Blank Discussion Topic

Halifax2TheMax said:

So, any Trump supporters want to respond to Kat's post and point out why the Trump administration is not a fascist regime, based upon the 14 characteristics? BS? PJFan? Anyone?

Kat said:

The 14 Characteristics of Fascism
by Lawrence Britt
Spring 2003
Free Inquiry magazine


Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

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

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of 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 prisoners, etc.

3. 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, etc.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 .

11. 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 academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12. 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.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and 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.

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

Copyright © 2003 Free Inquiry magazine

jeffbr said:

It looks like some CPAC attendees got punked and were given Russian flags to waive during Trump's speech there.

mrussel1 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

mrussel1 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Indifference71 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

josevolution said:

josevolution said:

The dictatorship has begun people better wake up it starts with the press !!!

If Obama administration would of banned any news outlets from WH briefings the GOP would of gone nuts !!!

meh
Everyone has a right what press they want to read or not.
President Trump is no different.
I personally don't care who he bans from his press conferences, it will make them work a lot harder for a real story.
Dictatorship? - extreme reaction
You should pay attention to the wall contracts that are being sought since other news outlets aren't.

meh?? A president picking and choosing what media can attend press briefings at the white house because he doesn't like their coverage is meh?? That's insane.

I can't believe I got sucked into responding to one of your trolling posts. I sure miss that "ignore user" option from the old forum.

You would not have uttered a peep if President Trump banned Fox news.
Except for cheering.
The irony.

No, that's not true at all. Fox News has every right to be in any press briefing. Don't try to apply your morals and standards to me. I'm actually quite consistent philosophically.

I wasn't talking to you.
However whatever Fox News reports from the press briefings would be referred to as faux news by you and others right?
Fox news has every right to be at any press briefing? - ok, find some other supporters of that statement on here.

Okay.. How many people here think that Fox had every right to be in Obama Press Briefings? How many thought they should be banned because they reported information in a way that was negative to the Obama administration?

mrussel1 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

mrussel1 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Indifference71 said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

josevolution said:

josevolution said:

The dictatorship has begun people better wake up it starts with the press !!!

If Obama administration would of banned any news outlets from WH briefings the GOP would of gone nuts !!!

meh
Everyone has a right what press they want to read or not.
President Trump is no different.
I personally don't care who he bans from his press conferences, it will make them work a lot harder for a real story.
Dictatorship? - extreme reaction
You should pay attention to the wall contracts that are being sought since other news outlets aren't.

meh?? A president picking and choosing what media can attend press briefings at the white house because he doesn't like their coverage is meh?? That's insane.

I can't believe I got sucked into responding to one of your trolling posts. I sure miss that "ignore user" option from the old forum.

You would not have uttered a peep if President Trump banned Fox news.
Except for cheering.
The irony.

No, that's not true at all. Fox News has every right to be in any press briefing. Don't try to apply your morals and standards to me. I'm actually quite consistent philosophically.

I wasn't talking to you.
However whatever Fox News reports from the press briefings would be referred to as faux news by you and others right?
Fox news has every right to be at any press briefing? - ok, find some other supporters of that statement on here.

Okay.. How many people here think that Fox had every right to be in Obama Press Briefings? How many thought they should be banned because they reported information in a way that was negative to the Obama administration?

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

So, any Trump supporters want to respond to Kat's post and point out why the Trump administration is not a fascist regime, based upon the 14 characteristics? BS? PJFan? Anyone?

Like I've stated before.
The far left has gone too far with their fear and disbelief of their current President.
This isn't happening and belongs with the comments from people about Hitler stuff.
The leftists in your country are scaring themselves to death

vaggar99 said:

jeffbr said:

It looks like some CPAC attendees got punked and were given Russian flags to waive during Trump's speech there.

this is the best. i only wish i could troll trumpsters this hard.

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

So, any Trump supporters want to respond to Kat's post and point out why the Trump administration is not a fascist regime, based upon the 14 characteristics? BS? PJFan? Anyone?

Like I've stated before.
The far left has gone too far with their fear and disbelief of their current President.
This isn't happening and belongs with the comments from people about Hitler stuff.
The leftists in your country are scaring themselves to death

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Halifax2TheMax said:

So, any Trump supporters want to respond to Kat's post and point out why the Trump administration is not a fascist regime, based upon the 14 characteristics? BS? PJFan? Anyone?

Like I've stated before.
The far left has gone too far with their fear and disbelief of their current President.
This isn't happening and belongs with the comments from people about Hitler stuff.
The leftists in your country are scaring themselves to death

Typical of your response. Which of the 14 aren't happening?

To a degree some of those are happening but with an added emphasis that impending doom is coming by some.
Even if it was just 1 out of 14 that was happening the (far) left would pounce and harp that it is fascism.
It is time for posters to explain in detail each and every single 14 point description of this article and how it is happening.
Not the other way around.
It is disturbing how some leftists think that Armageddon is here in the form of President Trump.