I already know the answer to this, but i am curious as to what the people here think about this question. fire away [center] [uzi] [/center]

fascism is where ya find it... be they repudicrats... or demopubics... pretty much the credo of most pols IMO...

db

Anything deviating from a centralist position. Both are socialist organizations.

Fascism: Any authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-socialistic system of government in which economic control by the state, militaristic nationalism, propaganda, and the crushing of opposition by means of secret police emphasize the supremecy of the state over the individual.[X]

Whether it applies to the left or not I don't really care.  I used to call pinko lefties communists, but the problem is that they don't mind that and are generally proud of the fact that they are all commies at heart.  All I know is that if you call a democrap a fascist it really pisses them off which is good enough for me!  [}:D]

Webster's Unabridged:

fas'cism (fash'ism) a system of government characterized by rigid one-party dictatorship, forcible suppression of the opposition, the retention of private ownership of the means of production under centralized government control, beligerent nationalism and racism, glorification of war, etc.: first instituted in Italy in 1922.

you can find facism anywhere there is a centralization of authority, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression through terror and censorship, and a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

Actually fascism is somewhat leftist and heavily authoritarian. It doesn't fit in well on the left right political scheme. It has several socialistic policies such as guaranteed full employment and government control of industry. Basicly they are socialists in denial.

Well, given your handle, I'm fairly certain you *do* know the answer to this.

But to answer your question without giving too much away, fascism is the opposite of libertarianism ;)

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www.AnotherPundit.com

Don't allow yourself to be confused by labels.  They are unimportant.

I am impressed with these replies. In some of the older political books i have read define leftwing as being more government. leftwing to the extreme is totaltarian government such as communism,fascism,fabianism,dictatorships,etc...  Rightwing is less government. Rightwing to the extreme is no government at all such as anarchy. the position of all libertarians, constitutionalist,most rebulicans, and very few democrats is that of a constitutional Republic which is right of the center and not anarchy. therefore we are not Rightwing Extremists!!![:)]
This is of course different from the propagated political spectrum. which we are taught today where big government exist at both ends. If i ever have kids i am going to be sure to teach them the true political spectrum

Lib,

Did you see John Stalsels (sp?) show the other night?

Would you call him a Republic(an), Constitutionalist or a Libertarian?

No. i dont watch T.V. it's a waste of time unless it is the discovery channel,A&E,history,or cartoons.

Here is the million dollar question, someone explain to me please exactly how facism is a right wing movement? I know poly sci text books will say it is, but poly sci is a normative "science" dominated by leftist academics.

"right wing (rt wng)
n.
The conservative or reactionary faction of a group.

con·ser·va·tive (kn-sûrv-tv)
adj.

Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.

Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.

con·ser·va·tism (kn-sûrv-tzm)
n.

The inclination, especially in politics, to maintain the existing or traditional order.
A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.

re·ac·tion·ar·y (r-ksh-nr)
adj.

Characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress or liberalism; extremely conservative."


With these definitions available to clarify it becomes laughable to call fascists right wing.

Facists do not emphasize respect for traditional institutions, distrust government activism or oppose sudden change in the established order. In fact, their goals are the exact opposite of these.

"socialism n 1: a political theory advocating state ownership of industry 2: an economic system based on state ownership of capital"

This applys to the facists as they did take state control of industry.

My theory as to why they are called right wing? They really really hated communists.

Now maybe I am ignorant, and the Nazis were actually a reactionary movement which wanted to restore monarchy, if so, someone PLEASE correct me!

Ok, since Libertarian didn't bring it up after all, I will :)

A more apt analysis is two-axis, not just one. Here's a link:

http://www.lp.org/quiz/

If we on this board are "us," fascism is "them."

If America as envisioned by the framers of the constitution are "us," every other system is "them," no matter what they call themsleves or what we call them.

Interesting. So, by the criteria of the traditional political spectrum the American Libertarian minarchist party is also a far right group since they seek to form a "Second Reich" based on the U.S. constitution as it was *originally* stated before the application of the necessary and proper clause, the commerce clause, the spending clause and various other questionable interpretation of vague language allowed the federal government to circumvent the 10th amendment and implement many policies that are not allowed for in the constitution. Since both groups seek a partial "return to the past" they are both far right. I find that any political spectrum which places opposites such as fascists and libertarians in the same slot is a bit weird, but I have no doubt that that is the real political spectrum.

I tend to agree with Sluggo.

Problems arise when members of a movement tend to opt for doctrine over reason.  Nazis did this, Communists do it, fascists do it Liberals do it, and one of the things that bothers me about Libertarians is that sometimes they do it. It also shows up among fundamentalist Christians -- "God said it, I believe it, that settles it."  Often this adherence to doctrine is followed even when it is at cross purposes with fundamental human instincts.   At this point, one is often valuing his acceptance to the group over his humanity.  The SS comes to mind.

I believe that America was founded on reason, not doctrine, thus, my previous statement.

It just bothers me when I can totally predict a response to a given stimulus by a group member.

I had an epiphany about this subject in an 8th grade introductory Political Science class.  The teacher started drawing a line on the chalkboard, writing various things as he extended the line to the right and to the left.  On the left were things like "state-owned production" and "no private property".  I can't recall what was on the right, but it had something to do with the state controlling schools and jobs and ultimately the whole economy.

The lines gradually curved around and met at the bottom of the board, where he wrote things like "command economy" and "dictatorship" and "totalitarianism".

I'd always associated fascism with the far right, until the teacher pointed out that when you look at its effects on the lives of citizens, the "far right" is indistinguishable from the "far left".  Life in Fascist Italy was not much different from life in the Soviet Union.

The right vs. left dimension is far less important than the control vs. freedom dimension.

Back in my college days there was a lot of effort on the part of faculty to indoctrinate young naive students into Marxism.  I mean REAL Marxism.  I had been immunized by that single lecture by an 8th grade Poli Sci teacher, and I am eternally grateful to that man.

Well said, California Kid.  Perhaps the solution is obvious:  We should ignore what they say and only be looking at the effects of what they have done.