Posted on 10/26/2024 5:35:24 AM PDT by fruser1
9 page description of Fascism. Mussolini's political party was created and named as such by himself.
The name comes from Roman "fasces" which were a bunch of bundled rods representing the power of those holding them to carry out the will of the state including capital punishment. Such individuals in Roman times were known as "lictors".
The essence is that the individual serves the state which is totalitarian and may have a few or just one person in charge.
Hence, individuals unified in this advancement of state objectives are like the bundled rods with combined strength greater than a single stick.
"Problems" that socialism or trade-unions seek to solve are solved through guild or corporate systems in coordination with the state.
There is no voting. Ruler(s) with the "truist" intentions for the state rule absolutely.
The beliefs of the state are imposed on the individuals through these structures.
Highlights from the first few pages:
Page 1: "it sees not only the individual but the nation and the country; individuals and generations bound together by a moral law, with common traditions and a mission which suppressing the instinct for life closed in a brief circle of pleasure, builds up a higher life, founded on duty"
"Life, as conceived of by the Fascist, is serious, austere, and religious; all its manifestations are poised in a world sustained by moral forces and subject to spiritual responsibilities. The Fascist disdains an 'easy' life."
Page 2: "Fascism is therefore opposed to all individualistic abstractions based on eighteenth century materialism; and it is opposed to all Jacobinistic utopias and innovations"
"In politics Fascism aims at realism; in practice it desires to deal only with those problems which are the spontaneous product of historic conditions and which find or suggest their own solutions."
"Anti-individualistic, the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State"
"Liberalism denied the State in the name of the individual; Fascism reasserts"
"The Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. Thus understood, Fascism, is totalitarian"
"Fascism is therefore opposed to Socialism to which unity within the State (which amalgamates classes into a single economic and ethical reality) is unknown"
"Fascism recognizes the real needs which gave rise to socialism and trade unionism, giving them due weight in the guild or corporative system in which divergent interests are coordinated and harmonized in the unity of the State."
"Fascism is therefore opposed to that form of democracy which equates a nation to the majority"
"expressing itself in a people as the conscience and will of the few, if not, indeed, of one, and ending to express itself in the conscience and the will of the mass"
"it the State which creates the nation, conferring volition and therefore real life on a people made aware of their moral unity."
Page 3: "Fascism, in short, is not only a law-giver and a founder of institutions, but an educator and a promoter of spiritual life. It aims at refashioning not only the forms of life but their content — man, his character, and his faith. To achieve this propose it enforces discipline and uses authority, entering into the soul and ruling with undisputed sway. Therefore it has chosen as its emblem the Lictor’s rods, the symbol of unity, strength, and justice."
Discussions about all other "-ism"s are distractions. Disparaging reckless and irresponsible government programs as one "-ism" vs another sends folks down rabbit holes of how you actually define the "ism" in question.
Hence it seems better to me to not waste your time trying to figure out what ism a bad policy falls under, but simply how it departs from American Exceptionalism.
Every dime has one.
Thanks.
Probably 99% of the people using this term have no idea what it means, except it’s bad….
Wild-eyed leftist professors never like to acknowledge that the fasci were shown as three sticks: Government, corporations and laborers. Fascism was quite intentionally self-promoted as what happens when government controls labor and corporations. It was also the “third way” between communism and capitalism; Blair and especially Clinton plagiarized Mussolini like nuts.
Well said!
Yes, and all other “isms” are, in varrying degrees,some form of authoritarianism.
Fascism is socialism that keeps a veneer of capitalism around for its use. When things are great govt takes credit. When things are bad esp. in the economy, govt blames companies and may even nationalize some.
BTTT
The fasces was replaced with a torch with the introduction of the Roosevelt dime in 1946.
If I recall correctly there are 2 fasces mounted on the wall on each side of the National Ensign which is directly behind the Speakers chair in the Congressional chamber.
“If I recall correctly there are 2 fasces mounted on the wall on each side of the National Ensign which is directly behind the Speakers chair in the Congressional chamber.”
The Peoples house
https://images.app.goo.gl/3vhPjevzmFwkFmjh6
Fascist govt apparatchiks and bureaucrats say to private citizens and business owners ( including corporate owned media):
Nice life and business you got there.
Be a shame if anything were to happen to it.
From : https://romeonrome.com/2016/01/mussolinis-architectural-legacy-in-rome/
The fasces symbol still graces the arms of Lincoln’s chair in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.. It’s on the emblem of the Knights of Columbus. It’s included in the statue of George Washington in front of New York City’s Federal Hall National Memorial. It also flanks the American Flag behind the Speaker’s Podium of the chamber of the United States House of Representatives (as seen in the photo below).
Fascism, socialism, and communism are all the same ideology. They all involve an all powerful, totalitarian government and no individualism.
Hitler and Stalin were not on opposite sides because their ideologies differed. They were on opposite sides because they both wanted the same thing, and both could not have it.
Bkmk
Yep. authoritarianism Requiring use of force. What manner of force becomes the question.
Italian fascism was socialism without the exclusion of Italian nationalism, catholic religion, and international party control.
Thank you for reposting this. I found this link earlier in the week and posted it then. Good for your synopisis for the weekend crowd. This PDF needs to be available for all to study and contrast against American Exceptionalism.
I didn’t know that. It’s been many years since I could actually see one of those little buggers.
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