A semi-fascist state

America is a semi-fascist state. According to Webster's Dictionary, fascism is "a system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of opposition, private economic enterprise under centralized governmental control, belligerent nationalism, racism, and militarism."

The first part, rigid one-party dictatorship, is not so far off from how the political parties are aligned now. Their common theme: tax and spend, grow the empire. Yesterday, on C-Span, I watched how they passed a 3,565 page, 34 pound budget of over $500 billion. The only difference between the Democrats and Republicans is how much they'll spend. But the bottom line is, they both will spend like drunken sailors. So we have a rigid two-party dictatorship.

Forcible suppression of opposition. Interesting. The police have killed over 200 people the last five years with tasers. Comply or we will taser you. No opposition, or you will be tasered. And any opposition to the forcible removal of your private property (your money) and you will go to prison.

Private enterprise under centralized governmental control. We've got that. The commerce clause has now grown to encapsulate almost any type of economic activity. Try to open a business and see how many permits, licenses, and other government permission you need.

Racism. Maybe not in government per se, but definitely in the private lives of citizens.

Belligerent nationalism and militarism. Need I address this? We have 739 military bases around the world. We depose heads of state, install heads of state, tell some nations they need democracy, others they need capitalism.

So the bottom line is, a few more acts like the Military Commissions Act and the Real ID Act and we'll move from a semi-fascist state to a full-blown fascist state.