Has America become Communist?
IO Error asks “Has America become fascist?” and posts a list of Dr. Lawrence Britt’s 14 defining characteristics of Fascism, annotated with links. The government doesn’t yet control the media (although television and radio are in serious danger), labor unions have not been abolished, and the police do not have unlimited power… but some of the other characteristics have definitely been met.
I’d like to do the same, with Marx’s Ten Planks of Communism.
- Abolition of private property and the application of all rent to public purpose
The Kelo vs. New London decision gives the government to take private property away and keep it for itself or give it to another private entity. - A heavy progressive or graduated income tax
Yep. The more you make, the higher tax percentage you pay, and the effect is not at all subtle. - Abolition of all rights of inheritance
We’re maybe halfway there. The death tax can take more than 50%… sometimes 100%. - Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels
The IRS can take property without due process, and is often used by politicians to target enemies. - Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly
The Federal Reserve. - Centralization of the means of communication and transportation in the hands of the State
FCC, DOT, FAA… acronyms are fun. - Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan
Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency. - Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of Industrial armies, especially for agriculture
No. - Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the population over the country
Absolutely. - Free education for all children in government schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.
Yeah, we have government education, but it’s not yet combined with industrial production.
So, not looking too good on that front either. I don’t see it as America moving towards Communism or Fascism specifically, but America moving away from its capitalistic, Libertarian roots: free people, free markets and small government.
