I agree with everything you've laid out, with the exception of your last sentence - "Stealing the peoples money and handing it over to big business under the ruse that its too big to fail." I would hardly categorize this administration's loaning big companies money as stealing from the taxpayer. It has yet to be seen what the ramifications will be from that strategy.

If and when the loans are repaid, with interest, those corporations will be free and clear of government constraints, but not without heavily imposed regulations. But, that is not their biggest nemesis. Big business must face up to the fact that the mindset of the average consumer and taxpayer has undergone a profound change. They realize that the market will no longer look after them, but more importantly, there is the pervasive notion that, if left unchecked, most financial institutions can not ever be trusted to run their businesses without some modicum of regulation and oversight.

Once burnt, twice shy.

"What evidence"? You mean to tell me you are unaware that Obama received $38.5 million in campaign funds from Wall Street?

That the Goldman Sachs/Treasury revolving door is as operational under Obama as it was under Bush?

That his "chief-of-staff" left the Clinton administration and directly went to a Wall Street "investment bank" and made a multi-million dollar salary, then went directly back to politics? That Senator Charles Schumer, in 2007, PROMISED Wall Street thugs in three piece suits LESS REGULATION if they funded Democratic politicians in 2008??

That Obama is demanding autoworkers take pay cuts, while Con Artists and Banksters of failed and bankrupt institutions receive TRILLIONS for "T.A.R.P." purchases THEY DON"T MAKE AND REFUSE TO DISCLOSE WhereTF THE MONEY WENT??? And get freakin' "Retention bonuses", like any reputable business would want these fools that have caused this mess to stay ON??

The clown experts here ragging on this Faux News talking head about actually getting something RIGHT for a change: You know better than Mussolini wtf Fascism is?

Uh, okay, if you say so.......how about this: it could be a combination of political philosophies we are witnessing, but the above mentioned "Kleptocracy" seems like a close description of the TYPE, the degree of fascism we are now witnessing.

But at it's heart, it is fascism.

it's a craven desire for ultimate POWER, and must be STOPPED.

Which won't happen if we line up in a circle and fire away at each other........

Fascism = The collusion of Big Government and Big Business with a loss of Civil Liberties.

For example: The Fed, AIG and Free Speech Zones.

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have."

http://www.freedomtofascism.com/

Peace.

I dont know what to call government today what with bailing out investment banks, auto makers and insurance companies.

Its not fascism, its not nationalism, its not communism, its not socialism.

Its, basically, a return on an investment. In the last decade the FIRE sector [Financial, Insurance, Realty, Energy] has invested upwards of 5 billion in politicians campaigns and PACs, in lobbyists. And its paid off handsomely in bailouts etc etc.

I want to call it prostitution. But thats not quite right. Prostitutes dont give you trillions in return for a few million they were paid.

I would call it a Kleptocracy. Stealing the peoples money and handing it over to big business under the ruse that its too big to fail.

I think what needs to be cleared up here is that fascism is a political philosophy.

Being a philosophy, it is:
1. Ever evolving
2. Interpreted differently, even by scholars. (In the last 20 years Stanley Payne, Roger Eatwell, Roger Griffin and Robert O. Paxton have had conflicting arguments.)
3. Much more complex than a three line definition. (Try to source the definition for quantum theory in a physics argument and the same results will occur. It encompasses it, but is in no way a good explanation.)

Drew, I don't know if you went to college or not, but as you may know, if you are doing any research work, sourcing an encyclopedia is strictly forbidden. This is because the information is severely truncated and diluted... a dictionary is no better. Your stand on this argument is also quite childish and reminds me of the old "well my dad says it is, so it is" assertion, which is ok for a child, but not ok for an adult to rely on when they could do a little researching with that new fangled google thing. Grow up and don't just troll on the minute piece of evidence which is so vague that it even supports Hmmm's position if looked at from that viewpoint. Research, investigate and expand that pea sized speck you call your brain. Argue for something you truly believe in, not just to argue. Finally drew, don't be a tool, because you might need to go back to the home depot.

From "Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20. Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

1. 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.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
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, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. 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.

5. 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 and national policy.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. 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.

9. Corporate Power is Protected
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.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed
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 .

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, 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.

12. 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 civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. 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.

14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns 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.