Political Discussion

Joe Mac said:
Tbf Putin despite having been in the KGB is absolutely not a Commie. He’s a fascist and his sympathisers are fascists or fascist sympathisers.
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It’s funny and I’m not sure you get the same narrative over there in Europe for obvious reasons. But over here the right push this narrative that Socialism/communism/fascism are just degrees of governmental control on a slippery slope to the destruction of society.
 
Dtknuckles said:
It’s funny and I’m not sure you get the same narrative over there in Europe for obvious reasons. But over here the right push this narrative that Socialism/communism/fascism are just degrees of governmental control on a slippery slope to the destruction of society.
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Which is ironic given that it was the bandit capitalism that brazenly claimed that society doesn’t exist, only personal interest and family units, that effectively destroyed the social cohesion of the post war period..
 
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Compare & contrast with the US right-wingers:

The 14 Characteristics of Fascism, by Lawrence Britt, Spring 2003

ratical.org

Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

  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. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

  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 is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

  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.
 
djdavedk said:
Compare & contrast with the US right-wingers:

The 14 Characteristics of Fascism, by Lawrence Britt, Spring 2003

ratical.org

Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

  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. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

  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 is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

  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.
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14 is what’s saving you all for now.

Pretty much confirmation Russia is fascist which makes their claims about the war in Ukraine even more facile than they originally were. I’m really fearful that supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza has pushed supporting Ukraine right down the priorities in Washington when it’s a, if not the, key front in the fight for the future.
 
Joe Mac said:
14 is what’s saving you all for now.

Pretty much confirmation Russia is fascist which makes their claims about the war in Ukraine even more facile than they originally were. I’m really fearful that supporting the Israeli genocide in Gaza has pushed supporting Ukraine right down the priorities in Washington when it’s a, if not the, key front in the fight for the future.
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Is it though? Trumps whole schtick for five years has been the election was a sham and he should be president. It’s sort of an inverse of the same idea and a complete smear campaign.
 
Lee Newman said:
Is it though? Trumps whole schtick for five years has been the election was a sham and he should be president. It’s sort of an inverse of the same idea and a complete smear campaign.
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But he wasn’t able to overturn it and the winner of the election is in power. If that changes then you’re in trouble.
 
Hemotep said:
Just like the cigarette companies. Corporations in capitalism will never put humanity or life first.
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Companies exist to make money.

I’ve been preaching this to my children their entire lives. Government is supposed to be the referee. The game has been hijacked. It’s never been a fair and balanced game and I’m not confident it ever will be.
 
ayayrawn said:
The best part of the writer's strike was no SNL. What the fuck are these people doing letting Nicki Haley appear fun and likeable? She wants to ban abortion nationwide, but haha she can poke fun of herself on tv.

Liberals will be the death of me (and all of us)
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And they're inviting that guy they fired for making homophobic and racist jokes to come host. F' SNL.
 
ayayrawn said:
The best part of the writer's strike was no SNL. What the fuck are these people doing letting Nicki Haley appear fun and likeable? She wants to ban abortion nationwide, but haha she can poke fun of herself on tv.

Liberals will be the death of me (and all of us)
Click to expand...
Hemotep said:
And they're inviting that guy they fired for making homophobic and racist jokes to come host. F' SNL.
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I mean this is the network/producer that had Jimmy Fallon tousle Trump's hair. I don't think they're pushing a specific stance so much as they have a wrestling promoter's business sense. Jesus Christ could be a staff writer and they'd let Satan cameo on Weekend Update if he dropped by 30 Rock.
 
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