Shotgun said:
X, I just didn't find much of that list applicable.
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism---maybe, but only when the US has been attacked.
Yes. Since 9/11 the symbols of 'nationalism' have increased exponentially.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights----few Americans show this, the left's jihad for "Ass-croft" are taken by most for what they are...petty partisan attacks. There are some exceptions of course.
My critique here comes from reading Irving Kristol, Strauss, Machiavelli, etc. who do, in fact, consider democracy bothersome. They each believe that it is the right of the strong to rule the weak .. not the priviledge, but the right. While this might not be acceptable public discourse for this adminstration, it does not necessarily imply that it is not prevalent. As for Ass-Croft, I do think you can point to the Patriot Act and note some of the infringements outlined there in the name of 'national security.'
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause---I know what the Nazis said about Jews...I have yet to see anyone in power in the US say anything similar about Arabs, gays, blacks, or Republicans.
www.frontpagemag.com, for example. Not the administration, but it is one of the leading NeoCon propaganda rags out there. On their home page, just review the headlines. You really needn't go much further than that.
Following two decades of extreme PC-ness, you and I both know that Bush et al aren't stupid enough to say 'those damn Arabs trying to take over our country' ... but you cannot deny that there is not an anti-Arab sentiment being paraded around. 'Take the fight to the terrorists', for example, implies that the admin believes that terrorists were in Iraq before the war, or that all anti-American Arab nations qualify as terrorist. Using the Chechen issues as part of the 'war on terror' when it is really a civil matter, qualifies as well. In contrast, I've not once heard Bush et al or any of the major media talk about the IRA as being part of the war on terror. Of course they aren't, they're white.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. "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."--isn't happening here.
You're *CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR* kidding me, right? a. Nationalism is the direct opposite of Internationalism .... the US military was most certainly used to demonstrate US supreme sovereignty. b. the national goals, in the mind of the NeoCon, is ultimate American hegemony, and this is precisely what your military was used for. (by contrast, a NeoLiberal would use trade and culture.) c. you don't think the Iraq war had anything to do with scaring the *CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR**CENSOR* out of the rest of the world? Seriously? Why all the applause when Lybia disarmed, then? d. American power has certainly been used to increase the power of the elite in the US. Moreso, though, the Iraqi Constitution, influenced of course by the presence of the US military, has given unprecedented rights to foreign corporations who, you might note, have to get the US gov'ts permission before they can set up shop there. This is why the handover date had to be adhered to ... the Geneva conventions don't allow foreign occupiers to usurp property from the country they're occupying .. they impose a hand-picked 'Iraqi' gov't and *presto* they have permission. None of which would have been possible without the US military.
5. Rampant sexism. Not in the US, though I do get a kick out of the belief that you are sexist if you are anti-abortion.
Puffing up Bush to make him look macho is another example. The 'Mission Accomplished' outfit comes to mind. All the pictures of George in the cowboy hat, the axe in his hand on earth day, etc. all for a guy who, by all accounts, is NONE of these things. He's not a logger, or a cowboy, or a rancher ... he's a spoiled rich kid made to look like the average tough guy. I especially find it so funny because he is really is a feeble man. But they make him look tough. Because the tough-guy role, in the US (ask Schwarzeneggar about his Girlie Men comments) is what you want when you're trying to rally the country around one big military cause.
6. A controlled mass media. Nope.
No? The FCC, chaired by Powell's son, hasn't paved the way for mass media control? Put aside your 'liberal media' beliefs and work with me a second -- 80% of all American media is now owned by six major corporations, five of which are owned by single individuals. Think about that. That's five people the controlling what information you do or do not get. It matters not at all if a Republican or Democrat is in charge of the White House, this is a dangerous prospect.
7. Obsession with national security---I'll give you that one except I look at our open borders and scoff.
Okay.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together--- Nope
What?!? When Bush uses simpleton terminology like 'evildoers' and 'evil killers' who do you think he is talking to?? This Manchean language is specifically targetted to the Religious Right. Further, the NeoCon platform considers religion to be a vital component of any society, especially one that is democratic, as it provides a base of citizens more likely to respect authority and not question it. The writers I mentioned above harp on this point incessantly. More interesting, though, is that none of them was overly religious themselves.
9. Power of corporations protected---not too unique anywhere you go. Corporations supply the money and the jobs...they'll always get the benefit of the doubt.
Benito Mussolin said that corporatism and fascism are the same thing. It is a situation in which the corporations put the ruling elite in power and the ruling elite in turn provide opportunity (read: smash competition) for the corporations. It is why the NeoCons readily embrace the IMF and World Bank, but reject 'dangerous entanglements' such as the UN or other international treaties. The IMF and World Bank have their balls in the hands of the US -- corporatism on an international scale.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated---unions have plenty of power, though campaign finance reform has attempted to take some away.
The logic behind this point is that it would be the working class and the middle class that could rise up and put the fascist movement at risk. But most fascist movements have risen up when the middle class was threatened, generally by lower groups. It remains to be seen how this one might play out, as you watch your economic future unfold in the coming year or two. If it goes on like this, with the middle class moving closer to the working class, it could easily spawn fascism.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts---lots of disdain for artists and intellectuals in this country, but little supression. If you want to throw a crucifix in a bottle of urine and call it art, go right ahead. The problems come if these 'artists' want the government to fund their art rather than selling it to the public.
This one also is embedded in the writings of the abovementioned, but since I don't live there I'm in no position to say whether or not it is working. Kristol especially has a huge disdain for intellectuals even though he spends the first chapter of his book writing about how intellectual he is. Intellectual, in his view, is a leftist professor. This point generally comes down to aiming at dissent, which is most definitely present.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment---large prison population, but that's because of our drug policy. I don't see much of a connection between the drug policy and fascism.
Because you're focusing on the drug policy. There have been some pretty dodgy arrests labelled 'enemy combatants' have they not? Padilla, for example. This could worsen.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption---more of a local issue than national one.
Unless you factor in corporatism, in which case, it is national. This isn't specific to NeoCons, either, although they aren't above it.
14. Fraudulent elections---only applicable in Chicago, St. Louis, Philladelphia and a handful of other cities.
Or Florida. Depending on who you believe.
