[MtnClimber]

Projection 101.

[Kevmo]

“Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power.”

That might make a good tagline so I’ll update the page.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3992415/posts?page=296#296

[ClearCase_guy]

My undergrad degree is a BA in History. In Jr High School, High School, and in College, I had teachers who explained Marxism to the class. Some of the teachers didn't like it but thought kids should understand it, but most of the teachers like Marxism very much and wanted to persuade kids how awesome it was.

I never had a teacher who made any effort to discuss Fascism.

It's bad. Okay? End of lesson.

I always thought that was very odd. It was a major political philosophy of the early 20th century -- in its early manifestation it was popular in many areas and quite influential. Britain had a Fascist party. Some people thought Edward VIII had fascist sympathies. Italy seemed to do well under fascism. Germany too. Then, of course, it went remarkably wrong and was rejected.

But wouldn't there be a lesson there? "This is what fascism is, this is why people found it attractive, this is how it went wrong, this is why we must never do that again"?

But no one really says that.

"It's bad. Okay? End of lesson."

I've studied it quite a bit. It's on the Left. It's Collectivist. It does not value the rights of the individual, but only values the Group (meaning the State). It's Socialist. If it's bad, and if it's seen as socialism, then it taints all other forms of socialism. The International Communists (Trotsky branch) have dominated the Left for many decades and it is in their interest to make sure that no one see how similar their philosophy is to fascism. The real difference is fascism is a Nationalist philosophy and Communism has become an Globalist philosophy.

The Left really hates all forms of Nationalism because it is such a direct competition to their ideas. You can be thoroughly Collectivist, but if you are patriotic to your own country, the Left will call you a far-right extremist.

I say America is a fascist country today, and has been for quite some time. And I think I'm using the term correctly not just hurling an insult: "We are meanies and racists and, you know, fascists." No. I don't mean that. I mean we have blended Big Business with Big Government, we have largely eliminated the the rights of the Individual, and we basically worship the State. That's fascism, and that's us.

[Travis McGee]

[IDFbunny]

Bolshevism is a better description than fascism but the public just isn’t educated enough to understand the nuance. Fascists loved their country and folk, Bolshevists hated theirs.

[Will88]

A basic definition of fascism I learned is: private ownership of the factors of production with government control.

What sort of government control that might be utilized could vary greatly all the way to Nazism and various degrees of a police state.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

My approximate recollection of the definition by the 1910 Websters Collegent Dictionary;

Fascism; any political system that involves government control of business and industry, media and the press, education, and forcible suppression of dissent.

The 1930 edition was about the same, but added "especially originating with the the right.) The Joseph Stalin definition was anything that bothered him.