Originally Posted by Roger Waters
Oh I don't know Issodhos, I think today's corporate government in the United States has all of the elements of fascism.

Well, that is not the point I was making, was it? I was merely pointing out that you were -- I am sure unintentionally -- mis-using the meaning of the word, "corporatism", relative to Mussolini's Italy.

As to your "14 elements", I would suggest that they are generalized characteristics of most if not all States.

I would also suggest that it would be almost impossible for the men and women who are attracted to power and who control governments to not exercise their inner fascist when not otherwise externally restrained (We have, after all, lived for millinnia under political collectist governmental models). Some of these people were fortunate to rise to power in socistist states such as the former Soviet Union where they could give full reign (pun intended) to their inner fascist. In constitutional states such men -- Lincoln comes to mind, as does Roosevelt -- were able to temporarily let loose -- under cover of emergency or populism -- their inner fascist. Others were fortunate to rise to power in fascist states (socialist states on steroids, if you will). Indeed, proto-fascist China may be an emerging example.;-)

But, in regard to your suggestion, is America a fascist state? No. That does not mean that it is not governed by some who would make it one if they could -- and it does not mean that there are times when it is not pushed in that direction or that it has not engaged in fascistic activity.
Yours,
Issodhos

"When all has been said that can be said, and all has been done that can be done, there will be poetry";-) -- Issodhos