By Chris Beck

fas·cism (fa ·sh ·i·z ·m) n. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

It is becoming increasingly apparent to some of us that a new dark age is coming. When people like me say that the United States is moving towards Fascism, most people roll their eyes in the same way they do when someone says the word Armageddon. So it is to the definition above that I refer in this article.

Centralization of Authority Under a Dictator

The billboard pictured above, which is on Interstate 4 in Florida, hails “George W. Bush, Our Leader.” At the bottom, it says: “A political public service message brought to you by Clear Channel Outdoor.”

Upon seeing this billboard, Dianna Lawson of Orlando wrote this letter to the Orlando Sentinel:

On my way to work Wednesday morning, I looked up and saw a giant billboard with a picture of George W. Bush and the words “OUR LEADER” under it. The first thing I thought was, when was the last time I have seen a president on a billboard? What is going on? Didn’t Saddam Hussein have his picture up everywhere? What next, a statue? . . . I wonder if anyone else finds the president’s picture on a billboard odd? I’m sorry, but it reminds me of countries with dictators, and it seems people are making him out to be the messiah, the savior of our world. Fear, fear, fear. I’m tired of being afraid.

Are there pictures and statues of George Bush everywhere around the country? No. (Not yet?) I don’t believe there were pictures or statues of LBJ or Richard Nixon erected during Vietnam, or of FDR during WWII, or any other president who served during a war. And this “War on Terror” is, in terms of American casualties, nothing in comparison to other wars we have fought in. So what the hell is up with “George W. Bush, Our Leader?” Not even “Our President.” No. “Our Leader.” George Bush’s administration has continued to craft policies that leave decisions to his discretion rather than codified rules. This runs counter to the idea of America as a country “ruled by laws, not men.” George Bush is not a dictator yet, but he wants to be one.

Stringent Socioeconomic Controls

The American tax system is designed to take money from the have-nots and give it to the haves. Wealthy individuals and large corporations receive tax cuts, exemptions, havens and hand outs, at the expense of the middle and lower classes and small businesses. This is a softer form of controlled economy than other fascist regimes practice, and this softer form allows those in power to claim we have a “free market” society. The problem is that our free market is rigged.

At the same time, Bush and his supporters want the United States to be more “socially conservative.” Their agenda includes great ideas like abstinence-only sex education, public funding for religious schools and charities, the teaching of creationism in school, erosion of a woman’s right to chose, restrictions on valid scientific research and publishing of scientific work. Stricter immigration regulations keep more people from the rest of the world from coming here, increasing our intellectual and social isolation.


Suppression of the Opposition through Terror and Censorship

One of the telltale signs of fascism is tight control of the media. While in other dictatorships the media is actually run by the government, in the U.S. we again have a slightly softer form. The mass-media is owned by large corporations. These corporations have a symbiotic relationship to the government. Because of this relationship, the media controls itself, because the media wants the same thing that the government wants: undo influence, or even outright control, of the public.
The media, especially television, has become more and more adept at manipulating the emotions of the American public. They know how to push our buttons to entice us to buy things. It is not hard for them to push other buttons to make us afraid. The Bush administration is also quite expert at whipping up America’s fears. The rhetoric of the recent presidential campaign was replete with warnings about the “risk” we would run if we voted for Kerry. People who are afraid look to strong authority figures rather than think for themselves: “George W. Bush, Our Leader.”

To allay our fears, the Bush administration tells us we must allow the government to spy on us, break into our homes, and monitor our internet and library use. And if all else fails they need to able to rescind our citizenship, try us in secret, and maybe deport, torture, or kill us. John Ashcroft arrested 5,000 people on terrorism charges. Five-thousand of them were set free by the courts for lack of evidence. So obviously due process must be done away with if we are to be safe. That’s how he handled Jose Padilla. At the time of this writing, Padilla has been confined in a military prison for over 1,000 days without trial, charge, or due process. Don’t you feel safer?

A Policy of Belligerent Nationalism and Racism

“Bring it ON!” “I will never give another country veto power over our security!” “I know how these people think.” The list is nearly endless. Bush’s macho swagger and “if you don’t like it we’ll kick your ass” attitude is loved by every redneck asshole from sea to shining sea. We are currently engaged in an illegal war of aggression in Iraq, one which we are losing, and still Bush is trying to maintain an aggressive stance against Iran and N. Korea by relying on the “credible threat of force.”

Bush also flouted the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty we had with Russia (carried over from the Soviet Union) because he says it is outdated. The real reason is that he wants to develop ridiculous “bunker-buster” or “tactical” nuclear weapons and our vaunted “missile defense shield.” Both ideas are stupid, do not work, and make the world less safe. Yet he is pouring money into both, because he thinks threatening and menacing the rest of the world is preferable to engaging it. It is the very definition of belligerence.

On the home front, every description of America is always: “We have the best X in the world.” We scoff at other nations, talk dismissively about Europe’s weakness and equivocation. We mock Canada’s health care system as inferior to our bloated and inefficient one. It was actually a strike against John Kerry that he speaks French. Couple this with the paranoid fantasy that because we are “number one”, the entire world hates us and is out to get us. We as a nation are like the bully who pushes everyone around and then resents them for not loving us.

What’s Next?

Are/were other fascist regimes worse than the United States? Absolutely. We have, at present, Fascism Lite. We do, however, certainly fit the definition of fascism above. Things could be worse, and they certainly will be. In his excellent sermon on the topic, Unitarian Universalist minister Davidson Loehr lists some things we have to look forward to:

Privatization of social security to enable vast profits for well connected capitalists, and the increasing strain on those dependent on social security and other social welfare programs. Rising numbers of uninsured people. Decreased funding for public education and increased support for vouchers for private, especially Christian, schools. More restrictions on civil liberties. Decreased federal funding for public radio and television. The reinstatement of a draft, in some form. More imperialistic military expeditions, especially toward Iran, and the construction of permanent bases in Iraq. More restrictions on speech, under the guise of national security. Restrictions on the use, and increased monitoring of, the internet. Increasing administration-friendly editorial bias of most media (Time just named Bush Person of the Year for 2004). Continued outsourcing of jobs, to produce greater profits for corporations at the expense of America's workforce. Increased monitoring, harassment, detention, and arrest of political protesters. A National ID card, containing biometric identifiers, possibly with a global tracking device inside.

Hope?

America has seen similar times. Americans have ultimately rejected earlier forays into fascism. The problem now is that the increased sophistication of the media, technology, and increased capital concentration greatly amplify the power of corporations and the government to control our lives. These developments also mean it will be harder to reverse course. The majority of Bush supporters voted against their own economic interests and opted to move toward a society characterized by increased militarism and stricter social norms. I think this is because many Americans live in fear, and to stop our slide into fascism, we must find courage. You can’t be a coward and be free.

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