Fascism is this Where we are Heading?

The “Merriam-Webster definition for Fascism is:
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

When we on the North American continent look at our government structures it is difficult to use a definition that accurately matches any terminology we are familiar with such as Socialism, Capitalism, and Fascism etc. In Canada we have a hybrid of capitalism and socialism with a strong emphasis on the latter. Our history began as capitalism but over the years due to our proximity to the USA we have been able to shift our politics towards a more social agenda. This is because the USA has been the leader in capitalism and we have been able to reap the benefits of this culture without totally embracing its tenets through trade and the sharing of technology. The differences in taxing and spending between the two philosophies is that Canadians are taxed at higher levels which is then spent on social programs at the expense of defense and industrialization. The USA on the other hand have held closer to the capitalist ideology which tries to keep social spending on an “as needed” basis and allows citizens to keep more of their own money. This of course has allowed them to become the richest and most powerful nation in the world. However over the last 15 years the American Government has slowly been shifting away from a true capitalist system towards more of a hybrid of three different governing philosophies. The first and of course the base is still the capitalist system however due to current events such as the housing market fiasco, Wall Street gambling and the cyclical occurrence of a recession it has come under the strongest attack by the left in decades . Socialism which has made inroads in Washington DC over the years with exorbitant spending on welfare and other entitlement programs is having resurgence under the guise of health care reform. Instead of attacking the system and making it affordable to all through insurance programs etc. the Democrats have chosen to follow the Canada and Europe by having the Government run the entire healthcare system. The third and maybe the scariest have been the signs of Fascism that are showing up in the Obama regime. This is seen in the takeover of the auto industry both through the financial intrusion with the purchase of controlling shares in GM and the leadership role assumed by the government through the adoption of the “Car Czar” position. The banking industry has also been highly influenced through the bail-out funds which has made several of the largest financial institutions come under the control of Government. The race issue is another area whereby after years of the population majority trying to make amends for the past, the current President is unraveling any of the progress by dividing the nation strictly along racial lines. He openly associates and has members within his inner circle that are clearly racist through their actions and remarks. Even he has let his own thoughts on the subject slip out from time to time (re white policeman comments). His regime’s open hostility towards anyone that has a difference of opinion is evidence of their elite thinking and the push towards a “one party” system. Consider the label of terrorists put on the “town hall” demonstrators or the confrontation with Fox News, the only media outlet that will honestly question the government’s actions. The other frightening thing in the current USA government is the number of “czars” appointed by Obama to run many of the large programs he has initiated. These are people that have been elected to nothing and are answerable to no one but Obama. The Executive branch and the Congress are under the control of the Democrats (left wingers). The Judicial Branch is 50%-50% and this may change before the end of Obama’s tenure in office. Certainly a long way from a dictatorship, but the seeds have definitely been put in the ground. When people argue that our government looks nothing like fascism they generally are comparing it to Mousslini’s reign in Italy during the 2nd World War and this is not a true comparison. You have to look at the components of Fascism that have been adopted and understand that we are in a transition so in the short term you will have a hybrid but in the long term you will see something with which you will be more familiar.