Socialist or Fascist? (Thomas Sowell on Obama)

Creators Syndicate ^ | June 12, 2012 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the link. bookmarked

[Pontiac]

Mussolini, the originator of fascism, was lionized by the left, both in Europe and in America, during the 1920s. Even Hitler, who adopted fascist ideas in the 1920s, was seen by some, including W.E.B. Du Bois, as a man of the left.

It was in the 1930s, when ugly internal and international actions by Hitler and Mussolini repelled the world, that the left distanced themselves from fascism and its Nazi offshoot — and verbally transferred these totalitarian dictatorships to the right, saddling their opponents with these pariahs.

Maybe some of the historians among us can educate us on what exactly it was that turned the tide on Fascism.

I certainly was not the persecution of the Jews. Nearly every European nation had a history of Jew hatred.

The only thing I can think of is Germany’s retaking of territories and colonies that it had ceded after WW I.

The mistake I think the Fascist made was that they did not close their borders as the Soviets did. The control of information in the Fascist states was not as complete. Also it seems that the western journalist were more sympathetic to the international socialist. The western intellectuals also seem more attuned to the idea of a complete command economy.

[rockinqsranch]

Yesssssss. Right on the mark again. Thanks for the ping jaz.

Enjoy reading Dr. Sowell articles. He brings up items of interest, and knowledgeable discussion, as well reminds us of items that sometimes slip from our thoughts.

Dr. Sowell keeping us focused. GREAT!

[GilesB]

Sowell makes a clear and strong case, as usual.

I have one small quibble - it was specifically Hitler’s betrayal of Uncle Joe that made him a “right winger”; up to that point he was fawned over by the left. But Uncle Joe was the major diety in the pantheon of the utopians. Hitler and Il Duce were, at the time, only revered demi-gods, who, much like the Biblical story, rebelled against their great god, Uncle Joe, and were then cast into the pits of hell - as far from the leftist utopian heaven as possible and are now cast as the Leftists’ great satans in their grand, immoral, morality play.

These specifics are not at odds with Sowell’s explanation, I just wish he would clearly point out that it was their love for that pompadoured murderer that finally made the left decry Hitler and his murderous ways - it wasn’t the murdering to which they objected.

[Uncle Ike]

” The western intellectuals also seem more attuned to the idea of a complete command economy. “

That’s because they all believe that it will be *they*, personally, who will be doing the ‘commanding’....

[samtheman]

What socialism, fascism and other ideologies of the left have in common is an assumption that some very wise people — like themselves — need to take decisions out of the hands of lesser people, like the rest of us, and impose those decisions by government fiat.

Excellent.

[cmwy]

For one of the best explanations of socialism, communism, and fascism read von Hayek Road to Serfdom available as a readers digest condensed version. They are all left and fought each other for the same followers

[Defiant]

I would put it differently. Obama is clearly a socialist, in terms of his goals and world outlook. Fascism is a form of socialism. Ultimately, Obama would prefer the Soviet Stalinist model of state ownership of everything to the Italian/Nazi model. However, he cannot overturn private property rights in the US in one fell swoop. So, he takes control of private industries as best he can in his first term. That begins to resemble fascism. But he is a commie through and through, with Islamic tendencies.

[Sergio]

I think the tide might have turned in WWII when Hitler broke the treaty with Stalin and attacked Russia. Not that Stalin would not have done the same thing if the roles were reversed, but Stalin survived, Hitler did not, and history is written by the winners.

[samtheman]

Thanks. I will.

[nonsporting]

We always knew.

[tet68]

T.Sowell Bump.
Clear as a bell.

[justa-hairyape]

- Obama’s political philosophy to get elected is fascist, but in his heart he’s a Marxist.

He has no heart. Not part of his narcissistic personality disorder. He was molded and used by Marxist, who knew how to take advantage of the personality disorder. If and when his Marxist mentors lose control of him, the world will pay a very big price. That is probably why they have him sedated most of the time now and he rarely makes any sense what so ever.

[trubolotta]

Obama is an America hater and a statist. Statists are left wing and all believe in the supremacy of the state over the individual. He will borrow whatever he needs from fascism, communism or socialism with a tad of racism to accomplish his goal - punish America for her sins. He is not looking to transform America into a paradise on earth but to a hell on earth.

[varon]

On April 28 1945, at the Piazzale Loreto in Milan, Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were shot and hanged in a spectacle

Works better than a voting booth and more permanent as well.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

No prob

I like my definition better anyway: "Fascist, Neo-Commie."

[sergeantdave]

Obama’s political philosophy to get elected is fascist, but in his heart he’s a Marxist.

“Communism and fascism are the ultimate Marxist competitors.” - America’s 30 Years War: Who Is Winning? - Balint Vazsonyi

[BfloGuy]

I describe him as a socialist, not as a fascist, because so few people understand what a fascist actually is.

You're right. "Fascist" packs no punch in our time. If you tell someone that Hitler was a Fascist, they're likely to retort that Obama doesn't want to kill Jews.

[W. W. SMITH]

Socialism has many forms and names. They all result in enslavement of the citizens.

[jwalsh07]

Both. In the vernacular socialist means “ sharing the wealth”. Under that definition there can be no doubt that Obama is socialist as well as fascist.