Fascism

8 Conservative Glossary Items #6

In a fascist state, a single dictator controls all. Opposition is suppressed. Criticism is forbidden. Fascist movements tend to rise up after a group of people feel they have been humiliated or victimized. Fascist states have tended to be violent, gaining popular support through a form of aggressive nationalism. Fascists love to defend the status quo and are especially protective of established business interests.

The Nazis were fascist. Mussolini was a fascist. We fought World War II to destroy these anti-democratic, fascist powers.

What is the most popular slander that the right wing is now hurling Obama's way? Well, they claim he's a fascist. This accusation often comes from the same people who have previously labeled him a communist. These accusations are, the put it lightly, incompatible. (Among the first people rounded up and eliminated by the Third Reich were socialists.) Still, they continue. Yes, the right wing is accusing our President of being even further to the right than they are. (In fairness, they claim fascism is a left wing movement, which is laughable.)

In truth, it is the conservative movement within our country that has far more in common with the fascists. It is not the liberals who attempt to subvert criticism. It is not the progressives who claim that those who disagree with them are insufficiently patriotic. It is not the liberals who criticize their opponents with vague threats of violence. It is not the Democratic party who has expressed the view that the executive branch of our government has unitary power. Accusations of fascism hurled at President Obama have no basis in reality.

Will this stop the right wing from propagating the slander? Of course not. It's a strategy doomed for failure though. The American people aren't as stupid as the conservatives think.

I had to rewrite this post after reading this excellent piece by David Neiwart. I can't wait to read and post about his most recent book.

Previous Entries in this Series (An Introduction, Communism, Bolsheviks, Maoism, Marxism, Socialism)