You people who are obsessed with socialism in the traditional sense are foolish. All capitalist societies have socialist aspects, even the USA and yet we can see fascism on the increase also. How can this be? Well the answer is quite simple. Whether you are on the right or left of politics, you'll find current government goals are to acquire more power at the citizen's expense.

Thanks Steel. I'm not quite sure I know what you mean. I doubt that the intertwining of state and capital (a phenomenon going on for over one hundred years and increasing in fact over the last twenty despite the rhetoric) is creeping fascism.

Fascism starts as a middle class movement torn between the big battalions of labour and capital during times of crisis. It becomes a movement of the ruling class whose aim is to destroy working class organisations and in that way take actions (eg drive down wages) to overcome the crisis of capitalism. George Bush, Berlusconi, Sarkozy etc are not fascists.

On the other hand One Nation may have had neo-fascists seeds within it, reflecting its middle class base.

I think the crisis of Wall Street and Bush's bailout shows this is not about growing control over people's lives but trying to rescue a drowning man.

I was referring more to 'improvements' to the 'police state', which have been quite dramatic if you have been following them (at least in the USA and UK). On the other hand all types of police states use them so it may not be exclusively fascist. The point is extreme government control/censorship is where we are headed.

Steel

I agree. These developments, mainly under the guise of anti-terrorism laws, are an attempt at control. They are not only in the Uk and US. We have them here too.

Innocent men are now in jail in Melbourne. Who will be next?