In 1944, John T. Flynn published As We Go Marching was a well-renowned journalist and political commentator who wrote for publications such as The New Republic, Harper's Magazine, and Collier's Weekly.
In his book, Flynn analyzed the fascist regimes of Hitler and Mussolini and listed eight common characteristics between them. His “Eight Marks of Fascism” are as follows:
Point 1. The government is totalitarian because it acknowledges no restraint on its powers.
Point 2. Government is a de facto dictatorship based on the leadership principle.
Point 3. Government administers a capitalist system with an immense bureaucracy.
Point 4. Producers are organized into cartels in the way of syndicalism.
Point 5. Economic planning is based on the principle of autarky.
Point 6. Government sustains economic life through spending and borrowing.
Point 7. Militarism is a mainstay of government spending.
Point 8. Military spending has imperialist aims.
Aside from offering a comprehensive historical analysis on fascism, Flynn’s book also served as a critique of FDR’s New Deal policies, which Flynn feared were similar to the policies of the fascist regimes overseas.
http://www.amazon.com/As-We-Go-Marching ... 0914156004Those who don't have the time to read an entire book can read Lew Rockwell’s article “The Fascist Threat.” In it, Rockwell alludes to Flynn’s “Eight Marks” to provide a condensed analysis of fascism while also offering a scathing critique of the Bush and Obama administrations.
http://archive.lewrockwell.com/rockwell ... at192.htmlBoth pieces are highly recommended to those who wish to understand fascism and what implications it has today.
