IDENTIFYING FASCISM

CAN IT HAPPEN HERE?

Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, studied the fascist regimes of Hitler ( Germany ), Mussolini ( Italy ), Franco ( Spain ), Suharto ( Indonesia ), and Pinochet ( Chile ).  He found the regimes all had 14 things in common, and he calls these the Identifying Characteristics of Fascism.

The 14 characteristics are:  

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism:

Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs and other such paraphernalia.  Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.  

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights:

Because fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need”.  

The people tend to ‘look the other way’ or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoner, etc.  

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause:

The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, or other, usually benign groups.  These groups are shown to be the cause of concern for the country, because of economic effect or military attack.  

Supremacy of the Military:

Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected.  Soldiers and military service are glamorized.  

Rampant Sexism:

The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated.  Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid.  Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.  

Controlled Mass Media:

Sometimes the media is directly controlled by government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or through sympathetic media spokespeople and executives.  Censorship, especially in wartime, is very common.  

Obsession with National Security:

Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.  

Religion and Government are Intertwined:

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion.  Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.  

Corporate Power is Protected:

The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.  

Labor Power is Suppressed:

Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely or are severely suppressed.  

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts:

Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia.  It is not uncommon for professors and other academias to be censored or even arrested.  Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.  

Obsession with Crime and Punishment:

Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws.  The people are often willing to overlook police abuses, and even forego civil liberties, in the name of patriotism.  There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.  

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption:

Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions, and who use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability.  It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Fraudulent Elections:

Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham.  Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against (or even the assassination of) opposition candidates, the use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and the manipulation of the media.  Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

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“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country.  Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”

                        Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864

Be American, Buy American  

When you purchase American made products, you are ensuring employment for a fellow American, and the job you may save may be your own.  Many people do not make the connection between the items they purchase and the individuals who manufacture such items.  Purchasing American made products is not just about patriotism, it’s more like economic survival for the working class.  The American economy has been the envy of the world for many years.  A major part in it’s appeal is the fact that the average blue collar citizens have been able to take part in the so-called American dream; a job, a house and raising a family.  If the current economic practices continue, we may very well see a fall of the middle class and become similar to third world nations having two classes of people; The very rich and the very poor.  A perfect example of good American jobs being swept away and relocated to countries with cheap labor was the signing of NAFTA.

The North American Free Trade Agreement was just a fancy slogan which guaranteed that good paying American jobs were heading South to Mexico .  In addition to the benefits of cheap labor, big corporations got a free pass on environmental protection laws and any federal laws that would protect the workers.  It’s simple, if the factory is not in America , they don’t have to adhere to American laws.  It has been certified that about ½ million Americans have lost their jobs due to NAFTA.  These figures are actually higher when you include related employment such as trucking, parts manufacturing plants and suppliers and of course the local restaurants and stores that were devastated when the plants shut down and ran down south to Mexico to save a few dollars in labor.  (www.union-network.org)  There is one thing for sure at these Mexican plants, the products they make won’t say “MADE IN AMERICA”.  Unfortunately, the average American consumer doesn’t check the label, they just want to save money.  

But are we as Americans saving money by purchasing cheap foreign products?  When we give our money to foreign companies and foreign labor, we lose tax revenue.  Taxes that pay for schools, libraries, roads, military and all our social infrastructure are lost.  We end up making up this loss by paying higher federal and state taxes. So we save a few coins at the cash register, but dole out a few more dollars come tax time.  Not a very smart trade off. (www.purchaseAmerica.com).  

Many Americans get confused when they see trusted American corporation names on products.  They assume that since the company is American, the product was made in America .  This is not always true.  Companies such as GE, Ford, Westinghouse and many others have relocated their factories overseas and to Mexico to exploit the low wage workers and then ship the products back to the United States for retail sale.  It’s criminal that successful American companies who acquired their success from the hard work of Americans, fire their employees, move their jobs abroad and then bring the products back to America to sell.  

Then there is that ridiculous idea that Americans don’t need or want manufacturing jobs.  This was popular rhetoric being passed as fact during the boom economic time during the mid to late 90’s.  It was said that Americans would all be employed in the high tech and service industries.  There is not enough space in those fields to employ an entire nation and the wages in the service industry are not exactly a living wage that can support a family.  America needs to bring back manufacturing jobs.   

Even though it should seem obvious that we need to bring back manufacturing in America , our politicians still don’t get it.  They continue to support allegiance to every new trade organization that pops up all over the world.  The end result of signing on with these trade agreements are all the same.  More American jobs are lost and our trade deficit shoots up.  They also contribute to a conditions called “underemployment”, which is a situation where people have a job but do not make a decent livable wage to survive. (www.TradeAlert.org/view)  

What can you do to help American workers?  First thing is to support American made products when you can.  Next time when you are shopping at a retail store, ask the clerk or management where the American made products are.   If they don’t have any ask why.  There should be at least an option to buy American made products.  If a department store hears their customers requesting this often enough, they will respond by seeking out domestic suppliers.  Also, check the label for the American made logo.  Don’t be fooled by the company’s name.  If it was made in America , the product will have a “Made in America ” tag or sticker on it.   

The internet is an excellent place to find companies that manufacture or sell American made products.  Support these companies and let other companies and stores know that you want an American made option available when you are shopping.  

Keep an open mind when listening to politicians and leaders when they preach about all the good things that come from all these free trade agreements we are signing lately.  Free trade only works on a level playing field.  The American worker is not on the same level playing field when compared to sweat shop workers in third world nations.  

“Be American, Buy American”, it might be the most important investment you will ever make.

                                    Dan Hunt, IBEW Local 756

MEMBERS’ CORNER

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