WHAT IS FASCISM?
By: S.R. Shearer
August 1, 2008
INTRODUCTION
Over the past number of years I have received
a great many letters and emails chiding me for over-emphasizing the danger
of fascism insofar as the United States is concerned. Typical of these letters
is the following:
"Mr. Shearer:
"Your constant reference to the danger of fascism in the United States
is ridiculous. The groups that subscribe to that
[mindset] are at best miniscule
and only inhabit the fringes of our society. Groups like the KKK, the Aryan
Nations, the civilian militias, the Aryan Brotherhood and so forth are jokes.
They have no large following. You are way off the mark in your concern for
fascism, at least as it pertains to the United States."
The fact is, however, I'm not the one who is "off
the mark;" he is the one. In ascribing fascism merely to fringe groups
such as the "KKK, the Aryan Nations, the civilian militias, the Aryan
Brotherhood," etc. the writer here exhibits an ignorance of fascism
that is not only shocking, but dangerous! Nonetheless, while it's shocking,
this understanding of what fascism is, is typical of people in the United
States.
As a result of these letters, emails and other correspondences, I have felt
it necessary to provide a broader definition of fascism than
most Americans have been provided with, a definition that should
send shivers up and down your spines as you read this material
and ponder just how close the United States is to being subsumed
in a fascist state. [We urge you to read this material in conjunction
with our new article, "Transitioning
from Christianity to Fascism."]
WHAT THEN IS FASCISM?
In their book, The Nazi Hydra in America -
a book highly recommended by Howard Zinn, author of A People's History
of the United States, Glen Yeardon and John Hawkins write:
"Few other words cause more confusion
than fascism. It is often used
in the sense of extreme repression. Often the understanding of fascism is
limited to the Nazis and repression. The term has been applied to many individuals,
such as Joseph McCarthy, J. Edgar Hoover, and others. It is frequently - often
wrongly - used to describe police and law enforcement, and government and
its policies
"What then is fascism exactly? Webster's Dictionary defines it
as: 'A government system marked by a centralized dictatorship, stringent socioeconomic
controls and belligerent nationalism'
"According to [President] Franklin Roosevelt:
'The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth
of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their
democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of
government by
a group or any controlling private power'.
Yeardon and Hawkins suggest that we begin with
Roosevelt's definition: that fascism is a form of government that exists (often
amidst the trappings of democracy) for the benefit of a few over and against
the benefit of the many.
They continue:
"Another good definition of fascism comes from Heywood Broun, a noted
American columnist in the 1930s:
'Fascism is a dictatorship from the extreme right, or to put it a little
more closely into our local idiom, a government which is run by a small
group of large industrialists and financial lords
I think it is not unfair
to say that any businessman in America, or public leader, who goes out to
break unions is laying the foundations for fascism'."
What Broun has done here is to enlarge the definition
of fascism to include a system of government that stands against the economic
expression of worker's rights; in other words, it is the antithesis of socialism.
It places the rights of "management" above the rights of workers;
the rights of the rich over and against the rights of the poor. Indeed, it
anathematizes the poor.
Yeardon and Hawkins then add Upton Sinclair's
definition of fascism:
"Fascism is capitalism plus murder."
This makes sense because it cannot possibly be
imagined that "average people" would of their own volition support
a government that places the interests of the few above the interests of the
many; the interests of the rich above the interests of "average people."
Finally, Yeardon and Hawkins give their own definition,
which in essence sums up the definitions cited above:
"This book (meaning The Nazi Hydra in America) defines fascism
as follows, with one condition. Fascism is a repressive totalitarian regime
in which a small elite controls and uses the government for their [own] benefit.
Any action by the government that places the rights of a corporation or a
group of elites above the rights of the people is a step toward fascism."
NOTE: When one connects this definition of fascism to Professor
C. Wright Mill's (Columbia University) description of the state of elite
power in the United States, one is left shivering at how close to fascism
the country has moved in recent years:
"... in this particular epoch a conjunction of historical circumstances
has led to the rise of an elite of power ... the men of the circles composing
this elite, severally and collectively, now make such key decisions as
are made; and that, given the enlargement and the centralization of the
means of power now available, the decisions that they make and fail to
make carry more consequences for more people than has ever been the case
in the world history of mankind."
NOTE: Finally, one should take note of
the fact that fascism is not always or even necessarily
connected to anti-Semitism. The fascist regimes of Benito
Moussolin in Italy, Francisco Franco in Spain and Augusto
Pinochet in Chile were not anti-Semitic. Thus, the fact
that those elements in the United States that are disposed
towards fascism are NOT anti-Semitic - specifically,
the Religious Right - should not give anyone reason to believe
that fascism is not alive and well in the United States.
[Please see our article, "The
Supermen of the International Christian Embassy's Feast
of Tabernacles."]
WHEN DOES FASCISM OCCUR?
The "one condition" that Yeardon and
Hawkins cite is the difficulty in defining exactly when a capitalist democracy
transcends IRREVOCABLY into a fascist state that is controlled
by the few over and against the interests of the many, where the rich are
exalted and the poor are anathematized, where all forms of socialism are damned,
where unions are busted and where brutal repression is used to keep "average
citizens" in line.
Yeardon and Hawkins explain:
"The one flaw in this definition (see above) is that it fails to delineate
the transformation from a capitalist democracy to a fascist state. For instance,
when did Germany become a fascist state? Did it occur with Hitler's approval
as chancellor? Or was it before or after Hitler's appointment?
"While the March 1933 election was not free, nevertheless, the Nazi
Party failed to gain a majority in the Reichstag. Thus it can be argued that
the transformation occurred after that election. However, Germany was well
along the road to a full fascist state before Hitler's appointment - [just
as the United States is today, and that even prior to the appearance of the
long-looked-for Restitutor Orbis].
"The lack of a clear line marking the transformation [from a capitalist
democracy] to a fascist state points again to the movement's insidious nature
[For this reason]
it is best to look at the traits that explore the degree
of fascism
"
TRANSITIONING FROM A CAPITALIST
DEMOCRACY TO A FASCIST STATE
Yeardon and Hawkins rely on a series of traits
listed by political scientist Lawrence Brin to measure just how far down the
path towards fascism a capitalist democracy is; to gauge the degree to which
the elites have seized control of the state for their own interests.
FIRST |
Since fascism is a rebellion by the elites to preserve their own power against
the "Great Unwashed Masses" fascism is first
and foremost a "top-down revolution or movement."
This is the primary reason that fascism begins in times
of economic dislocation - when the elites believe their
economic interests are at risk from a revolt by the "people."
While large numbers of followers of fascism such as Hitler's
Brown Shirts came from the middle and lower classes, the
elite of German society controlled the party. It was only
after Hitler assured prominent business leaders of his
opposition to socialism and unions that he gained power.
[Please see our articles, "A
Revolt against Elite Power Is in the Air, and the Elites
Are Breathing Fire Against It," "The
Divergence of the Rich from the Poor,"
"Lee Kyang: The Rich and
the Poor; God and America," "The
Versailles Phenomenon" and "The
Third World as a Model for the New World Order."] |
SECOND |
The elites launch a campaign that emphasizes a disdain
for intellectuals, socialists and liberal views. This
campaign includes gaining control of the so-called "mass
media." [Please see "Judi
Bari, Darryl Cherney and Earth First" and
"The Death of Gary Webb;"
please also see "The
Corporate State and the Mass Media."] |
THIRD |
This opens the door for an attack on the trade union movement.
Such an attack is necessary because the organizing power
of labor is the only real threat to a fascist regime.
In the end, "labor unions are either eliminated
entirely, or are co-opted and severely suppressed."
[Please see "The United
States: Replicating the Slave Economy of the Old South
and Leaving Average Citizens to Sink into Poverty,"
"Capitalism and Christianity"
and "The Deceitfulness
of Riches and the Marxist Paradigm."] |
FOURTH |
In the absence
of powerful unions and / or socialist political parties, the elites create
a situation in the state where -
Corporate Power is Protected: The industrial and business
aristocracy of a fascist state often puts government leaders into power, creating
a mutually beneficial business-government relationship and power elite Rampant Cronyism and Corruption: Fascist regimes are
almost always governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each
other to government positions, and then 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. Unbridles Corporatism: The corporate leaders direct
government policy for their own benefit. Fascism reduces controls on business
and suppresses or bans unions.
[Please see our articles, "The
Elite, Money and the End of Days," "The
Derivatives Market," "Greed,
Avarice and the Coming Dictatorship."] |
FIFTH |
The successful execution of steps three and four (above)
cannot help but lead to extreme exploitation: Fascist
regimes inevitably reduce people to objects of commerce;
the worth of an individual is measured by his usefulness
to "management," and ultimately to the state.
Citizenship may be revoked from groups of people to exploit
them and seize their property. [Please see our articles,
"The Measure of a Man's
Worth," "Making
Men Cogs in a Machine" and "The
United States: Replicating the Slave Economy of the Old
South and Leaving Average Citizens to Sink into Poverty."] |
SIXTH |
Because
it cannot be imagined that "the people" would willingly subject
themselves to the kind of economic exploitation envisioned in step five (above),
the elites are forced to employ:
Violence and terror: Fascist regimes use violence and
terror to intimidate "the people" and gain and preserve their cruel
and brutal power. Hitler had his Brown Shirts intimidate voters and opposition
leaders by starting street brawls and even murdering the opposition. Once
in power, he used the Gestapo, the state secret police, to root out and remove
any opposition. Destructive divisiveness: All politicians use division
to win elections. However, under fascism, the divisiveness is uniquely destructive
and often takes the form of racism, class warfare or even genocide.
[Please see our article, "Beware!
- All Those Who Don't Fit into America's Euro-Centric,
Christian Culture: The Brownshirts Are Coming for You"
and "Measuring the Depravity
of the Elites."] |
SEVENTH |
As unions are busted, corporate power strengthened, workers
reduced to a state of penury, divisiveness in the over-all
population encouraged, etc., the elites begin to promote
an obsession with crime and punishment as a ruse
behind which they can bring to bear the authority of the
state against their political opposition under color of
the criminal code. [Please see our articles, "The
Utility of Police Brutality in the Elite's War against
the Poor," "The
Watcher's Are Watching You" and "Dealing
with the Human Trash of America's New World Order System."] |
EIGHTH |
As the elites continue down their undemocratic path, fraudulent
elections increase. Sometimes elections in fascist
nations are a complete sham. Other times, elections are
manipulated by smear campaigns against political opponents;
often assassination is employed; use of legislation to
control voting numbers or political district boundaries
and manipulation of the media are employed. Fascist nations
also typically use the judiciary to manipulate or control
elections. [Please see our articles, "The
Truth about What's Happening in the Ukraine: Managing
Democracy," "The
Bolivarian Revolution Reaches America's Southern Border"
and "Obrador's Parallel
Leftist Government in Mexico City and the Spread of Chavezism;"
finally, one has only to remember how the election of
2000 was rigged to understand how elections are being
manipulated in the United States.] |
It is here, at the ninth step of the transition of a capitalist democracy
to a fascist state, that Christianity becomes so essential to
the process - at least in Western societies. We URGE
you, therefore, to carefully study our new article, "Transitioning
from Christianity to a Fascist State."
NINTH |
As the power of the elites grows ever more autocratic and undemocratic, the
elites are forced to resort to sources other than "the
people" to justify their continued rule. Government
"of the people, by the
people and for the people" has now
become nothing more than an empty phrase. It's at this
point that the elites inevitably turn to religion in one
form or another to justify their rule, and 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. Government leaders
frequently use religious rhetoric, even when the major
tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the
government's policies or actions. [We URGE
you to read our new article, "Transitioning
from Christianity to Fascism;" please also
see our articles "Political
Christianity" and "Regnum
and Sacerdotium;" please also see "The
Rich Have Seized Control of the Church."] |
TENTH |
As religion is ever more pressed into service by the elites to justify their
undemocratic rule, rampant sexism becomes the norm:
As a result, 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.
[Again, we URGE you to read our new article,
"Transitioning from
Christianity to Fascism," especially the
section dealing with misogynism.] |
ELEVENTH |
As religion continues to be pressed into service by the elites to justify
their increasingly autocratic rule, those who fall outside the parameters
of the state's religion and culture are identified as enemies and scapegoats.
This usually translates into an unremitting persecution of -
[Again, please see our article, "Beware!
- All Those Who Don't Fit into America's Euro-Centric,
Christian Culture: The Brownshirts Are Coming for You;"
please also see our articles, "The
Creation of an Enemy Absolute Beginning First with the
Gay and Lesbian Community," "The
Hamitic Hypothesis," "Growing
Rage in America's Heartland," "The
Rutherford Institute and R.J. Rushdooney."] |
TWELFTH |
As the state gradually takes on a homogenous religious and cultural hue, a
powerful nationalism begins to take hold on "the
people." Fascist regimes tend to make constant
use of patriotic mottoes, slogans, songs and other paraphernalia.
Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing,
in churches, and in public displays. [Please see "Birth
of a Christian Police State" and "Blowback:
Creating a Monster Bent on Devouring Its Maker,"]
|
THIRTEENTH |
Protection of the "homeland," the culture," and the country's
religion become paramount - which leads to an obsession
with national security. Supremacy of the military
is emphasized, and it is given a disproportionate
amount of government funding; the domestic agenda is neglected.
Soldiers and military service are glamorized. [Please
see our articles, "Your
Ability to Travel in the New Paradigm," "Life
in a Surveillance Society," "Police
Brutality: Securing Control of the Streets for the Elites,"
"Disappearing and Imprisoning
Enemies of the State" and "Welcome
to the New National Security State."] |
FOURTEENTH |
Out of the religious atmosphere that the state fosters, it is inevitable that
a cult-like messiah figure will emerge surrounded by a
cadre of cult-like followers. The development of a messiah-like
figure has been common to every fascist state. ["The
Principles of Messianic Leadership;" please
see Chapter
XI of the New Antipas Papers, "Antichrist:
King of Babylon."] |
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF
RELIGION IN A FASCIST STATE
These, then, are the steps common in the development
of a fascist state as envisioned by Yeardon and Hawkins - and if that's the
case, even the most casual observer can see that the United States is well
down the path towards fascism. [We urge you to study the documentation attached
to every one of these steps.]
The most critical steps toward fascism begin with the NINTH step in
this process - the fusion of religion with the state.
While this has not fully occurred yet in the United States,
it has certainly occurred within the Republican Party, and it
may be completed as a "white reaction" to an Obama
presidency. [Please see our article, "Does
Obama's Candidacy Signify an End to Racial Hatred in the United
States? - That's Not What the Bible Indicates."]
WE URGE YOU, THEREFORE, TO TAKE THE
TIME TO READ OUR ARTICLE, "TRANSITIONING
FROM CHRISTIANITY TO FASCISM" IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT
GAIN A FULLER APPRECIATION OF THE FORCES AT WORK IN THE UNITED
STATES - ESPECIALLY INSOFAR AS THE NINTH STEP IN THIS
PROCESS IS CONCERNED, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT FOLLOW IT (i.e.,
STEPS TEN THROUGH FOURTEEN). IT IS THE FUSION OF RELIGION AND
THE STATE THAT - IN THE END - CREATES A FASCIST STATE.
S.R. Shearer,
Antipas Ministries
Brothers and sisters: we URGE you to remember the Word of God:
"IF WE HAVE SOWN UNTO YOU SPIRITUAL THINGS, IS IT A GREAT THING
IF WE SHALL REAP YOUR CARNAL (MATERIAL) THINGS?" (1 Cor. 9:11)
Also, if you are interested in attaching yourself to an ALIYA group, or
if you are interested in establishing a group of your own, please let us know
by -
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