Lazerzap's "In My Opinion" Blog

I tried to find a decent but short description of a Fascist Government...
It seems to be a difficult thing to determine..

I agree with the following definitions.
As located in an excellent if thought provoking article by
Laurence W. Britt (Fascism Anyone?)

(Perhaps more will be bought to my attention by interested readers)

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.

Despite the important differences from other right-wing ideologies, fascism is almost universally considered to be a part of "the right".
(See: Fascism and Right Wing Politics)

It would come as no surprise to most Australians that the Liberal Party of Australia is regarded as a right wing political party. (Even though they label themselves as being Liberals)

I think most Australians would agree that we have a Neo-Liberal party in control of our country.

A Neo-Liberal party de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy, focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by encouraging free-market methods and less restricted operations of business and "development".

Aparently, Its supporters argue that the net gains for all under free trade and capitalism will outweigh the costs in all, or almost all, cases.

To improve efficiency and minimize unemployment, Neo-Liberals strive to reject or mitigate labor policies such as minimum wage, and collective bargaining rights. They oppose socialism, protectionism, environmentalism, fair trade, and critics say Neo-Liberals impede democratic rule.

Neo-Liberals reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that have been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. Neo-Liberals say "An unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth. This will ultimately benefit everyone."

Neo-Liberals reduce government regulation of everything that could diminsh profits, including protecting the environment and safety on the job.

Neo-Liberals sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.

Neo-Liberals eliminate the concept of "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replace it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy."

Quote: From Richard Woolcott.

"Many are shocked that the government has tolerated bribing Saddam Hussein to buy our wheat while, at the same time, preparing to invade Iraq and inflict such devastation and so many casualties on the country and its people. Other widely held concerns include the weakening of our democracy, the excessive anti-terror laws, the propagandist 'spin' about alleged successes in Iraq, the cultivation of fear and jingoism, the harsh treatment of so many asylum seekers, attempts to arouse excessive patriotism and the exploitation of the Australian flag to this end, the erosion of support for Aboriginal reconciliation, the undermining of civil liberties, human rights and social justice are all indicators of what Professor Robert Manne of La Trobe University has called 'a profound conservative-populist transformation.' in this country over the last decade.
"

(Richard Woolcott was Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade until 1992. He has 40 years of experience in advising governments on foreign, security and trade policy.)

The Virtual Observatory for the Study of Online Communities (VOSOC)


The following 2 Images display liberal and labour party "connections".











Quoted from: Linda Kirk (ALP), Senator for South Australia
First Speech 28/2/2002

"Plainly, we must be concerned that the government-led attacks on our democratic institutions in the present climate will only escalate and that the civil liberties of citizens and non-citizens alike will be sacrificed."

Quoted from: Gary Sauer-Thompson
December 6, 2005

"What has shifted is that the Executive is using the threat of terrorism to introduce laws that put our most basic liberties under threat. What we have is the power of the executive being used to put someone--a citizen--- into detention/prison without formulating any charge and denying the citzen the judgement of his /her peers.They can then be held under house detention.

Is this not the mark of dictatorial regimes? Do we not have a situation in which Australia is fighting a war on terrorism to defend liberty and is losing its own liberty in the process? Isn't this what the Law Council of Australia, and all state law councils, have drawn attention to?"

Quoted from: Tony Kevin
2 March 2006

We no longer live in a healthy, self-correcting democratic system, but in an expanding, albeit still “soft-authoritarian”, system of corporate national power. While leading elites remain mostly quietly complicit, dissenters look on in horror as our national pride is devalued and our freedoms are dismantled.

http://dictionary.laborlawtalk.com/Neo-liberal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-liberal
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=376