Posted on 07/08/2011 4:55:28 AM PDT by Kaslin
Someone recently emailed and asked me to rebut the claim that fascism is a right-wing system.
I have given this question considerable thought over the years; even when I was in college, liberals routinely smeared conservatism as a fascist political ideology. Indeed, how many times have we heard the mantra that communism and Nazism represented the two extremes of the political spectrum, left and right, respectively? This never made sense to me, as I knew that conservatism championed political and economic liberty and that communism and fascism were the direct antithesis of these.
I am thankful that my friend Jonah Goldberg has written the definitive work on this subject and set the record straight, in his scholarly and entertaining "Liberal Fascism." I strongly recommend it.
But let me share some thoughts I've developed over the years as to how the misunderstandings on these terms evolved, points which may or may not be addressed in Jonah's book.
Both communism and Nazism are evil totalitarian systems characterized by enormous power in the central government. It's true that in theory, Karl Marx predicted the eventual withering away of the state and the "dictatorship of the proletariat," when the people would rule, which was sheer fantasy because it was based on grossly erroneous assumptions about human nature, as history would repeatedly demonstrate.
But no one can deny that communism, in practice as well as theory, is a form of socialism, as evidenced, among other things, by the Soviet Union's proud self-identification as a "socialist republic." Likewise, Nazism and fascism, by definition, are socialist systems, with the state owning or controlling the major means of industry and production.
But there are differences in these systems, and I think these differences, along with historical reasons so well chronicled in Jonah's book, contribute to the left's soft identification with one and strong rejection of the other.
Apart from being centralized political systems, Nazism and fascism were nationalistic, patriotic and militaristic. Some have even said they were religious, but I see little authentic evidence of that. The Soviet system was more international in its orientation, being driven less by national fervor and more by world expansion. I'm not disputing that Hitler and Mussolini were expansionist, as indeed they were, but the Soviets were more focused on making communism a global system and diminishing the role of the nation-state in comparison with Nazism and fascism.
But there's something even more telling. Communism, as conceived by Marx, was based on the perceived class struggle. Marx envisioned that the "workers of the world" would unite against so-called capitalist oppression. Marxism was thoroughly materialistic and rooted in class warfare. Nazism was probably not so virulently anti-capitalist -- at least in terms of its ideological emphasis. It was more racially and nationally driven.
So where does that leave us? Well, today's liberals see themselves as champions of the "working man" and enemies of corporate interests and the wealthy. Their political lifeblood is class warfare on behalf of the "working man" (read: labor unions). Redistributionism is at the heart of their philosophy.
When those on the left today call conservatives "fascists" or liken Bush to Hitler, they are betraying their contempt for what they perceive to be excessive nationalism, patriotism and militarism on the part of conservatives. But there's a darker side to their thinking. The left's worst-kept secret is that many liberals believe -- or would at least like the electorate to believe -- that conservatives are racist. So there you have it. Conservatives are nationalistic, jingoistic and racist. Point, set, match. They're fascists.
But it's as divorced from reality as it is sinister. Conservatives are driven by liberty and a healthy skepticism for centralized government. They aren't enemies of the federal government but believe it ought to be limited in its powers and scope, as contemplated and designed by the Constitution. They are the opposite of racists, aspiring to colorblindness and equality of opportunity and rights for everyone. We will proudly accept, however, the charge that we are nationalistic, patriotic and firm believers in American exceptionalism.
Liberals can definitely identify with communism, as indeed they have through the years, as in their glorification of the Soviet Union in years past and their romanticizing of communist dictators, such as Cuba's Fidel Castro. But they also have far more in common with fascism than conservatives do, given their penchant for centralized governmental power and too much state control over business and industry, as we've seen most strikingly under President Barack Obama.
As political theory and actual practice throughout history demonstrate, both communism and fascism are left-wing political and economic ideologies -- as far as they can be from the right wing of the spectrum.
Fascism is government controlled factory output which is what we have since 2009. Communism is government owned output.
Bfl
“The left’s worst-kept secret is that many liberals believe — or would at least like the electorate to believe — that conservatives are racist.”
Don’t know if it’s a secret at all, but the funny thing is, the Liberals show themselves to be racist all the time.
And that is an undeniable fact, that they can not deny
Socialism in all it’s forms is an evil way of thinking. 180 degrees from what Jesus taught.
Communists seek to own the means of production.
Fascists seek to control the means of production.
That is the only difference between these two totalitarian political systems.
To illustrate the identity between the systems: here are images of two 1917 Bolshevik notes: a 250 rouble note and a 1000 rouble note. Can anybody spot the symbol in the center of each one? (hint: look behind the double eagle?)
Conservatism is about small government, personal liberty, private property and free markets. Fascism and Naziism were the opposite of those. Only an idiot, or someone mis-educated in an IVY league university could confuse the two.
On that note, here’s a quote that bears directly on the question here:
Although our modern socialists’ promise of greater freedom is genuine and sincere, in recent years observer after observer has been impressed by the unforeseen consequences of socialism, the extraordinary similarity in many respects of the conditions under “communism” and “fascism.” As the writer Peter Drucker expressed it in 1939, “the complete collapse of the belief in the attainability of freedom and equality through Marxism has forced Russia to travel the same road toward a totalitarian society of un-freedom and inequality which Germany has been following. Not that communism and fascism are essentially the same. Fascism is the stage reached after communism has proved an illusion, and it has proved as much an illusion in Russia as in pre-Hitler Germany.”
No less significant is the intellectual outlook of the rank and file in the communist and fascist movements in Germany before 1933. The relative ease with which a young communist could be converted into a Nazi or vice versa was well known, best of all to the propagandists of the two parties. The communists and Nazis clashed more frequently with each other than with other parties simply because they competed for the same type of mind and reserved for each other the hatred of the heretic. Their practice showed how closely they are related. To both, the real enemy, the man with whom they had nothing in common, was the liberal of the old type. While to the Nazi the communist and to the communist the Nazi, and to both the socialist, are potential recruits made of the right timber, they both know that there can be no compromise between them and those who really believe in individual freedom.
— F.A. Hayek, The Road to Serfdom
In the 65 or so years since Hayek wrote those words, the Left has misappropriated the term “liberal”. We would now call “the liberal of the old type” a “conservative”.
1) The most hard core Nazi’s were quite pagan and VERY non-Christian. They ONLY brought out Christian elements when it suit the Nazi’s means.
2) The Nazi’s were BIG on eugenics with abortion/euthanasia as a means to thin/purify the herd.
3) The Nazi’s were heavily into environmentalism; not because they wanted to save forests but because the wanted ONLY the ‘approved’ party people to enjoin the wilderness.
4) As long as a business toed the party line, worshiped with cult of personality fervor, obeyed the state mandated regulations, the business was allowed to continue.
5) Elite Nazi’s party made plenty of cash from the big German corporations while condemning Jewish greediness.
Much of this sounds like the members of the democrat party.
I’ve pointed out these facts to some lefties and they are either speechless or they go into a rant about Bush.
If there is ONE consistently overarching and monotonous charge Liberals make to me or in my hearing, it is that Conservatives are ‘Fascists’... AS IF any Liberal I have ever met in my life can properly define fascism...OR Conservatism, for that matter!!!
There is a mindless sameness in their droning on like whiney losers.
In my very early student career, I was confused about Fascism as opposed to other totalitarian systems.
SO…. like a normal and intelligent person, I got a book about Fascism and made myself the master of some VERY basic and unarguable facts on the subject:
“The Three Faces of Fascism”-by Ernst Nolte
To this date and to my knowledge, THIS is the definitive tome on the subject. In fact, I still read and re-read this wonderful book. (BTW –THIS I did on my own, and it says a lot about the educational system in America that I HAD to)
I am by no means a political scientist, but even if my small way of understanding Fascism, I am certain that NO Liberal who ever challenged me with this boring and derivative insult knows EVEN as much I do on the subject. It makes their spiteful, hackneyed and cliché abuse the harder to tolerate.
Conservatism has been erroneously and maliciously associated with Fascism (as defined by the MSM and others, EQUALLY as badly informed and unprincipled) since the end of WWII. Casting the term ‘Fascist’ in the face of Conservatism has been convenient and successful for Liberals.
I wish loudmouth Liberals would get themselves educated on the subject and I wish that others who KNOW the subject would SPEAK UP!!!
Calling Conservatives ‘Fascist’ is the lazy man’s way of understanding the problems of American government and society.
Off topic just a bit but my son who is in college tells me that the problem with ‘conservatism’ and the youth is that no young person wants to be ‘conservative’ even if they share values with conservatives. The word conservative implies ‘old’ world not new, fresh, forward movement. It implies ‘slow down, take it easy’ and what young person wants to slow down? He thinks ‘conservatives’ need to come up with a new word to describe what we believe in order to get more youngsters on board.
“1) The most hard core Nazi’s were quite pagan and VERY non-Christian. They ONLY brought out Christian elements when it suit the Nazi’s means. 2) The Nazi’s were BIG on eugenics with abortion/euthanasia as a means to thin/purify the herd.
3) The Nazi’s were heavily into environmentalism; not because they wanted to save forests but because the wanted ONLY the ‘approved’ party people to enjoin the wilderness.
4) As long as a business toed the party line, worshiped with cult of personality fervor, obeyed the state mandated regulations, the business was allowed to continue.
5) Elite Nazi’s party made plenty of cash from the big German corporations while condemning Jewish greediness.
I’ve pointed out these facts to some lefties and they are either speechless or they go into a rant about Bush.”
I suggest making their heads explode by pointing out that well documented fact that the SA(brownshirts)was a largely homosexual organization and routinely held orgies for its membership. In fact Hitler used such a get together to have many of them arrested/shot when he no longer needed them.
“He thinks ‘conservatives’ need to come up with a new word to describe what we believe in...”
We did... the word is-’TEA PARTY” ...(2 words, actually) If he has had the benefit of ANY proper US history Tea Party ought to ring a bell.
The only reason that people think the National Socialist Worker’s Party (NAZI) is right-wing is because the liberals write the history books.
The Fascist accepts and loves life; he rejects and despises suicide as cowardly. Life as he understands it means duty, elevation, conquest; life must be lofty and full, it must be lived for oneself but above all for others, both near bye and far off, present and future.
And a tenet of Fascism is that 'democracy, socialism, and liberalism were failed systems. Now if speaking of a 'direct democracy' it's correct. That's why our founders disregarded it as a system of government for our Republic. And anyone with a pulse knows that socialism and liberalism are a no-go. Except for those that are mentally ill, that is.
And one thing that went down the History memory hole -- except for Glenn Beck -- is that Fascism worked so well in Italy that AMERICANS and other world leaders were looking at it with awe: 'Gee. Why can't we do that?' One reason is that during the Great depression that affected the entire world, Italy, under Mussolini and his fascist government, was affected the least.
One last item on Hitler, socialism, and the 'Socialist' NAZI party is that Adolph was not all that keen on it. The REAL 'Die-Hard Socialist' in the NAZI Party was Ernst Röhm, leader of the SA. And at one point Röhm wanted to kill Hitler because in Röhm's view Hitler didn't go far enough. Röhm didn't think 'the fight for socialism was over'. This was at the point when Hitler had Himmler and the SS do their little thing during 'The Night Of the Long Knives'. So Hitler was many things (besides crazy), and he borrowed ideas from any system that would empower HIM.
But one thing is for sure -- Hitler hated Communism and Communists (Bolsheviks) as much as any red-white-and blue staunch anticommunist American. Like say George Patton, who said (in effect), 'Maybe we're fighting the wrong people?'
NOTE: I'm not defending Hitler, NAZIS or saying Patton was 'pro' NAZI. Just that Fascism was an Italian 'invention' and 'The Fascists' were Italians. And that is always forgotten.
From the article - “…..contribute to the left’s soft identification with one and strong rejection of the other (fascism).”
The left-wing only reject embracing the word ‘fascism’ but in practice they fully embrace fascism both economically and socially. The left-wing homosexual rights movement is an extreme fascist movement as are democrat party creations such as Fannie and Freddie and groups like ACORN.
Despite its roots in the correspondence between seating arrangements and ideological tendencies in the French National Assembly c. 1789, the entire “right-left” distinction became a propaganda tool for the left c. 1920.
So long as the Soviet Union was actively pushing its project, “right” had the functional meaning of “opposed to the Commintern”, thus monarchists, classical liberals (what we American conservatives are), fascists, and Nazis were all “right-wing”, while Communists and any movements they considered “useful idiots” were “left-wing”. The incoherent baskets of ideologies which resulted persist to this day because the idiots (no longer useful to the CPUSSR, or anyone else for that matter) find it politically expedient to falsely link classical liberalism and fascism.
The Nazi’s being “right wing” is a lie that originated from Stalin’s propaganda organs.
Today’s liberals see themselves as champions of the “working man” and enemies of corporate interests and the wealthy.
The problem with slackers they are a thankless lot not even greatful to have a job the want it all but lack the spine to work for it.
Freeloaders won’t even work,the government isn’t your mama.
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