but I adore my flash drive. Being able to carry data and photos from one computer to another is useful particularly because of the propensity of the computers and printers in our house to become persnickety. I always found the process of making CDs cumbersome.

As far as the worst consumer product, it just might be the Hoover vacuum cleaner I wrote about earlier this year- the one that doesn't suck, can't locate allergens, drops parts like flies during vacuuming... Don't get me started about that vacuum cleaner.

 What item would you like to see invented and sold for three easy installments of $29.99?

This is an intriguing question. I often think of things that ought to be invented. But at this moment, nothing comes to mind,

 You are kind enough to almost always leave a comment on my articles. How much time per day do you devote to Associated Content, whether writing, reading, or commenting?

The time I spend varies tremendously. I tend to write in spurts and then spend time catching up on reading and commenting on other CPs' articles. I was probably spending 5 or 6 hours a day on AC work during the school year, but I have spent a lot less time this summer with the kids at home. I would rather spend a lot of time putting together an article that I like than to rush through a bunch of less carefully crafted pieces. The extent to which that sentiment prevails is in direct proportion to the extent to which I have an affinity for the subject matter of the article.

 Is there any particular Associated Content article you read and said to yourself, "I wish I had written that"?

I do have that feeling now and then, especially when something is delightfully quirky. Most recently it was the article written by Dahloan Hembree about a real school of wizardry in the United States that triggered that feeling.

 When, where and how did you first begin writing with an eye toward making money?

I remember writing an 8 page story when I was 8 years old and thinking I was on my way to being a novelist, but I don't recall my financial expectations at that time. When I actually started writing for money was just after college. I wrote for two Massachusetts newspapers, the Middlesex News and the Patriot Ledger. These newspapers covered all the small towns—everything the Boston Globe didn't cover-and I wrote about events, accidents, planning meetings, theater performances- essentially anything that was happening. Since then my work has always included writing though I was not a writer per se. For many years I worked as an attorney and wrote memos and legal briefs, which felt very confining. My creativity was seriously stifled though I think it crept through on occasion. I am told that people generally don't use the word "putrid" in business memos, though I was the one person who could get away with it.

 Your content features some really terrific advice for parents. Do you have any advice for balancing writing with raising young children?

The thirst to create will still be there tomorrow, but the children will be grown. Make spending time with the children a priority. Enjoy this special time when they're young.

Assuming that they don't get all of your time, it is a challenge to write with them around. I try to write late at night, which is when my most inspired ideas surface, or while they're in school. Otherwise, I have too much "help" and too many distractions.

 Ok, let's get down to the brass meat of the matter. Would the world be better off if Saddam Hussein was still in control of Iraq and Jeb Bush had not stolen the Florida vote for his brother?

Answering the second point first, yes, the world would most definitely be a better place if Bush had never been declared the winner of the Presidential election. Our country's world reputation has plummeted with Bush in the White House and his friends rampaging the continents like plundering pirates. One thing that always sticks in my mind about Bush is that shot of him in the Florida school room when he was informed that terrorists had just attacked the World Trade Center by flying jets into it. Remember that dumb look? No sense of leadership whatsoever. He sat there and waited twenty minutes for someone to tell him what to do.

The Saddam Hussein element is a bit more complicated. Saddam Hussein was not a positive presence on the world scene but he was a leader of a sovereign nation. Our nation needs to respect that. There are subtle and effective ways to influence international affairs—positive and persuasive ways rather than heavy-handed and coercive ones—that could and should have been employed to help those members of Iraq's population who were oppressed by Saddam Hussein. There is simply no justification for Bush and friends' invasion of Iraq, destroying the country on the double pretext of helping oppressed people and preventing future use of nonexistent WMDs. To push the question to its limits—Saddam alive and running Iraq today v. the Iraq War—I guess I'd reluctantly choose Saddam from these two unpalatable choices with the idea that the United States of America could help the Iraqis, influence Saddam, and work on legitimate means of freeing oppressed Iraqis from the excesses of Saddam's regime. By destroying the country, Bush and his puppeteers have killed and hurt more Iraqis than Saddam Hussein did and traumatized a future generation. They have also destroyed our country's credibility among the nations of the world.

 Is there any GOP Presidential candidate that you think capable of pulling this country out of the multitude of messes made by Bush? Any Democratic candidate?

The next candidate, regardless of party, needs to focus on creating a positive and enduring image of our country. What reputation do we want to enjoy in the world community? What steps will convince the world of U.S. sincerity and commitment? Rather than focus on the narrow issue of fixing the voluminous negatives created by Bush, I think we need to look at the issue more globally and with both long term and short term objectives—ours and the rest of the world's—in mind. Our country can't afford to undergo a drastic personality change every time a new leader is elected. Nor can we continue to force our short term interests at the expense of the rest of the planet. Did you ever see the bar graph that compares U.S. oil consumption to that of something like 20 other nations? I don't have it in front of me, but it shows that our consumption alone tops the cumulative total of those other countries. And they weren't small, nonindustrialized countries on that list. Or look at treaties that we won't sign onto even though they're good for the world as a whole, because certain U.S.-based business interests oppose them. We need a balanced approach that is respectful of other countries' needs and interests as well as our own.

At present, the U.S. is viewed as a bully, a spoiled child, a self-centered exploiter. I would like to see our next President cultivate a reputation for our country as a reflective, reasoned, flexible, compassionate, open-minded and enthusiastic member of the world community. The best candidate for the job is the one who can do that, while standing up to all the pressures of interest groups, and right now I'm not sure who that is.

 Who would you like to see run for President who is not already in the race?

I suspect that you and Bruno Somerset both want the job. If you ran against each other, we would be guaranteed an AC President. And the Barefoot could stop worrying about who Ron Paul is.

 Who do you think would win in a fist fight: Jesus or Gandhi?

When I stop laughing, I'll try to focus on that contest.

 What is the most beautiful place you've ever been?

There are so many different types of beauty in the world, it's hard to limit myself. I loved the physical beauty of the wild Spanish countryside driving down the coastline; the terraced groves of olive and fruit trees in the Tuscan farmland; the stiletto beaked birds poking around in the verdant grasses of the Netherlands marshland; the majestic snow caps on the Alpine glaciers. It is impossible for me to say one specific scene was more beautiful than the rest. And then there are the other types of beauty: the beauty of a people eager to embrace political reform upon the opening of the Iron Curtain; the simple generosity of the Guatemalans grateful to hear a foreigner speak their language and eager to help her perfect it; the hospitality of the German families who welcomed me into their homes; all of the smiles, the encouraging words, the advice and the interest from fellow travelers and residents alike in one country after another. There is so much beauty in this world and I'm eager to go find more of it.

 What can Associated Content readers expect from Carol Gilbert in the fall?

I am always scheming to incorporate international travel into my schedule. I'm not sure when my next trip will be but you can be sure I am plotting ways to make it sooner rather than later.

A very exciting opportunity has also come my way, one I am actually hesitant to talk much about. I have been invited to submit a script treatment based on one of my AC articles to a movie producer. For those unfamiliar with the film-making business, that is the first step toward selling a movie producer a screenplay. I am really excited to have this opportunity but don't want to say any more about it at this early stage.

One subject I would like to write more about is the American educational system. Our schools are not preparing students for the 21st century. Where are the early elementary foreign language courses? Why are computers used to play educational games that support other areas of the curriculum instead of to learn about computer science and research? Why is there not a mandate to educate all children to their fullest potential including our most highly gifted students, those who have so much to contribute to the world but need educational experience far beyond the reach of the current curriculum to excel? When are we going to start teaching our children about other countries and their cultures and political systems in the same manner that those countries teach their students about ours? We have a lot of work to do if our students are to be prepared for their role as responsible world citizens.