To you, what are the sublte or not so subltle signs that the USA is trending towards fascism?

Answer 1

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. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
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 and letters is openly attacked.
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.

If the shoe fits........And it's not so sutle to me.

Answer 2

The questionable elections started in the 40's after death of FDR. The next election was only natural to go for D's; but they started learning ways to manipulate the ballot box. By the time LBJ was running, they had perfected it.
There have been no instances where Habeas Corpus has applied that it has been denied b/c we do not have illegal prisons. We do have secret prisons and they should remain secret.
Illegal search and seizures is a police action, which the executive branch has limited powers to enforce.
The D's have been manipulating the media for decades. It's learned in sync w/ the election experiences. But truthfully, on this point, the media has been willing collaborators on many issues.

Torture has been used for thousands of years. It is only limited by the GC. "War is peace" is a misnomer. We should actually be saying "war for peace"; not to beat them into submission, rather to find a peaceful coexistence w/ every tribe and nation. If being attacked on our soil is a false pretense, then I guess we are all guilty. The war on the middle class, war on trade unions and the rising poverty are all a matter of perspective. Import of cheap labor and the export of good jobs or outsourcing are the logical conclusion of globalization (which is heavily supported by the libs). I would agree the actual ACT we know as the Patriot Act has eroded some of our rights; but for what reason. Homeland Security has become necessary. "Troops"? what? I've already answered the parts of surveillance and habeas corpus. Yes, we have a stronger executive branch but still not as strong - in terms of powers - as prescribed by the Constitution w/ Bill of Rights. "A population in fear, smear campaigns abound to discredit messengers, increasing attacks on those who excercise free speech or dissent, Propaganda accepted" are all elements of a society who have lost their heritage. As for lies, we could publish a thousand books exposing lies from every administration since John Adams. The most recent lie under oath by officials were by Scooter Libby and Clinton ("I did not have sexual relations w/ that women, Ms. Lewinsky.") And NOBODY showed more disregard for the Constitution than the Clinton Administration did in his 8 years.

Answer 3

Loss of habeas corpus, the non military coup in 2000, a government no longer responsive to the rule of law or the Constitution, The Supreme Court has ruled Bush and Cheney's system of detentions unconstitutional.

Torture, is openly advocated for by Bush and Cheney and their staffs. Also it is documented by victims, witnesses, and public photographs. Torture , something that commonly happens in totolitarian regimes was always illegal and has been repeatedly recriminalized under Bush and Cheney. Bush has reversed laws with signing statements. Now he declalres him self above the law.
Did you hear about the prison camps being built here in the US?
The extroadinary powers claimed by Bush put the tripartite system of 3 separate branches of government, our Constitution and the Republic at risk. Its not the classic fascism of the 30s but it IS fascism.
To anyone out side of his partisan supporters, its obvious the 2000 election was stolen. How often does the US Supreme court appoint presidents - and based on partisan idiology at that?

Answer 4

Drastic increase in the number of laws regulating personal behavior.

Drastic increase in the number of times the Executive branch says that it can ignore the law with impunity.

Drastic increase in the number of times the Executive branch willfully violates federal law.

Drastic decrease in the competence of Congress, and their willingness to act like a co-equal branch of govt.

An Attorney General who either doesn't know that almost 10% of his senior prosecutors from around the country are being fired, or who lied under oath about not knowing about it.

Supreme Court rulings that say it's acceptable for a teacher to destroy a banner held by another adult on a public street, just because some students are also present on the street.

Supreme Court rulings that say it's acceptable for Congress to pass laws regulating medical practice, based solely on findings of fact voted on by Congress, when the actual doctors disagree with those congressional findings.

Actions by Congress and the Executive that says its acceptable to hold US citizens indefinitely, without charges and without trial, based solely on unproven accusations.

Actions by Congress and the Courts that say the Executive can violate federal law, and admit to violating federal law, but that nobody can complain because those people cannot prove they were individually harmed.

That's the past two years. I could keep going.

Answer 5

The list is too long. I would need to write a book.

But to give you a sense:

Torture is ok, warrantless surveillance, war is peace, invasions on false pretexts, war on the middle class, war on trade unions, rising poverty, import of cheap labor, export of good jobs or outsourcing, terms such as Patriot Act, and HOmeland security, The word "troops" being used instead of soldiers or military, denial of habeus corpus, increasingly stronger executive branch powers, a population in fear, smear campaigns abound to discredit messengers, increasing attacks on those who excercise free speech or dissent, Propaganda accepted, disregeard for the constitution abounds,and blatant lies being told etc...

Answer 6

Not subtle; questionable elections, disregard for the Constitution by the Executive Branch, disregard for Habeas Corpus, illegal prisons, illegal search and seizures, and manipulated media to start of with.

Answer 7

the patriot act, the fact that we have less rights now then 10 years ago and they way people hide behind patriotism saying anyone who disagrees with them hate America.

Answer 8

disregard of the Geneva convention
wiretaps without court approval
calling anyone who disagrees not a patriot
a gov't on its knees to big corporations

Answer 9

Easy. There is this one group of people in America. They believe that 9/11 was an inside job, and that George Bush will eventually become grand dictator and get his texan self a crown. These people are the real fascists. They use fear and propoganda such as loose change videos to spread their message, and don't tolerate opposing views. To them, they are absolutely correct and will not listen to anyone else. Fascism, fascism, fascism. I think you aren't too subtle about it.

Answer 10

none - Bush administration behaves pretty much like a cowboy but cannot act on its own, The next administration will behave completely different. Remember, there are those who believe we are truly at war and in that state some of the rules change.