Characteristics of Fascism

Here are fourteen characteristics of fascism as articulated by Lawrence Britt in Free Inquiry Magazine, Spring 2003. See how many of these characteristics are true of the United States today.

1. Powerful and continuing nationalism

2. Disdain for the recognition of human rights

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause

4. Supremacy of the military

5. Rampant sexism

6. Controlled mass media

7. Obsession with national security

8. Religion and government are intertwined

9. Corporate power is protected

10. Labor power is suppressed

11. Disdain for intellectuals and the arts

12. Obsession with crime and punishment

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption

14. Fraudulent elections

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In my opinion, not all of these conditions need to be met for there to be fascism. Also, another definition of fascism is the intertwining of business and government, which is another way of stating number 9: "Corporate power is protected." This is the state of affairs currently in the United States between the federal government and big business. Let us reflect on the meaning of fascism, whether we have it now in the U.S. and, if so, what we can do to oppose it.