The difference between Commies and Fascists is like the difference between Bloods and Crips...The only difference is the uniforms they wear.
Yes and no, but to that distinction I will defer to Homage to Catalonia, by George Orwell:
In reality, it was the Communists above all others who prevented revolution in Spain. Later, when the Right Wing forces were in full control, the Communists showed themselves willing to go a great deal further than the Liberals in hunting down revolutionary leaders.In short, there are substantive differences even within the "true believer" communists, that themselves devolve to fascism and "true" communism which, in fact, is an economic system so impracticable as to be virtual, and therefore devolves back to fascism. Hence is your observation that there is no difference. Still, in their minds those differences are so significant that it can get them shooting at each other, an ideological wedge we would be wise to amplify.[Snip]
Between the Communists and those who claim to stand to the Left of them there is a real difference. The Communists hold that Fascism can be beaten by alliance with sections of the capitalist class (the Popular Front); their opponents hold that this maneuver simply gives Fascism new breeding-grounds. The question has got to be settled; to make the wrong decision may be to land ourselves in for centuries of semi-slavery.
The way to do that is to label most Marxists (and especially American liberals) as "fascists," both to their faces and in print. We must dislodge the common perception that there is anything "right wing" about fascism.
Not so, even though they are both socialistic models there are differences.
Under Communism the means of production (land, machinery, buildings, raw materials, and yes even workers) all belong to the state. The economy is controlled by central planners who are members of the political apparatus governing the entire collective. (China under Mao, pre culturalo revelotion)
Under Fascism private ownership is allowed and a limited form of capitalism is permitted. Central planning replaces free markets and the economy is top down directed by the government. (Post Mao China)
Regards,
GtG
PS The US is currently being "nudged" toward fascism and is displaying some of the characteristic failures of "central planning" by our "stalled" economy.