Yes, we are. And what I'm saying is that they don't resemble the politics of the far right more than the politics of the left. What I'm saying is that they more resemble the politics of the left (as exemplified in well-known cases such as USSR, Cuba, etc) than the politics of the right. Was this not clear?
there is a bulleted list of beliefs that quite simply illustrate that point.
And I shot down this bulleted list one after the other. Should I do it again?
now look at that list and compare it to the beliefs of the far right in OUR country.
Sigh. Ok let's do it one more time. Your list of Right vs. Left ideas:
* Individualism over collectivism.
Probably correct. However, Hitler was no "individualist". He saw and treated people collectively, in terms of their race. Thus, Hitler was on the LEFT on this issue.
* Racism or racial segregation over racial tolerance.
Incorrect. While it's true that some segregationists might feel comfortable on the Right, it's also true that the Left is not "racially tolerant" at all. What gave you the idea that it is?
* Eugenics over freedom of reproduction.
Incorrect. The Left was (and arguably is) quite taken with eugenics. I gave you an example (Sweden till 70s). Another example could be the Left's obsession with population control in Third World countries full of brown people.
* Merit over equality.
This one isn't even logical. "Merit" and "equality" are not mutually exclusive terms. The Right wants both "merit" and "equality" (of opportunity) to apply. The Left is only interested in equality of outcome.
That being understood, Hitler was certainly on the LEFT on this issue. He was not interested in "merit" at all, you see. Just equality of outcome for German (or "Aryan") folk.
* Competition over cooperation.
I would say this is an inaccurate characterization. It's true the Right favors (wants to harness) competition. It's not accurate to say the Left wants "cooperation". Cooperation with their dictates, perhaps. Not the same thing.
That being understood, Hitler was definitely on the LEFT on this issue. It's very hard to argue that Hitler was laissez-faire economically or that he supported a thriving "competitive" democratic debate, isn't it?
* Power politics and militarism over pacifism.
Probably true. But based on this criterion, Hitler, Stalin, Castro have to all be placed together on the Right.
So Hitler is on the Right on the same issue as other well-known socialists. This doesn't exactly help disprove the claim that Hitler was a socialist.
* One-person rule or self-rule over democracy.
If "democracy" is used in the generic sense (everyone votes on everything) then this is probably accurate. Of course, once again I'd have to place Hitler, Stalin and Castro together on the Right on this issue, since none of them were actually "democratic".
Yet again Hitler is on the Right when his other fellow socialists are too.
* Capitalism over Marxism.
Of course this is a true left-vs-right issue. Hitler was far from a "capitalist" (meaning laissez-faire) however, and he was also quite influenced by Marxist ideas (aside from just the anti-Semitism). On this issue Hitler obviously wasn't as far left as Lenin, but still leaned Left.
* Realism over idealism.
Perhaps a fair dichotomy. But Hitler was very idealistic and very unrealistic (he had strange grand ideas and bizarre ascientific racial theories which he tried to put into reality by, for example, slaughtering millions of people). Yet again he belongs on the LEFT here.
* Nationalism over internationalism.
A true left-vs-right issue, this one. Ok, we can agree Hitler was nationalistic thus belonging on the Right. So are his fellow socialists Castro and Stalin (despite whatever rhetoric they spouted..).
* Exclusiveness over inclusiveness.
These are almost meaningless feelgood terms. I'm not sure what this dichotomy is supposed to mean, in practice. Hitler was exclusive, excluding Jews. Stalin was exclusive, excluding kulaks, Ukrainians, heck anyone he felt like. I'd say once again the two socialists were alike on this issue, whether it means they were both Left or Right.
* Meat-eating over vegetarianism.
Dumb. This has nothing intrinsic to do with Left vs. Right. And for the record, I think others have pointed out Hitler was a vegetarian anyway, so are you trying to help prove Hitler was a Leftist or what?
* Gun ownership over gun control
Fine. Hitler, like other socialists, favored gun control. Next?
* Common sense over theory or science.
I'd say just "Common sense over theory", because there's nothing "scientific" whatsoever about Leftist ideas. Anyway, Hitler like his fellow socialist Stalin sure lacked common sense but he sure had his "theories". Yet AGAIN two birds of a feather - two socialists. Next?
* Pragmatism over principle.
I guess I'll accept this one, based on the idea that Right = conservative = pragmatic, while the Left has their "principles" which they stick to no matter how unrealistic. I'll even grant that Hitler was more "pragmatic", thus more to the Right, than Stalin on this issue. The reason for this is that he tempered or watered down his socialism so that business would feel less nervous supporting him and he could gain power. So he was a socialist, but a sell-out of sorts.
I guess that's why other socialists hated him so much and insist that his sell-out means that he moved all the way to the other side of the spectrum (which he didn't) and thus that he's on the Right (which he's not) - he looks like a Rightist if you're a disappointed true-blue-believer Socialist, I can imagine.... but to the rest of us? He looks like the socialist that he was.
* Religion over secularism.
Again, fine. Hitler was no believer. Stalin was presumably an atheist but at least went to seminary, and after all had the idea of creating that whole cult of Lenin.
I guess on this issue we find that Hitler was even further Left than his fellow socialist Stalin. Interesting.
So heck, on every single issue you list here (except possibly the ones which are inaccurate) we find that Hitler is on the same side as other socialists.
How exactly is Hitler different from socialists then?
What exactly were you trying to prove here?