What is a Facist? What are their views on how a government should run?

Answer 1

Fascist: someone who advocates a right-wing authoritarian hierarchical government, opposed to democracy or liberalism.

Fascists are not inherently totalitarian, but often are because that's an easier way to select a leader. But a fascist may also believe in plutocracy (selection of a leader based on wealth) or an inheritable monarchy.

The core of the belief system is that the government is more important than the individual, and that the government has both the right and the obligation to control individual action to promote conformity with its goals. For that reason, any individualism or personal freedoms should be quashed, as being a threat to the government's unilateral and authoritarian control.

Answer 2

Interesting... so this would mean conservatives (real conservatives, not neo-cons) who want smaller government and less taxation, and decentralized power, are NOT FASCISTS after all!

It would mean those people who support more centralized federal power, state control of the economy, higher taxes, and greater government control over people's private choices are in fact fascist. Fascism and communism are very much related. Both fascists and communists support a nationalized economy and one faction or political party holding total authoritarian power. Communists support a socialist economy, and fascists want the same thing with a state controlled economy.

It would seem that the "liberals" who support greater federal control over the economy, more federal regulation, more taxation, and more power to unelected judges rather than democratically elected representatives, are not liberals at all, but the fascists they claim to hate so very much.

Classic conservatives are liberals by it's classic definition. Liberals want greater personal freedom and also greater personal responsibility, less government and less taxation.

By this definition, George W Bush is not a conservative. He may have cut taxes but he has refused to curtail spending, so he has not been fiscally conservative. He spends way more than Clinton ever did.

On the economic side, conservative values serve capitalist, or laissze-faire liberal economics. Non-interventionist, anti-communist economics. At the same time, classic conservatives (I abhor the term paleoconservatives) would like to limit the amount of money that people can give to political candidates, because we do not want to be run by a plutocracy. This means George Soros cannot simply empty his massive bank account in order to control the United States and bankroll the Democrat party.

I don't think plutocracy and democracy are compatible. I don't think communism and freedom are compatible, either.

Hence, freedom and justice are guaranteed only by classic conservative, or paleo-liberal values.

Neo-conservatism is fascism, and neo-liberalism is communism.

Classic conservatism and liberalism are in fact the SAME THING!
The enemies of conservative values and liberty are not conservatism or even liberalism, it's fascism, communism, autocracy, or anarchistic mob rule, together known as POLITICAL EXTREMISM!

But, I have gone off on a tangent. I'll shut up now.

Answer 3

A fascist is a person that advocates or sympathizes with Fascism. Fascism is a system led by a dictator who has absolute power, forcibly suppresses opposition and criticism, regiments all industry and trade, and emphasizes an aggressive (often racist) nationalism.

Fascism came out of the fascism movement of Italy under Benito Mussolini. Often fascism is generalized to cover any authoritarian state, however, fascism requires syndicatism with anti-materialism.

Due to World War II, fascism has gained a stigma where it is often used as a political slur rather than actual identification of fascism. Often times leftist attach fascism to the far-right due to its nationalism; however, rightists attribute fascism to the left due to state control (as in the welfare state). It isn't accurate to put fascism to the right or left as it shares some elements of both (this reveals some inadequacies of the left-right spectrum).

Answer 4

Opinions vary, but this is a general outline:

-The government should be run by a single, very powerful ruler.

-Democracy and individual liberty should be curtailed in favor of strengthening the ruling party and the government.

-The people should controlled and molded to meet military needs and to accept the social and philosophical values of the ruling party.

-The economy should be under the control of the state and the maximum leader, though the illusion of private ownership may be maintained.

-The government should look to expanding their power and territory at the expense of other nations.

-Political and social opposition should be ruthlessly suppressed.

Answer 5

Simply, a fascist believes in total control of all aspects of a county and its government. No freedoms that are not pre-approved by the government, which means no freedoms. Government control of commerce, religion and activities of its people.

A fascist is neither Liberal or Conservative.

Answer 6

Try ancient roman civilization, Italy and Musolini and the fact that America is split between the greeks and the romans themselves.
Mafia vs. orgy
We are in trouble.

Answer 7

A proponant of corporate autocratic control, generally a central planner.

Answer 8

the fourteen charachteristics of fascism:

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


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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 .


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.


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.


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.


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.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism