The standard spectrum in the classroom with Fascism on one side and Communism on the other as the extremes of “left” and “right” is totally bogus!!
This misappropriation of terminology was embraced by leftist academics in order to smear those that they deemed to be “right” wing. In order to demonstrate the correctness of the standard spectrum, they would point out that Hitler and Stalin were mortal enemies during WWII.
That observation is flawed on two fronts. It ignores the fact that Hitler and Stalin were actually partners in starting WWII and turned on each other later. The observation is also flawed since it would lead to the conclusion that Stalin and Trotsky must be on opposite ends of the political spectrum,since they were also mortal enemies.
A much more meaningful spectrum is one which places statism at one extreme; i.e., the left edge, and anarchy (total lack of state) at the other extreme.
Once one embraces this paradigm, then it is plain that Fascism and Communism belong in the same camp. They are both faces of statism.
The fundamental question which should be posed to ideologues is whether the “state” exists for the benefit of individuals, or do individuals exist for the benefit of the “state”.
I understand your argument however it would not be convincing for a socialist.
A socialist would argue that the state does exist for the individual. That the state exist to ensure that every individual has all of his needs secured to that individual.
Hitler and Stalin both believed in the supremacy of the state and that the individual must serve the needs of the state.
However the Progressives of today have hidden their true motives in propagandistic fluff of phrases of “rights to health care” and “rights to healthy food”.
The Progressives turn everything upside down by telling their adherents that the state serves the individual by forcing the individual surrender their rights to the state and to serve the state.
Yes!
Please read Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn in his Leftism... He destroys the leftist lie about the fascism being rightist.
You are absolutely right: The spectrum is statism versus anarchy.
Well said, I like it, and will probably steal it. With proper credit to the author of course.
Communist->Fascist->Liberal->Democrat->Moderate->Republican->Conservative->Libertarian->Anarchist
LEFT---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RIGHT