Left, Right And Center

Americans defeated communism in the Cold War, and they will defeat the global jihad of Islam as soon as they realize what's at stake and whom they are actually fighting.

The real threat to our liberties today is from an "ism" you seldom hear much about these days. It's called fascism.

We're not only slouching toward Gomorrah, as Robert Bork has written. We're slouching toward Rome.

To understand what I mean, most people need to rethink their notions about the political spectrum. At the left end, most people agree, you have communism – total government control over the means of production and property. It's at the other end of the spectrum that many get confused.

Ask most left-wingers and they'll suggest that fascism is on the extreme right – 180 degrees from communism. Uh-uh. I've got news for you, friends. Fascism and communism are ideological kissin' cousins. I would place fascism and any other brand of socialism just a few degrees to the right of communism.

Remember, both fascism and socialism mean – to one degree or another – government control of production and distribution. The only thing that distinguishes fascism from socialism in economic theory is how they get that control and how they maintain it.

Fascists realize the government doesn't need to own industry to control it. Through regulation and taxation, fascists know they can achieve the same results without nearly as much work and responsibility.

Fascism, of course, has become a dirty word because of its association with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. But just because none dare speak its name doesn't mean it is dead. Fascism is actually on the rise today precisely because no one recognizes it for what it is and calls a spade a spade.

It is in wide practice today in what we call Communist China. Beijing has not achieved communism. And instead of moving toward the Marxist-Leninist goal, it is moving steadily toward fascism – a hideous blend of state and private partnership. And guess what? The United States is moving in the same direction. Every time you hear officials talk about "public-private partnerships," I want you to understand the translation: fascism, pure and simple.

So what's at the other end of that political spectrum? This surprises a lot of people, but it's really quite logical, if you think about it. If total government control in the form of communism is at the left end, wouldn't it make sense that anarchy – no government control – is at the extreme right?

I envision many libertarians nodding in agreement as they read this. So where do they fit in? Just a few degrees to the left of the anarchists, of course. Conservatives, favoring less government as they do, would find themselves 20 or 30 degrees to the left of the libertarians, while so many people who call themselves liberals today could shake hands with the socialists and fascists to their left.

And that's really why we're facing a serious threat today. You see, most Americans think they hate fascism. They equate it, understandably, with Nazism, Hitler, Mussolini, racism, anti-Semitism and imperialism. But they forget what the definition of fascism is. They no longer recognize it when they see it.

But when you hear about emergency government plans to confiscate property, block transportation and seize control of all communications, as "health" legislation sweeping through the states proposes, please understand that fascism is knocking on the door.

Look at the way we have abdicated our individual liberties in favor of "group rights." That's a fascist concept. Look at the way we demonize certain groups (whether you're talking about smokers or Bible-believing Christians) and elevate others (native Americans and homosexuals come to mind as the new noblemen or chosen people) in our society. That, too, is a fascist concept.

One of the reasons America is moving toward fascism today is because it has lost its constitutional moorings. We're supposed to believe in limited government in the United States. The federal powers are enumerated in the Constitution. But, in recent years, Washington has far exceeded its authority. And very few politicians – Democrats or Republicans – seem to give a darn.

Even worse, most Americans don't even seem to be aware of the problem. Is there any hope? Well, unless we understand what we're up against, it's difficult to fight it. We have to redefine our terms, comprehend the nature of the beast.

omigosh...Thanks so much for posting. I've gotten out of the habit of reading Farah's daily essay. This man has such a clear way of expressing himself and he is so RIGHT ON! His essay on Palestine is classic.

Our education system has produced a new Nazism of thirty and twenty-somethings on the rampage against SUVs, smoking, "judgmentalism," independent thought, truth, and on and on...

Once again the BIG LIE is what has been put out there for public consumption. Pass this on to friends and relatives for them to think about this.

"Remember, both fascism and socialism mean – to one degree or another – government control of production and distribution. "

Actually, some conservatives fit this description as well. The drug question is one in which conservatives require government control of production and distribution of ALL drugs (hence their support for the FDA and BATF)in order to preclude some people from using what are considered undesireable drugs. Many farm state republicans are as happy as puch with ethanol subsidies and farm price supports. And just remember who signed an onerous steel tariff, it wasn't Bill Clinton.

Does that mean Republicans are as bad as liberals? No. But they are co-dependents with the left, ratcheting us all towards fascism.

Democratic Fascism

The result is a form of fascist rule imposed upon a citizenry, not by a dictator who seized power by force, but by freely elected leaders. We could call it Democratic Fascism, whereby a people's freedom is not taken away from them by dictatorial force, but is voluntarily surrendered.

Americans have imposed the tyranny of Washington upon ourselves. By a patient Fabian strategy taking many years, the American people have been persuaded, unwittingly and almost unconsciously, to voluntarily chain themselves to their masters in Washington.

No longer innocently oppressed, America has become a nation of belligerent beggars, demanding with insufferable arrogance an endless cornucopia of government handouts, subsidies, and "entitlements," deferring the multi-trillion dollar tab upon our children and grandchildren.