I didn’t know the #Sardinians had anything to do with the Crimean War until today, but apparently they sent troops too.
And also a Russian general named Khrulev proposed blowing up the city of Sevastopol and then doing a mass suicide charge into the allied positions, with the attitude of “Let everybody die! We will leave our mark upon the map!”
Do you know how empires win? By feeding their people bread and circuses.
I’ve been talking recently about a general strike for the climate, as have a few other activists. But if I’m being honest, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon — because almost everyone has an excuse for why they can’t participate.
We have all grown accustomed to a very pleasant standard of living. Even if you might think it’s hard to get by, try comparing your situation to that of an average person in Nigeria or Pakistan or India or Ethiopia. It’s not even close.
Nearly all of us in the Global North have a nice place to live, lots of clothing, regular meals, and plenty of entertainment right at our fingertips.
So when that call comes for a general strike — for everyone to stop going to work, stop paying bills, and stop shopping — well, sure, we might say, that sounds like a great idea. We support the cause, but unfortunately we just can’t do it right now. Because… reasons.
And that’s the problem. Everyone has reasons. We’ve all grown too comfortable — which is entirely by design! The empire knew they had to make us “fat and lazy” (metaphorically speaking), so we wouldn’t be so likely to take a stand against them.
In the late 19th century, when union organizers called for strikes, or when anarchists in the U.S. and Europe were urging an end to capitalism, it was easier for them to get cooperation and to find supporters.
In the 1930s, when a huge number of people were underemployed and times were tough all over, going on strike or campaigning for socialism didn’t mean as much of a sacrifice as it would for most of us today.
Starting in the 1950s, however, leaders and influential thinkers in the Global North realized that the best way to stay in power and enrich themselves would be to provide plenty of cheap “bread” and diverting “circuses” to their citizens.
Powerful and Continuing #Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of #patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. #Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
Disdain for the Recognition of #HumanRights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of “need.” The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, and long incarcerations of prisoners.
Supremacy of the #Military
Even when there are widespread #domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
Rampant #Sexism
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.
Controlled #MassMedia
Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation or by sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Government #censorship and #secrecy especially in war time, are very common.
Obsession with #NationalSecurity
Fear of hostile foreign powers is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
#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. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government’s policies or actions.
Protection of #Corporate Power
The #industrial and business #aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
Suppression of #Labor Power
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor #unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
Disdain for #Intellectuals and the #Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to #HigherEducation and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other #academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
Obsession with #Crime and #Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the #police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego #CivilLiberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
Rampant #Cronyism and #Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and 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.
#Fraudulent#Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by #SmearCampaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control #voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
This post is a summary of Fascism, Anyone? by Lawrence W. Britt published in 2003 by Free Inquiry magazine."