Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
+2
Sprintcyclist
Calypso Jones
6 posters
Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
https://townhall.com/columnists/robjenkins/2021/01/14/will-the-real-fascists-please-stand-up-n2583022
Leftists love to throw around the word “fascist,” although half the time they don’t appear to even know what it means. Usually, it’s just a way of insulting someone unenlightened enough to disagree with them. At best, they’re calling the person a big meanie, an authoritarian. But that’s not exactly (or at least not entirely) what a “fascist” is.
Perhaps, for our leftist friends, a brief primer is in order.
Fascism is a political and economic system that arose in Europe following World War I. It has three primary characteristics: extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and a state-run economy. Indeed, in terms of economics, fascism is very much an ideology of the left, not the right, having more in common with socialism than with any conservative, free-market system. Remember, “Nazi” was short for “National Socialists.” No less an expert than Benito Mussolini called fascism “the third way,” meaning another statist alternative to socialism and communism.
The difference is that, instead of actually owning the means of production, the fascist state allows them to remain nominally in the hands of private citizens and then dictates to those business “owners” what they may and may not do. In that way, the state essentially determines economic winners and losers, depending on which industries and individuals it favors.
As a practical matter, I think we could fairly refer to any person or system that meets two of the three criteria as “fascist.” That’s why the left continues to insist that Donald Trump is a fascist—because they see him as both nationalistic and authoritarian. But Trump is not an extreme nationalist, as his dealings with other nations—including “win-win” trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and others as well as his efforts to promote Middle East peace—have made clear. As for his much-publicized (and criticized) “America First” agenda, well—for the president of a country to put the interests of his own citizens ahead of those of other countries should hardly be viewed as controversial, much less extreme.
Nor is Trump an authoritarian, despite the left’s attempts to brand him as a “dictator.” What, exactly, has he dictated? What has he forced American citizens to do against their will? What constitutionally guaranteed rights has he stripped from us? Indeed, in our system, the only way a president can “dictate” is via executive order, and in that respect, Trump’s presidency has been unremarkable. Among one-term presidents, he has issued fewer EOs than Democrats John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Jimmy Carter. He has averaged fewer per year than multi-termers Harry S. Truman or Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In his four years, he issued about the same number (204) as Bill Clinton did in his first term (200).
Moreover, when his executive orders were overturned by the federal courts—as was the case with some of his orders on immigration, early in his presidency—Trump grudgingly acquiesced. He allowed the system to work as it was intended, however much he might have hated doing so. Some authoritarian.
And of course, Trump is obviously no statist. He is a free-marketer all the way, a capitalist par excellence who rose to power on a promise to cut regulations, which he did. So at most, he meets only one of the three criteria for classification as a fascist—nationalism—and even that one, I believe, is a bit of a stretch. (Keep in mind, too, that the most authoritarian AND nationalistic regimes on the planet are communists, not fascists—although I think a good argument could be made that China today, with its selective “capitalism,” is actually closer to Hitlerian fascism than Leninism or Maoism.)
Leftists love to throw around the word “fascist,” although half the time they don’t appear to even know what it means. Usually, it’s just a way of insulting someone unenlightened enough to disagree with them. At best, they’re calling the person a big meanie, an authoritarian. But that’s not exactly (or at least not entirely) what a “fascist” is.
Perhaps, for our leftist friends, a brief primer is in order.
Fascism is a political and economic system that arose in Europe following World War I. It has three primary characteristics: extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and a state-run economy. Indeed, in terms of economics, fascism is very much an ideology of the left, not the right, having more in common with socialism than with any conservative, free-market system. Remember, “Nazi” was short for “National Socialists.” No less an expert than Benito Mussolini called fascism “the third way,” meaning another statist alternative to socialism and communism.
The difference is that, instead of actually owning the means of production, the fascist state allows them to remain nominally in the hands of private citizens and then dictates to those business “owners” what they may and may not do. In that way, the state essentially determines economic winners and losers, depending on which industries and individuals it favors.
As a practical matter, I think we could fairly refer to any person or system that meets two of the three criteria as “fascist.” That’s why the left continues to insist that Donald Trump is a fascist—because they see him as both nationalistic and authoritarian. But Trump is not an extreme nationalist, as his dealings with other nations—including “win-win” trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and others as well as his efforts to promote Middle East peace—have made clear. As for his much-publicized (and criticized) “America First” agenda, well—for the president of a country to put the interests of his own citizens ahead of those of other countries should hardly be viewed as controversial, much less extreme.
Nor is Trump an authoritarian, despite the left’s attempts to brand him as a “dictator.” What, exactly, has he dictated? What has he forced American citizens to do against their will? What constitutionally guaranteed rights has he stripped from us? Indeed, in our system, the only way a president can “dictate” is via executive order, and in that respect, Trump’s presidency has been unremarkable. Among one-term presidents, he has issued fewer EOs than Democrats John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Jimmy Carter. He has averaged fewer per year than multi-termers Harry S. Truman or Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In his four years, he issued about the same number (204) as Bill Clinton did in his first term (200).
Moreover, when his executive orders were overturned by the federal courts—as was the case with some of his orders on immigration, early in his presidency—Trump grudgingly acquiesced. He allowed the system to work as it was intended, however much he might have hated doing so. Some authoritarian.
And of course, Trump is obviously no statist. He is a free-marketer all the way, a capitalist par excellence who rose to power on a promise to cut regulations, which he did. So at most, he meets only one of the three criteria for classification as a fascist—nationalism—and even that one, I believe, is a bit of a stretch. (Keep in mind, too, that the most authoritarian AND nationalistic regimes on the planet are communists, not fascists—although I think a good argument could be made that China today, with its selective “capitalism,” is actually closer to Hitlerian fascism than Leninism or Maoism.)
Calypso Jones- Posts : 24047
Points : 32893
Reputation : 508
Join date : 2021-02-08
Age : 23
HawkTheSlayer, Red Lily, JMWinPR and Thom Paine like this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
facist is a word some people use to pigeonhole others they cannot understand or refuse to listen to.
It means they can continue if not harden on their narrow minded intolerant mindset with no mental application at all.
eg ' maybe we should increase the minimum wage.'
'YOU FACIST'
It means they can continue if not harden on their narrow minded intolerant mindset with no mental application at all.
eg ' maybe we should increase the minimum wage.'
'YOU FACIST'
Sprintcyclist- Posts : 5753
Points : 8390
Reputation : 157
Join date : 2021-08-09
Location : Australia
Thom Paine likes this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
Fascist, like racist, is a word that's been wielded (mainly by the left) to such an extent inappropriately, out of context and in the hope of shutting down and cancelling what they don't like that it's true meaning is totally lost.
I agree these people don't have a clue what it means.
I agree these people don't have a clue what it means.
Red Lily- Posts : 12008
Points : 15321
Reputation : 581
Join date : 2021-01-31
HawkTheSlayer, JMWinPR and Thom Paine like this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
Fascism and communism are opposite sides of the same coin
vege57- Posts : 10206
Points : 11650
Reputation : 210
Join date : 2021-02-02
Age : 58
Location : Auckland , New Zealand
Sprintcyclist likes this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
vege57 wrote:Fascism and communism are opposite sides of the same coin
Mussolini says fascism is the Third way.
Calypso Jones- Posts : 24047
Points : 32893
Reputation : 508
Join date : 2021-02-08
Age : 23
Thom Paine likes this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
Calypso Jones wrote:vege57 wrote:Fascism and communism are opposite sides of the same coin
Mussolini says fascism is the Third way.
Probably why they hung him from a power pole lol They were not convinced
vege57- Posts : 10206
Points : 11650
Reputation : 210
Join date : 2021-02-02
Age : 58
Location : Auckland , New Zealand
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
That is true. That is why the first AntiFa were Soviets. They viewed 'fascism" as capitalist because the state didn't "own" the industry(s). Crony Capitalism is the modern commonly used phrase that embodies fascism.vege57 wrote:Fascism and communism are opposite sides of the same coin
JMWinPR- Posts : 860
Points : 2179
Reputation : 101
Join date : 2021-03-02
Location : P.R.
HawkTheSlayer, Calypso Jones and Thom Paine like this post
Re: Fascism explanation...so easy even a 'kid' can understand it
HAPPY BIRTHDAY VLADIMIR PUTIN!!!!
jirqoadai- Posts : 7402
Points : 9138
Reputation : 121
Join date : 2021-03-02
Location : Jesus Christ
Calypso Jones- Posts : 24047
Points : 32893
Reputation : 508
Join date : 2021-02-08
Age : 23
Calypso Jones- Posts : 24047
Points : 32893
Reputation : 508
Join date : 2021-02-08
Age : 23
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum