"Got Fascism?" went live on December 31, 2005.  I had been gathering information for the web site for the first several months of 2005, but then got waylaid by a job change and a major geographic move.  You'll notice that some of the "recent evidence" links aren't so recent. That will be changing soon.

BACKGROUND

 I first became seriously concerned about the fascist leanings of the Bush administration and their allies in Congress and the media in early 2003 when National Review published its Unpatriotic Conservatives issue, which was bitterly critical of some of the best conservative writers in America, accusing them of being unpatriotic for opposing the Iraq war. 

As I've delved more deeply into the fascist tendencies of the people in power, I've become more and more convinced that we are dealing with something very dangerous, something that could ultimately destroy the American republic. Some recent disturbing developments:

As a people, we've become desensitized to violations of our civil liberties.  Bush's sagging poll numbers rebounded just days after the revelation that the NSA was performing warrantless wiretaps on American citizens.

We've come to accept as routine accusations of treason against those who disagree with our leadership. 

We allow our government to torture POWs, and to hold foreign prisoners without charging them with a crime.

We may be getting national id cards.

Our politicans are beholden to corporations for their campaign financing, and, as a consequence, corporations have huge power over them.  The Vice President allowed oil executives to dictate our nation's energy policy.   As Il Duce said "fascism is corporatism".

We vote on machines that have no paper trail, designed by corporations whose CEOs are Bush "Pioneers".

Our mainstream media provide us with thinly veiled pro-administration propaganda, often paid for by the Bush administration itself.

"Power of Pride" and "These Colors Don't Run" bumper stickers are ubiquitous, appearing to support an unjust war in which over 2500 American soldiers, and over 40,000 Iraqi civilians have died.

"Christian" Dominionists want to impose theocracy.

Our president speaks of his need to "catapult the propaganda", and declares that things would be easier if he were a dictator.

When we call these developments "conservative" we bestow upon them a respectability they don't deserve.  We must begin to call them by a more accurate name.  "Fascism" isn't perfect, as America has obviously not gone fascist yet, but it's certainly more accurate than "conservative", and it gets people's attention.

The idea for "Got Fascism?" came to me a couple days after the 2004 election, as I puzzled over how anyone could vote for Bush again after watching his dismal performance in office.  I was moping along in my car, listening to The Al Franken Show. Al mentioned something about fascism, just as a car with a "Got Milk?" bumper sticker passed me, and I thought "Got Fascism?" would make a shocking bumper sticker that might help wake folks up to what's going on in America these days.  Later, I thought it would make a good name for a web site to monitor fascist developments in our government.

MISSION STATEMENT

The main purpose of "Got Fascism?" is to identify and expose evidence of creeping fascism in America, in the belief that, once the American people realize what is happening, they'll stand up and say "no".

To evaluate and sort this evidence, I need a succinct definition of fascism. The best short description I've read, and a useful checklist for evaluating whether fascism is headed our way, appeared in Free Inquiry magazine.  I'm a Christian, but, in this case, I think the secular humanists have it right.   If this is indeed an accurate distillation of fascism, there's no question that we're moving in that direction.  

I welcome refutations of this definition, and suggestions for a better definition.   Please send mail to dandelion at gotfascism.org.

My second purpose is to provide one-stop fascism shopping. I publish links to every essay I find that uses the words "fascist" or "fascism".

My third goal is to provide a more accurate word than "conservative" to describe the people in power. As a somewhat conservative Democrat, I feel insulted every time I hear talk of "the conservative Bush administration".  They are not conservatives, even if the mainstream press likes to call them that.  Conservatives like to conserve things, things like culture and tradition and wilderness. And our constitution.  Conservatives mind their own business, and don't start imperialistic wars.  I welcome suggestions for a better word than "fascism" to describe what the people in power are doing to our country. Please send mail to dandelion at gotfascism.org.

EXTREMISM

Many will accuse me of extremism for using the f-word.  This is understandable, as the word has been overused by some folks on the Left to describe just about any government action they don't agree with. However, I believe that the recent behavior of many of our elected officials justifies the use of this alarming word.  At least I'm in good company.  It's hard to turn on Air America Radio these days without hearing the word. I see it more and more frequently in essays on mainstream progressive websites. It even crops up in some of my favorite conservative magazines.  Senators hint at it.  This wouldn't be happening if there weren't at least some indication that the people in power have fascist tendencies.

SO MUCH FASCISM, SO LITTLE TIME

I try to scour the web every day for indications that we might be going fascist, but I'm only one person, and I could certainly use help. If you see an article you think should go on this site, please forward it to me - dandelion at gotfascism.org.