I'm going to post this article, because I think it pretty much says it for itself.
"A recent study identifies characteristics common to seven fascist regimes. Laurence W. Britt examines regimes in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Chile, and Indonesia-all of them eventually overthrown - and notes these 14 patterns of national behavior that each regime engaged in to one extent or another."
"Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. This was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign.
Disdain for human rights. Victims of human rights abuse were marginalized or abuse was concealed.
Identification of scapegoats as a unifying cause. Scapegoating directed attention away from public problems and channeled frustration into controlled directions.
Avid militarism. The military was used to assert national goals, intimidate other countries, and increase the ruling elite's prestige.
Rampant sexism. Women were treated as second-class citizens. Homophobia was intensified.
A controlled mass media. Leaders of the mass media were often compatible with the regime and kept the public unaware of the regime's excesses.
Obsession with national security. A national security apparatus served as an instrument of internal repression.
Religion and ruling elite tied together. Propaganda kept up the illusion that those in power were opponents of the "godless."
Power of corporations protected. The ability of large corporations to act in relative freedom was not compromised even when personal liberties were curtailed.
Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. The poor were seen as an underclass and viewed with suspicion or contempt.
Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Artistic and academic freedom were considered subversive.
Obsession with crime and punishment. Severe systems of criminal justice produced huge prison populations. Police power was almost unchecked, leading to widespread abuse.
Rampant cronyism and corruption. The economic elite and the power elite enriched one another through unethical favoritism.
Fraudulent elections. When elections with candidates took place, they would usually be perverted by those in power to achieve the desired result.
Does this sound familiar? Ample parallels can be found between Britt's portrait of fascism and events in early 21st-century America.
Fascism is an ideology built on fear. What breaks the allure of fascism is a faith too authentic to accept lies. One form of this faith is belief in a God of compassion whose perfect love casts out fear. Another is belief in the ability of a free people to govern themselves."
http://www.thetimesherald.com/...
America should be about Hope and Possibilties, not Fear and Control.