Fascism Then. Fascism Now?

[The2ndWheel]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1128-24.htm

Observing political and economic discourse in North America since the 1970s leads to an inescapable conclusion: The vast bulk of legislative activity favors the interests of large commercial enterprises. Big business is very well off, and successive Canadian and U.S. governments, of whatever political stripe, have made this their primary objective for at least the past 25 years.

Digging deeper into 20th century history, one finds the exaltation of big business at the expense of the citizen was a central characteristic of government policy in Germany and Italy in the years before those countries were chewed to bits and spat out by fascism. Fascist dictatorships were borne to power in each of these countries by big business, and they served the interests of big business with remarkable ferocity.

These facts have been lost to the popular consciousness in North America. Fascism could therefore return to us, and we will not even recognize it. Indeed, Huey Long, one of America's most brilliant and most corrupt politicians, was once asked if America would ever see fascism. "Yes," he replied, "but we will call it anti-fascism."

[Double T]

1. We have already arrived and 'their' denial of this reality only confirms..

that it is true.

[Ally McLesbian]

2. We have already bred some fascist republics overseas

so we have experience with fascism.

I grew up in one of them - South Korea. Fortunately, DESPITE American intervention, it turned out democratic.

Of course, the Korean-American community would like you to think of the new democratic South Korea as a communist puppet. But then, they are LOSERS - like the Cuban-Americans and the Vietnamese-Americans.

W's tactics being used in America today are strikingly similar to the fascist tactics used by South Korea in the 1970s and the 1980s. But at least, the Korean fascists did build highways, telecommunications, and other infrastructures of use to the Average Joe, even if only to fatten the wealthy corporations. The American fascists are DESTROYING these infrastructures in the name of "smaller government."

[firefox]

3. Try and sue your national bank in small claims court

Can't do it. It is now a federal case.

We are a fascist country bent on global domination. We have military bases in 75 countries and the fascist still call it defense. :shrug:

[truth2power]

4. Recommended. This needs to be read by everyone.

[ronatchig]

5. Indeed,

Truth in the light for all to see.

The fascists have emerged from the background.
I find it ironic that the German industrialists mentioned in this piece just happen to have been business partners with G.W.'s grandfather.
Corporate power applied with the force of federal law. Indoctrination to the "new" realities is well underway.
Where it will end I do not know.

[Lasher]

6. You have to ask?

[immoderate]

7. This article is quite clear.

I passed it on. Thanks for posting it.

--IMM

[Lasher]

8. Yes, this article is a great find

IMModerate,

Notice, this contribution got 7 responses in the message string and 7 votes for the greatest page. I expected more responses though. I read the whole article and bookmarked it for future reference.

I found it quite chilling, the way the historical fascist developments resemble our troubled times. Here's just one example:

Mussolini, the one-time socialist, went on to abolish the inheritance tax, a measure that favored the wealthy.

Lots of people think it's going too far to compare George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. I am not one of them.

[immoderate]

9. I bookmarked it too.

Then I sent a link to a bunch of my friends, one of whom pretends to be a right winger because he is one that likes to press people's buttons. He immediately pulled out a quote about the liberals of the time "who clamoured for unfettered personal and economic freedom, no matter what the cost to society."

I shot back that he was right. And that I'm glad he sees the parallels. Before, if I used the word fascist he would get upset. This time, he tried to piss me off by blaming it on so-called liberals, but he couldn't deny the circumstances.

Usually, when I deal with non-lefties about this I avoid mentioning Hitler and I talk about Mussolini's "corporatism" to not set off their alarms.

The main thing about this article is that it is the Toronto Star. What other MSM has done an article on fascism?

On edit: I think this needs to be posted in GD. I'm going to do it.

--IMM