[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

You've fallen for the revisionist history, which was taught to all of the post-war generation(s). (Think about it -- it's essentially saying that if you pushed conservatives just a bit further "right", they'd be fascists. It's nonsense on the face of it -- but a masterstroke of indoctrination for leftists.)

The "left-right" spectrum is a totally inadequate way to categorize political ideologies. You need to use at least two axes, to begin to do an adequate job of categorizing. There are several such 4-square matrix charts on-line. I don't find any of them wholly satisfactory, but most are a distinct improvement over the single-axis "left-right" model.

Here's a link to a site that uses a different type of matrix.

http://freedomkeys.com/isms.htm

Here's an excerpt from the site:

"Now, for those defiantly ignorant folks who insist on calling everyone with whom they disagree a "fascist," note that:

Of the 13 hallmarks listed above, FASCISTS share 9 with Socialists, 9 with American "Liberals", 7 with Authoritarian Populists, 5 with American Conservatives, and NONE with the Founding Fathers or the Libertarians."

It seems clear that the authors have a Libertarian bent -- please don't make any assumptions about my leanings, on that basis. I am simply trying to show that there are much better models for classifying political ideologies than the totally inadequate "left-right" spectrum.

[justlurking]

You've fallen for the revisionist history, which was taught to all of the post-war generation(s).

I didn't fall for any revisionism. I simply recognize there's a difference between fascism and socialism. omega4179 put his finger on the reason: it's the source of ideology, rather than the outcome. Fascism uses patriotism, while socialism uses class warfare.

Both are authoritarian. They have some things in common, that doesn't make them the same. And that's why a lot of conservatives protest, because the existence of authoritarianism on the right end of the political spectrum makes them uncomfortable.

The "left-right" spectrum is a totally inadequate way to categorize political ideologies.

Yup, that's exactly what I meant when I posted to WayneS that I don't consider the political spectrum to be bipolar.