[Maelstrom]

Actually, the link between Hitler and Socialism is entirely correct.

First, ignore the name and look at the economic policies. There is a LOT of socialism evident within those economic policies as well as many social policies.

Second, Hitler did actually practice socialism. In his Germany, the means of production were not controlled outright by the GOVERNMENT, but via extensive and overburdening regulations, the business owners were figureheands.

Socialism doesn't place control over the means of production in the hands of the workers. It places it in the hands of central managers...it must...and as such, those central managers become the de facto government.

Socialism is fundamentally flawed due to the inability to allocate scarce resources without discrimination.

Very few of Hitler's policies were so extreme as to validate your complaint. I daresay that the ONLY policy that extreme was the extermination of Jews, Bohemians, Gypsies and other undesireables.

Of course...many other socialist nations also have their bogeymen whom they slaughter in the millions, so even that complaint needs to be buttressed for it to fail to apply to contemporary socialists.

[ChessExpert]

In his Germany, the means of production were not controlled outright by the GOVERNMENT, but via extensive and overburdening regulations, the business owners were figureheads.

Government control of the economy is socialism. And this seems to fit the bill. If I were a businessman, I think I’d rather cross FDR, or a President Hillary, than cross Hitler. Hitler doesn't strike me as someone who would respect a Constitution, Bill of Rights, or valid concern for State’s rights. “The government that governs best, governs least.” That’s not a Hitler quote. On a large government - small government continuum, I place Hitler on the far left.