Neocons and Fascists: Are they one in the same?

[Insane Voter]

Is George W. Bush a fascist? You might listen to his words carefully and later follow his actions to understand just how far he leans toward dictatorship and fascist's attitudes. We start by reading a definition of fascism from Sheldon Richman (bold added to place emphasis): Fascism in Italy grew out of two other movements: syndicalism and nationalism. The syndicalists believed that economic life should be governed by groups representing the workers in various industries and crafts. The nationalists, angered by Italy's treatment after World War I, combined the idea of class struggle with that of national struggle. Italy was a proletarian nation, they said, and to win a greater share of the world's wealth, all of Italy's classes must unite. Mussolini was a syndicalist who turned nationalist during World War I.
From 1922 to 1925, Mussolini's regime pursued a laissez-faire economic policy under the liberal finance minister Alberto De Stefani. De Stefani reduced taxes, regulations, and trade restrictions and allowed businesses to compete with one another. But his opposition to protectionism and business subsidies alienated some industrial leaders, and De Stefani was eventually forced to resign. After Mussolini consolidated his dictatorship in 1925, Italy entered a new phase. Mussolini, like many leaders at this time, believed that economies did not operate constructively without supervision by the government. Foreshadowing events in Nazi Germany, and to some extent in New Deal America, Mussolini began a program of massive deficit spending, public works, and eventually, militarism.
Do any of these actions ring a bell? Has our nation become Italy of the 1920s? Are our nation's leaders pushing our economy, politics, and military toward fascism? How long can our country survive if we spread ourselves thin into empire building mode?
Now, think about the ramifications of electing government officials who represent our nation. Will you elect people who represent you or who represent bad ideas?






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