#Communists and #Socialists are actively working towards meaningful change and empowerment for the working class, while those who remain passive and accepting of the status quo perpetuate the very conditions that oppress us. It's crucial to challenge complacency and apathy and join the #workers struggle for a more just and equitable society
While there are differences in tactics and approaches among #socialists, #anarchists, and #communists, our shared goal of dismantling #capitalism and building a more just and egalitarian world unites us in solidarity and collective struggle.
I don't use the term #leftunity because there's a lot of discourse around it, but I do believe that on the ground, in the streets, and on many particular issues, #communist and #anarchist people can work together (and must). I think that better terms might be #unitedfront or #leftalliance, as unity as a term papers over meaningful differences in the two political ideologies.
I think that #anarchists as a whole, could stand to be more critically supportive of past and current socialist experiments around the world, while #communists (#marxistleninists and #maoists) should accept that there is sound anarchist theory that might not be reflected in many self-identified anarchists. After all, how many Leninists can honestly claim to have done their own reading?
What are "basic #anticapitalist principles?," you might ask. While it's impossible to make an absolute list, here's some:
Opposition to the economic class of capitalists (and their cheerleaders).
Rejection of "human nature" as an argument against social and economic revolution.
Support for the common management or control of institutions of education, security, defense, and justice.
You can see that even within these three points, there's lots of room for disagreement and discussion, and I think that we should be able to have these discussions as #socialists, #anarchists, and #communists without it turning into outright opposition to one another in the way we oppose capitalism.
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."