Nope. Communists simply called anyone they didn't like a fascist. So Social Democrats were called Social-Fascists, for example.
Apart from that, all Fascists liked the make-up of the Bismarkian German state - industrial, education and social welfare policies, as it leapfrogged Britain during the 100 years from after the Napoleonic wars. Without the opposition - who needs the opposition if one knows how to make a successful state? In addition, antisemitism was a biggie for British, French and Croatians, but not for Italians or Austrians.
From a literal sense you are correct that Trump is more like George Steinbrenner than Walter O'Malley. The problem is that liberals have redefined fascist into meaning "a politician that does something I don't like". Liberals proved in 2020 that they have no problems with following orders from politicians they do like, but it was obvious even before then if you were paying attention.
Liberals are like women in that if you have any hope of ever understanding them, you should pay attention to their actions, not their words.
For most people their chosen political identity is like a superhero costume. They just know the guy wearing it is the good guy. Doesn't matter what they do. Doesn't matter if they swap out the policies that drew you to that political party in the first place. Superman is the good guy because he has the big S on his chest. There was a recent Superman storyline in which he becomes a Fascist for the good of the planet. I haven't read it but from the highlights I think it works out like in the real world. Some people are like "WTF" but most assume Superman knows best
They are even if they don't say it. There are many photos of Lenin and Mussolini meeting. They - the communists - just have the additional impulse to expropriate all private means of production and nationalize it. Central planning and all. That's why Mussolini broke with them.
Nonsense. Mussolini met lots of people, proving nothing.
Communists are not Fascists. Or Nazis. Or Catholics, back when THEY were totalitarian because they could be. Things which are different are not the same just because they share properties..
Nah- he just needs to be put on Spider's "pay no mind list". This response, and a few others, have demonstrated that he is an angry child, possibly with an interesting alternative point of view, but not worth engaging.
If Trump ever locked his political opponents up in the soccer stadiums, he'd be bored by the next morning and let them out so he'd have somebody to spar with.
I think the reality is that they don't actually believe it. The thought leaders that is; their audience might. Hitler/Fascist/Bigot and all the other epithets they love to use are just a shortcut to label someone very bad. It's just an electoral strategy. Politics.
If one starts with the precept that leftists are mentally ill and self-absorbed but also condescending, then it makes sense that they throw insults about when they are frustrated. Fascist. Racist. Authoritarianist. Patriarch. Dictator. The left is neurotic and they can't help having their ridiculous spasms.
The term “fascist”, much like the term “racist”, has lost all connection with the original, discrete concept. Arguing over whether X or Y is in fact ‘fascist’ or whether there are historical parallels or whatever is a complete waste of time. The only appropriate response is the same one given to streetcorner lunatics ranting about the end of the world: smile and nod and continue on with your day. Trump, to his credit, intuits this truth.
I know you already know this and this column was just having a bit of fun, but we simply must stop discussing the world in the left’s absurd framing.
Thanks! I followed the link. Your essay on Biosing Singularity assumes that IQ is an absolute measure of intelligence, but IQ's are standardized on the population tested. Hence, the average is always about 100. Hence, you need a different term.
Fascism is simply opposition to Communism.
No.
That's true mainly in the sense that communists call anyone they don't like a "fascist".
Nope. Communists simply called anyone they didn't like a fascist. So Social Democrats were called Social-Fascists, for example.
Apart from that, all Fascists liked the make-up of the Bismarkian German state - industrial, education and social welfare policies, as it leapfrogged Britain during the 100 years from after the Napoleonic wars. Without the opposition - who needs the opposition if one knows how to make a successful state? In addition, antisemitism was a biggie for British, French and Croatians, but not for Italians or Austrians.
Donnie is the straw that stirs the drink!
Win or lose, he will still be the center of our media universe until maybe a month after his funeral, at earliest.
Like Teddy Roosevelt was the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every wake, Trump will make sure to be the corpse at his own wake.
And the bride at this own funeral!
ha!
From a literal sense you are correct that Trump is more like George Steinbrenner than Walter O'Malley. The problem is that liberals have redefined fascist into meaning "a politician that does something I don't like". Liberals proved in 2020 that they have no problems with following orders from politicians they do like, but it was obvious even before then if you were paying attention.
Liberals are like women in that if you have any hope of ever understanding them, you should pay attention to their actions, not their words.
George Orwell came up with that line in one of his essays in Tribune.
Fascism has definitely redefined as you describe. You see the accusation constantly on left wing comment boards.
No. A false and rejected "redefinition" does not in fact redefine a word.
For most people their chosen political identity is like a superhero costume. They just know the guy wearing it is the good guy. Doesn't matter what they do. Doesn't matter if they swap out the policies that drew you to that political party in the first place. Superman is the good guy because he has the big S on his chest. There was a recent Superman storyline in which he becomes a Fascist for the good of the planet. I haven't read it but from the highlights I think it works out like in the real world. Some people are like "WTF" but most assume Superman knows best
Pretty much.
The Democrats are far more fascist that the Republicans. They worship the state and tolerate no dissent.
“All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”
Benito Mussolini
That's not a definition, merely a property. Communists are not Fascists.
They are even if they don't say it. There are many photos of Lenin and Mussolini meeting. They - the communists - just have the additional impulse to expropriate all private means of production and nationalize it. Central planning and all. That's why Mussolini broke with them.
Nonsense. Mussolini met lots of people, proving nothing.
Communists are not Fascists. Or Nazis. Or Catholics, back when THEY were totalitarian because they could be. Things which are different are not the same just because they share properties..
Trump clearly enjoys political combat but is suspicious of and averse to actual combat. That's pretty much the opposite of a fascist.
He is not in fact unusually averse to actual combat being conducted by the state.
No- take a look at the wikipedia page on US military interventions and tell us if you notice anything unusual about the years Trump was prez.
Not a chance. Don't assign me homework or ask me dumbass supposed "questions", I will ignore you. If you have something to say come out and say it.
Oh dear, Andrew seems like the kind of guy who needs to get body slammed.
Nah- he just needs to be put on Spider's "pay no mind list". This response, and a few others, have demonstrated that he is an angry child, possibly with an interesting alternative point of view, but not worth engaging.
Trump is basically Silvio Berlusconi. In common:
- a property guy who got into TV
- realised how low brow most people are and profited from it
- genuinely disliked the liberal intelligentsia and made it his selling point
- said zany things on purpose to attract attention
- made politics entirely about himself
- ran a daft-but-consequence-free foreign policy
- adored controversy and needed a rotating cast of opponents
Neither of them would have remotely enjoyed being a genuine authoritarian who can lock people up for dissent. Too boring!
If Trump ever locked his political opponents up in the soccer stadiums, he'd be bored by the next morning and let them out so he'd have somebody to spar with.
I just published a Substack on how Trump is not going to ruin democracy, but Kamala will. https://ericrasmusen.substack.com/p/scott-alexanders-four-arguments-for
Trump couldn't even dictate to a secretary, if she had civil service protection.
I think the reality is that they don't actually believe it. The thought leaders that is; their audience might. Hitler/Fascist/Bigot and all the other epithets they love to use are just a shortcut to label someone very bad. It's just an electoral strategy. Politics.
If one starts with the precept that leftists are mentally ill and self-absorbed but also condescending, then it makes sense that they throw insults about when they are frustrated. Fascist. Racist. Authoritarianist. Patriarch. Dictator. The left is neurotic and they can't help having their ridiculous spasms.
Trump may falsely call his fascism the best and most beautiful ever, but at least he won't claim he's saving our democracy and freedom.
You are correct as usual, Steve. But also as usual, the people who need your critique don't care.
The term “fascist”, much like the term “racist”, has lost all connection with the original, discrete concept. Arguing over whether X or Y is in fact ‘fascist’ or whether there are historical parallels or whatever is a complete waste of time. The only appropriate response is the same one given to streetcorner lunatics ranting about the end of the world: smile and nod and continue on with your day. Trump, to his credit, intuits this truth.
I know you already know this and this column was just having a bit of fun, but we simply must stop discussing the world in the left’s absurd framing.
https://open.substack.com/pub/akarlin/p/trumpism-cant-get-fooled-again?r=b5zww&utm_medium=ios
Thanks! I followed the link. Your essay on Biosing Singularity assumes that IQ is an absolute measure of intelligence, but IQ's are standardized on the population tested. Hence, the average is always about 100. Hence, you need a different term.
What about those bundles of rods wrapping an axe, on either side of the podium in the US Senate chamber? Maybe we're all fascists!
COAL