Is Bush a Fascist?

Question

First look up the 14 points of Fascism at http://educate-yourself.org/cn/fourteencharacteristicsfascism03jan04.shtml

Then reference your answer to all 14 points.

For your answer to be the best, you must either prove or disprove all 14 points in reference to the Bush Dictatorship.

For all you neo-cons who will just bash me for asking the question, without reading the 14 points, I'll tell you a secret, you are helping to prove that we do indeed live in a fascist state by such responces.

Answer 1

Definitely

Just look at the examples to all 14 points here.

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

Answer 2

I'll try to keep this short, addressing all those points.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism
- yes, but this characteristic is very common. Every great leader throughout history has learned that the best way to gain public support is to send soldiers to fight your war and praise them as heroes, while dismissing all others as unpatriotic (i'm pretty sure that's a quote from someone)

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights
- Yes and No Our system and access to public information mostly doesn't allow this. America isn't going around torturing citizens systematically, any occurrence is either an isolated incident where the soldiers took it upon themsevles, or the victims are known terrorists. While this is by no means justified, there's a world of difference between what we've done, and what dictators like Hitler and Saddam took part in.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause
- I agree with this one, but again, i don't think this is exclusive to fascism. this happens in life all the time. However, there has been way, way too much of this in the last five years.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism
Yes. See 1.

5. Rampant sexism
- I don't agree that number five signals fascism at all. Anti-abortion has nothing to do with fascism.

6. A controlled mass media
- The government does not control the mass media. If you want to see an example of a country with that problem, look at north korea.

7. Obsession with national security
- No. Bush can't win in this sitation. We either have too much secruity, or an attack happens and there was too little. While some of his methods are questionable, and others DO cross the line, there hasn't been a terrorist attack in 5 years. Think about what kind of threat they're dealing with, that says something. You have to understand that a requirement of the job is being a little paranoid.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together
Unfortunately, yes.

9. Power of corporations protected
Ofcourse

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated
I don't think this applies to bush, but I'm not positive on this point. This might tie in with number 9.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts
When has Bush ever tried to suppress art? (I'm not being sarcastic, I tried to think of a reason but couldn't come up with one)

12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
Yes. Although excessive force is rarely taught, you put these people in this situation, and this is what will happen

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption
Definately

14. Fraudulent elections
Maybe in 2000, but the last one was legit, no matter what liberals say.

Although he fits some, if not most of these points, I don't think that's fair to mention him in the same breath as hitler and call him a fascist. And the main reason Bush isn't a fascist is becuase at this point and time, he can't be, not with our system of government. At the end of that article, the author makes a sarcastic comment about this, but you have to remember how much information we have access to and how easily ideas can be expressed, and the same rules don't apply. The fact that we're talking about this right now is evidence of that.

sorry to go on and on, but it was a good question. i didn't just want to say "yes" and be done with it. too many liberals will just say he's fascist because they want to call him a scary name.

Answer 3

Those 14 points are bogus. Written so vaguely, with the express purpose of calling Bush a fascist. There are other, more important and distinguishing characteristics of fascism that would clearly show that Bush and the US are not fascistic in any sense of the word.

You're a tad too susceptible to bad propaganda for your own good, don' t you think.

Answer 4

What an excellent question!
1) Needless intervention in countries
2) David Hicks
3) Saddam Hussain
4) Attacking irrelevant countries
5) Pro life
6) Anne Coultier
7) LAX
8) Mentions it a lot
9) Oil
10) Attitudes to unions
11) No interest in it
12) David Hicks again
13) Oil again
14) Florida - Jeb Bush.

Thanks, that was really interesting. I couldn't answer it as properly as an American citizen would I imagine, but I did my best from an outsider's point of view.

Answer 5

yes, bush is a fascist - your 14 points have little to do with it - speaking broadly, a fascist is a member of a govt that is bullying lying thieving stealing cheating doing whatever the hell they like because they have got the power

any govt where wealth/power is concentrated is fascist

and the guy who thinks that having laws that are supposed to inhibit fascism and state terrorism is going to stop people who have more power than the govt is naive

the greeks said it [and you still havent learned it] the laws, like spiders's webs, catch the little guys but the big guys break through

and the big guys make the laws

bush is a sock puppet whore for billionaires - and americans are to blame for not heeding the wisdom of the founding fathers, who knew that the republic would last only until wealth concentrated

wealth/power spread = democracy, freedom, capitalism, equality, justice, peace, safety, friendliness, stability, happiness

wealth/power concentrated = fascism, tyranny, dictatorship, communism, state theft, state terrorism vs group terrorism, violence, banditry, oppression, slavery, hate, misery, decline and fall

Answer 6

You know, I don't think Bush is anything of the sort. It takes BRAINS to follow a political ideology - and I think we've established that's in short supply in the White House...

Answer 7

Well #1 you have to meet all of these to be fascist....if any one of them is disproven it is not fascist....Sexism of women...yeah, that's why Condi is secretary of state...hmm.....human rights..I don't see any human rights in the US being violated. You have to remember that these apply to citizens, not prisoners. Are you oppressed...I doubt it if you live in the US....I don't feel oppressed.

Answer 8

Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism.

What do yo think?

Answer 9

Not only is he a Fascist but he is a fecal sadistic masochist, who said "I am the decider"

Answer 10

yes