The USA: A Fascist Nation
Fascism is:
"Fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victim-hood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
Fascism is associated by many scholars with one or more of the following characteristics: a very high degree of nationalism, economic corporatism, a powerful, dictatorial leader who portrays the nation, state or collective as superior to the individuals or groups composing it.
Nationalism is:
Nationalists define individual nations on the basis of certain criteria, which distinguish one nation from another; and determine "who is a member of each nation". These criteria might include a shared language, culture, and/or shared values which are predominantly represented within a specific ethnic group. National identity refers both to these defining criteria, and to the shared heritage of each group. Membership in a nation is usually involuntary and determined by birth.
Nationalism sees most human activity as national in character. Nations have national symbols, a national culture, a national music and national literature; national folklore, a national mythology and - in some cases - even a national religion. Individuals share national values and a national identity' admire the national hero, eat the national dish and play the national sport.
Corporatism is:
Contemporary popular usage of the term is more pejorative, especially when used as the shorter form corporatism (corporativism usually implies only the Italian construct indicating public rather than private organizing), emphasizing the role of business corporations in government decision-making at the expense of the public. The power of business to affect government legislation through lobbying and other avenues of influence in order to promote their interests is usually seen as detrimental to those of the public. In this respect, corporatism may be characterized as an extreme form of regulatory capture, and is also termed corporatocracy. If there is substantial military-corporate collaboration it is often called militarism or the military-industrial complex.
How this applies to the USA as it is presently:
Anti-immigration, animosity towards the National anthem in Spanish, renewal of right-winged ideals and religion are all examples of nationalism. The government's endorsement of oil companies is an example of corporatism. It is no coincidence most of Bush's cabinet and VP are associated with oil companies. And with Bush's complete disregard for the constitution, as evidenced by unconstitutional wire-tappings, he obviously thinks he's better than the law. Because people have to abide by the law, that means Bush feels better than the general populace. Too bad he's an idiot
"Fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victim-hood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
Fascism is associated by many scholars with one or more of the following characteristics: a very high degree of nationalism, economic corporatism, a powerful, dictatorial leader who portrays the nation, state or collective as superior to the individuals or groups composing it.
Nationalism is:
Nationalists define individual nations on the basis of certain criteria, which distinguish one nation from another; and determine "who is a member of each nation". These criteria might include a shared language, culture, and/or shared values which are predominantly represented within a specific ethnic group. National identity refers both to these defining criteria, and to the shared heritage of each group. Membership in a nation is usually involuntary and determined by birth.
Nationalism sees most human activity as national in character. Nations have national symbols, a national culture, a national music and national literature; national folklore, a national mythology and - in some cases - even a national religion. Individuals share national values and a national identity' admire the national hero, eat the national dish and play the national sport.
Corporatism is:
Contemporary popular usage of the term is more pejorative, especially when used as the shorter form corporatism (corporativism usually implies only the Italian construct indicating public rather than private organizing), emphasizing the role of business corporations in government decision-making at the expense of the public. The power of business to affect government legislation through lobbying and other avenues of influence in order to promote their interests is usually seen as detrimental to those of the public. In this respect, corporatism may be characterized as an extreme form of regulatory capture, and is also termed corporatocracy. If there is substantial military-corporate collaboration it is often called militarism or the military-industrial complex.
How this applies to the USA as it is presently:
Anti-immigration, animosity towards the National anthem in Spanish, renewal of right-winged ideals and religion are all examples of nationalism. The government's endorsement of oil companies is an example of corporatism. It is no coincidence most of Bush's cabinet and VP are associated with oil companies. And with Bush's complete disregard for the constitution, as evidenced by unconstitutional wire-tappings, he obviously thinks he's better than the law. Because people have to abide by the law, that means Bush feels better than the general populace. Too bad he's an idiot