What is Fascism?

Couples Company ^

[John Lenin]

What is
Fascism?

This may surprise most educated people. One of the more common government strategies today, especially in developing regions is fascism. Fascism is commonly confused with Nazism.  Nazism is a political party platform that embraces a combination of a military dictatorship, socialism and fascism.  It is not a government structure. Fascism is a government structure.

More than a class system, fascism specifically targets, dehumanizes and aims to destroy those it deems undesirable.

The most notable characteristic of a fascist country is the separation and persecution or denial of equality to a specific segment of the population based upon superficial qualities or belief systems. 

Simply stated, a fascist government always has one class of citizens that is considered superior (good) to another (bad) based upon race, creed or origin.  It is possible to be both a republic and a fascist state. The preferred class lives in a republic while the oppressed class lives in a fascist state.  Until the Civil Rights act of 1964, many parts of the US were Republic for whites and Fascist for non-Caucasian residents. Fascism promotes legal segregation in housing, national resource allocation and employment. It provides legal justification for persecuting a specific segment of the population and operates behind a two tiered legal system. One segment of society is always considered less desirable, sub-human or second class.

(Note: no single government is pure anything.  Most have elements of several structures with one dominant structure).  Below is the political definition and general characteristics of a fascist country. TOP

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1. Fascism is commonly defined as an open terror-based dictatorship which is:

• Reactionary: makes policy based upon current circumstances rather than creating policies to prevent problems; piles lies and misnomers on top of more lies until the truth becomes indistinguishable, revised or forgotten.
• Chauvinistic: Two or more tiered legal systems, varying rights based upon superficial characteristics such as race, creed and origin.
• Imperialist elements of finance capital: Extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political domination of one state over its allies.

Though a dictatorship is the most common association with fascism, a democracy or republic can also be fascist.

2. Fascism is an extreme measure taken by the bourgeoisie to forestall proletarian revolution; it thrives on the weakness of the bourgeoisie itself. It accomplishes this by embracing the middle-classes love of the status-quo, its complacency and its fears of: TOP

1. Generating a united struggle within the working class

2. Revolution

3. Losing its own power and position within society

The 7 conditions
that foster and fuel fascism are:

1. Instability of capitalist relationships or markets

2. The existence of considerable declassed social elements

3. The stripping of rights and wealth focused upon a specific segment of the population, specifically the middle class and intellectuals within urban areas as this the group with the means, intelligence and ability to stop fascism if given the opportunity.

4. Discontent among the rural lower middle class (clerks, secretaries, white collar labor). Consistent discontent among the general middle and lower middle classes against the oppressing upper-classes (haves vs have-nots).

5. Hate: Pronounced, perpetuated and accepted public disdain of a specific group defined by race, origin, theology or association.

6. Greed: The motivator of fascism which is generally associated with land, space or scarce resources in the possession of those being oppressed.

7. Organized Propaganda: The creation of social mythology that venerates (creates saints of) one element of society while concurrently vilifying (dehumanizing) another element of the population through misinformation, misdirection and the obscuring of factual matter through removal, destruction or social humiliation, (name-calling, false accusations, belittling and threats). b) The squelching of public debate not agreeing with the popular agenda via slander, libel, threats, theft, destruction, historical revisionism and social humiliation

3. Fascism concentrates each imperialist bloc (business and government sectors) into a single economic unit while concurrently increasing in-fighting and distrust between the units fostering advancement towards war. TOP

4. Fascism promotes chauvinist demagogy, junk science and obscuratinism. Fascism combines Marxist critiques of capitalism and bourgeois definitions of democracy to force its issues, confuse logic and create majority consensus between targeted groups. 

5. Both Bourgeois Democracy and Fascism are class dictatorships that use organized violence to maintain the class rule of the oppressors over the oppressed. The difference between the two is demonstrated by the policies towards non-proletarian classes.  Fascism attains power through the substitution of one state form of class domination by another form, generally bourgeois democracy segues into an open terrorist dictatorship.

Definitions

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Proletarian (adj):
1 the lowest class of citizens of ancient Rome who had no property
2: belonging to or characteristic of the proletariat (n) : a member of the working class (not necessarily employed); "workers of the world--unite!" TOP

Bourgeoisie (n): the social class between the lower and upper classes: Middle Class TOP

Imperialism  (n): The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political domination of one state over its allies and over other nations. 2: The system, policies, or practices of such a government. TOP

Demagogy (n): Impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace TOP

Obscurantism (n):

1. The principles or practice of delivering vague truths and hiding key facts.
2. A policy of withholding information from the public.
3. The act of lying through selective omission TOP

Tyranny (n):

1. A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator and is not restricted by a constitution, laws or opposition etc.
2. Dominance over a populous through threat of punishment, terrorism, oppression and violence  TOP

Autocracy (n):

1. Government by a single person having unlimited power; tyranny, dictator.
2. A country or state that is governed by a single person with unlimited power. TOP

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Those who define the words, control the speech.

[jodorowsky]

What a load of irrelevancies.

This (communist) author does not know anything at all about fascism.

[bonesmccoy]

Hmmm... interesting points. I know I've argued with you in the past about various things...but your comment about JFK is interesting. One wonders if it is related to his assassination in 1963

[Grampa Dave]

This is a link that ties in with this thread, (American Fascism)

[Grampa Dave]

This is another excellent look at socialism/facism: (A Little Secret About the Nazis (They were left-wing socialists like the modern left of today)

[XHogPilot]

Ping for later reading.

[Frances_Marion]

"what this propaganda omits is that fascism and communism are ideological twins, peas in the same collectivist pod. the only difference is that fascism openly allows a (property-controlling) ruling elite as part of the ideology - while communism pretended there wasnt (but in fact there really was, for example USSR had the "nomenklatura" of elites; consequently, Stalin's USSR and Hitler's Germany wasnt much different for the average person not in the "Party")."

Yep....Mussolini's father used to read Marx to him, and Mussolini was a communist in his "formative" years (teens/20s)... all of these propagandist pieces on the definition of fascism tend to ignore that piece of data about the father of fascism and his origins and inspiration.
Bit suspicious, no?

[SevenDaysInMay]

After two graduate degrees in economics, I believe the most defining trait of fascism, regardless of national or political self-serving party lines: top down criminally corrupt socialism. Corruption is for power and/or money, and the fruits of power are best managed through "The Party".

Conspiring elites gain effective control over a nation's leading components of the four factors of production: land, labor, management, and capital. The remainder fall in line in the face of government extortion.

When did we last do anything for our government that was not "under penalty of law", under a "living" Constitution? Our statutory and regulatory environment for individuals and private enterprise is as hostile as it is incomprehensible. We only thought we knew what the meaning of "is" is.

American fascism is thriving. Waco's Mt. Carmel JBT assault on men, women, and children in their home, Hillary Care, threats against women controlling the Bimbo Erruption, the sham Impeachment Trial of XXX42, and the W-88/Loral for the PLA are all we need to remember about how the Politburo operates. American fascism is thriving.

[FrogMom]

I agree, that the definition of fascism is off base.

I did quite a bit of research on it while trying to find out the difference between socialism and communism.

As near as I could tell, fascism is socialism with w/o some of the income re-distribution and more liberal private ownership of business, as long as the business does exactly what the government wants.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

...Fascism [is] the complete opposite of…Marxian Socialism, the materialist conception of history of human civilization can be explained simply through the conflict of interests among the various social groups and by the change and development in the means and instruments of production.... Fascism, now and always, believes in holiness and in heroism; that is to say, in actions influenced by no economic motive, direct or indirect.

Revisionist history. Marxism and Fascism both condemn capitalism. They are philosphical fraternal twins.

Nazism was inspired by Italian Fascism, an invention of hardline Communist Benito Mussolini. During World War I, Mussolini recognized that conventional socialism wasn't working. He saw that nationalism exerted a stronger pull on the working class than proletarian brotherhood. He also saw that the ferocious opposition of large corporations made socialist revolution difficult. So in 1919, Mussolini came up with an alternative strategy. He called it Fascism. Mussolini described his new movement as a ``Third Way'' between capitalism and communism. As under communism, the state would exercise dictatorial control over the economy. But as under capitalism, the corporations would be left in private hands.

Hitler followed the same game plan. He openly acknowledged that the Nazi party was ``socialist'' and that its enemies were the ``bourgeoisie'' and the ``plutocrats'' (the rich). Like Lenin and Stalin, Hitler eliminated trade unions, and replaced them with his own state-run labor organizations. Like Lenin and Stalin, Hitler hunted down and exterminated rival leftist factions (such as the Communists). Like Lenin and Stalin, Hitler waged unrelenting war against small business.

Hitler regarded capitalism as an evil scheme of the Jews and said so in speech after speech. Karl Marx believed likewise. In his essay, ``On the Jewish Question,'' Marx theorized that eliminating Judaism would strike a crippling blow to capitalist exploitation. Hitler put Marx's theory to work in the death camps.

The Nazis are widely known as nationalists, but that label is often used to obscure the fact that they were also socialists. Some question whether Hitler himself actually believed in socialism, but that is no more relevant than whether Stalin was a true believer. The fact is that neither could have come to power without at least posing as a socialist.
A Little Secret About Nazis

See also:
Socialist Origins of Neo-Nazi-ism
You Mean Hitler Wasn't a Priest?
All Socialism is National
Joseph Goebbels own words: "Those Damn Nazis", long German propaganda piece defining intent and meaning of the Nazi's....National, Socialists....left-wing, "third way."

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Fascism, now and always, believes in holiness and in heroism

There was and is nothing "holy" about Fascism, Naziism, Communism or the other socialist systems. They all conflict with Biblical teachings. Every system that claims to care about the workers while condemning employers is historically false and un-Biblical.

[Max McGarrity]

Either way, it fits the current War on Smokers.

[Great Dane]

"unholy alliance between government and big business", in which individuals own the business, but government skims off all the profits.

Which brings to mind Big Tobacco and Government.

[AdamSelene235]

Corporatism-Socialism for the bourgeois
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=3054

[Gabz]

You're correct about the attack on smokers regardless of whether this definition is correct or not..

The most notable characteristic of a fascist country is the separation and persecution or denial of equality to a specific segment of the population based upon superficial qualities or belief systems.

Simply stated, a fascist government always has one class of citizens that is considered superior (good) to another (bad) based upon race, creed or origin. It is possible to be both a republic and a fascist state. The preferred class lives in a republic while the oppressed class lives in a fascist state. Until the Civil Rights act of 1964, many parts of the US were Republic for whites and Fascist for non-Caucasian residents. Fascism promotes legal segregation in housing, national resource allocation and employment.

How many articles have we all posted epressing exactly that being done to smokers?????

It provides legal justification for persecuting a specific segment of the population and operates behind a two tiered legal system. One segment of society is always considered less desirable, sub-human or second class.

Some of the nicer categories of sub-humans we've been placed in lately include child-abusers, murderers, and pedophiles - and those are just the terms I'm permitted to print here.

[Archimedes2000]

Thanks for posting those links. Anyone who is interested in understanding this subject would do well to read them, particularly the link to Goebbels' campaign documents, such as the one you linked "Those Damn Nazi's"

BTW, that site also has a few campaign documents where Goebbels is appealing to the Nazi's main recruitment grounds, the Communists, trying to convince communists to exchange one red flag for the other.

If anyone is seriously interested in this subject, I recomment they read Goebbels' diaries, where Goebbels' laughs at the Fascists, and believes them incompetent. It's also instrutive to read Mein kampf, where hitler points out that the red flag of the national Socialists was chosen deliberately to represent the socialis aspect of the German Worker's Party, and to lure communists to the Nazi movement. (Nazi's were socialists, not fascists)

[Archimedes2000]

One other thing: You called this revisionist history when John Lenin posted it.

> ...Fascism [is] the complete opposite of…Marxian Socialism, the materialist conception of history of human civilization can be explained simply through the conflict of interests among the various social groups and by the change and development in the means and instruments of production.... Fascism, now and always, believes in holiness and in heroism; that is to say, in actions influenced by no economic motive, direct or indirect. <

It's not revisionist. If I'm not mistaken, that is Mussolini who wrote those words, and from his perspective, he's right.

Mussolini understood that marxism was class warfare. Mussolini's fascist movement in one respect was the complete opposite, where the proletariat did not demand the overthrow of the borgiouse classes. In this respect, fascism and national Socialism had commonality, since National Socialism believed all work, whether a doctor or a laborer, belonged to the working class. (Goebbels speaks of this in the pamphlet you linked)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you so much for your comments. When I called the statement Fascism [is] the complete opposite ofMarxian Socialism revisionist history, I would use Richard Poe's explanation as a defense and admit that these "isms" - Communism, Fascism, Nazism - Marx or Goebbels, Mussolini or Clinton - sound alike to me. I read the puffed-up whining of spoiled and ungrateful men who have no concept of or concern for human history. They're related by vanity, lust for power, arrogance, envy, greed - charlatans spouting weasel words...appealing to the worst in our human natures...peddling doom and blame, flattery and false promises...kindred 'isms' with that first slick 'ism' in the Garden of Eden.

I calls 'em as I sees 'em - but admit to needing glasses. (^;

Richard Poe, editor of Frontpage Magazine, sets the record straight:

Nazism was inspired by Italian Fascism, an invention of hardline Communist Benito Mussolini. During World War I, Mussolini recognized that conventional socialism wasn't working. He saw that nationalism exerted a stronger pull on the working class than proletarian brotherhood. He also saw that the ferocious opposition of large corporations made socialist revolution difficult. So in 1919, Mussolini came up with an alternative strategy. He called it Fascism. Mussolini described his new movement as a "Third Way" between capitalism and communism. As under communism, the state would exercise dictatorial control over the economy. But as under capitalism, the corporations would be left in private hands.

http://russp.org/nazis.html (A little secret about Nazis)

[couples company]

Interesting. I've never been considered a Marxist or a socialist. Libertarian, but never a Marxist.

The article on Fascism on Couples Company came into being when I was researching current events in the Middle East. The definition comes from the Library of Congress and it is it heady with big words, which is why I also include the definitions.

Like many, though I am a member of the media, I no longer trust the US Media to report accurately and unbiased on Middle East issues, especially when they include Israel. I've seen what happens in the newsrooms and what happens to reporters whom question the trend.

Most people don't realize that the US News from Israel goes through two sensors: that of their American public relations arm and that of their military before we can report it. We get one story. The rest of the world gets another. I tend to trust what the Israeli's themselves say in publications like Ha'aratz and world media out of Germany, England and other countries. Last summer, Ha'aratz mentioned that Israel was in fact succumbing to fascism, that the persecuted were becoming the persecutors. Like many I thought this meant Nazism, so I found the comment strange. The statement is accurate when you take into account what is happening in the Occupied Territories. Again, what is reported in the United States isn't what the rest of the world hears and sees. This is one of many reasons why the rest of the world isn't behind us on our current pet project.
My objective with the article was to get people talking, debating and questioning realities and what we are told. It appears you all are. Thank you. We need to question, research and seek out the truth. Forums like this provide that opportunity. It really doesn't matter if you agree with the definition or not. What matters is you're talking about it.
Thank you again.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I've never been considered a Marxist [...] The definition comes from the Library of Congress

You will notice that my comments were directed towards "the author". Apparently it is not you who I was calling "Marxist", but the author. I hope that clears it up.

Now the only thing I wonder is, Just how long ago was this LoC definition of "fascism" written?

Seriously now, "extreme measure taken by the bourgeoisie to forestall the proletarian revolution"? I'm guessing 1940, give or take ;-)

I tend to trust what the Israeli's themselves say in publications like Ha'aratz

It's "the Israeli's" who write Ha'aratz? All of them? All Israelis get together and write Ha'aratz in a collaborative effort? Or, all Israelis agree with everything said by Ha'aretz? Ha'aretz speaks for "the Israelis", does it?

Did you mean to say, "I tend to trust what the writers of Ha'aratz say", by any chance? "The Israelis". Right.

Last summer, Ha'aratz mentioned that Israel was in fact succumbing to fascism, that the persecuted were becoming the persecutors.

"Mentioned" this, you say? They "mentioned" this, did they? Perhaps you forgot to append the essential words "in an op-ed piece".

The statement is accurate when you take into account what is happening in the Occupied Territories.

Ok, I get it, please stop piling it on. You earnestly sought a definition of "fascism" which would cover whatever it is Israel is doing in the "Occupied Territories". And you found one, the LoC definition laden with Marxist baggage. Kudos to you, and kudos again.

While you were researching stuff in the Library of Congress, perhaps you also should've pulled out the old George Orwell essay (I think it was), also presumably from the 1940's, in which he complains that the word "fascism" has lost all meaning and has come to mean, "something the speaker disagrees with". But I digress.

Again, what is reported in the United States isn't what the rest of the world hears and sees.

True. "The rest of the world", more often than not, doesn't have a free press, for one thing. Also, most of what they "know" about America is what they have learned from watching American movies, not by watching or reading news.

This is one of many reasons why the rest of the world isn't behind us on our current pet project.

You seem to be mistaken. Britain, Australia, Kuwait, Qatar. Italy, Spain, Poland, Eastern European countries. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, nominally. What is this crap about the "rest of the world" not being behind us? Did you mean to say "France and Germany and Iraq" are not behind us?

Anyway, there is a kernel of truth to what you say; where anti-Americanism and huge opposition to this war is found, it's often because the people are ill informed. (For example, there seems to be a huge amount of people who think that the United States can't fight a war without UN approval, or that the opinion of citizens in Germany or France is relevant to what orders the U.S. Commander-in-Chief gives to U.S. troops, for some reason, as if French and German people are, somehow, magically, secretly, kinda-sorta "American voters" in some weird vague abstract way. All of this, of course, is simply incorrect. I blame their media for not explaining the issue correctly.)

My objective with the article was to get people talking, debating and questioning realities and what we are told.

In other words, to pave the way for people to call Israel "fascist" (this is that "questioning realities" thing, I assume). Yeah, I got that part.

It appears you all are. Thank you.

You're welcome. And thank you, for explaining your motives in posting such a definition to the web. You indeed cleared things up for me.

It really doesn't matter if you agree with the definition or not.

Of course not, given that you're uninterested in truth, and more focused on political goals (like calling Israel "fascist") and other ways of "questioning realit[y]". (Emphasis mine.)