Re: So, What IS a Fascist, anyway?

Once upon a time, Rat & Swan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
>   Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 14:43:54 -0700
>
>But, in fact, that is very much what he is, although he doesn't see it
>himself (as you say, "fascist" has become a dirty word).  He took
>power by legal means, but without winning an election.  He solidified
>his power by legal means, but in ways which subvert the constitution
>and popular civil liberties.  He inflames prejudices to create
>uncritical popular support.  He (most damningly) employed preemptive
>military force against essentially harmless victims.  And he is
>closely tied to major business and industrial figures.  He runs major
>propaganda disinformation campaigns (i.e., crudely, lies like a rug).
>He, or his followers, appear(s) to be willing to fix elections.

  Even if all of this were given (and all of it is arguable, to put 
it mildly), these are not defining attributes of Fascism, qv:

Fascism (n):
 1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime 
 (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above 
 the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic 
 government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and 
 social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

  By this definition, it is arguable that both, Clinton and Bush 
are fascist politicians.  Both have attempted to exalt race above 
the individual (Affirmative Action is one example), both have used 
the federal government as a centralized authorative force, both 
used Executive Orders to dictate their will, both pushed socialist 
agendas whereby they exert government control over the economy and 
corporate and personal property (Bush's gift of sixteen billion 
dollars to various airline companies is just one example of his 
corporate welfare practices), and both have allegedly used police 
power (or the threat thereof, eg TIPPS or COINTELPRO) to suppress 
opposition.

  Don't look for the traditional trappings of fascism, or you'll 
get blindsided.  The substance of fascism manifests itself today 
in the form of modern laws and practices, not the practices of the 
1930's.

  -- TTK