What underlies all these political schemes is the simple fact, exhibited by several thousand yrs of history, that people in mass are much more inclined to be led than to involve themselves in their own governance. This has led to the destruction of innumerable republics and is on the cusp of destroying ours
I think it was James Madison who spoke of the intellectual dishonesty entailed in using definitions of words in the laws that are known to be different than the definitions used at the times of the drafting of the laws. Such intentional equivocation is deceitful. As such, it is morally equivalent to a bald-faced lie. Fauci did it with Rand Paul and in many other cases. I suspect many legislators were perfectly aware of his mode of operandi and never called him on it. After all, it was obvious to many of US.
I remember hearing Thomas Fleming, editor of the paleoconservative publication Chronicles, saying back in the 90's that we live in a kingdom of lies. As an editor of that publication, he was much more knowledgeable of the political shenanigans that occur routinely. Fortunately, much more of it is being revealed to more people now. Hopefully it's not too late. Praying accordingly.
Good post Drs Malone. Good comments from your readers. Reflecting on our past few decades of leadership, our country dodged a cannonball, not just a bullet, with the results of the last election. Such a fight ahead of not just our elected leaders but ourselves who cherish freedom. The left using the Fascist label just means they are looking in the mirror. We need to be strong and continue our fight.
the problem with this essay is it is stuck in "classical fascism" (totalitarianism) . thus it focuses on individuals and totalitarian regimes. fascism has morphed into "inverted totalitarianism" as described by Sheldon wolin. this makes it much more difficult to identify fascism. inverted totalitarianism does not rely on a dictator . thus the u.s is a fascist empire in which the government has become captured by corporations. thus it fits the classic definition but lacks the focal point of a dictator.
Yes, a critical distinction. It was the aspect of authoritarianism/totalitarianism that the liberty loving US public found most repugnant with WWII Fascists.
A great piece! Reimann's 1939 book came out closely in time with Hervey Cleckley's 1941 "The Mask of Sanity". The 'Top-Down' thinker saw the simplicity of their own perceptions and sought to force these on society. Everyone of these fits the sociopath label of Cleckley. It was never Fascism but was always sociopathy with Hitler. Stalin and et al being pathological sociopaths. The problem with sociopathy is these people never recognize the value of the whole individual. The personality has dominated both big business and big government. One did not dominate the other as much as they saw a larger wealth target and being of similar mind worked together, much like Bill and Hillary. They all thought they could acquire a bigger piece of the pie by working supportively. We remain at nascent levels in understanding this very manipulative and destructive personality. The list of authors in the 1937 “Economic policy, Industrial policy, Economics” is a list of sociopaths best I can ascertain. The 'finest minds' is what they called themselves. This thinking goes back to Plato's proposed elitist ruling class. Sociopaths always think of themselves as superior as they always 'see the simplest solutions' while the rest of us are mired in human detail.
Needless to say, Gov. Waltz said it out loud. The country is being "stolen by fascists and Nazis". And he won't apologize as he considers running for the senate! (now watch him cover his butt)
History quiz question: Adam Smith is the Economist-Philosopher of Capitalism; Marx of Marxism:
Q: Who is the Economist-Philosopher of Fascism?
A: Giovanni Gentile - Redwashed by the Progressive educational system. He and the American Communist Party have provided the motive force for Leftists for decades.
I had a rare moment of agreement with my left leaning friends when I said: Look, I worry about too much government, you worry more about unbridled industry. Fine. But think about a bigger threat - when these powerful forces combine and instead of having an antagonistic relationship, they work for their mutual benefit and not ours.
Robert, thank you for both this terrific essay and today's Sunday Strip. I think much of the problem that people have in categorizing communism and fascism comes from the binary results of elections. The electoral choice is often made on the basis of least harm, versus some deeper understanding of the nonbinary nature of our society and its economic realities. In terms of the fundamental issues that must be secured for a successful modern society, primarily the rule of law and individual freedom of choice and expression, the candidates almost always claim to support these things. Certainly, their supporters assume so. As a result, given the binary choice they face, they create largely imaginary distinctions between the two forms of totalitarianism. The consequence of this simplification largely explains the problems France experienced in the 1930s.
And yet both communists and fascists would deny the foundational underpinnings of a functional modern state. The rule of law and even medical ethics are quickly seized by the state and with that disappears the benefits of freedom to contract to set prices. This means the economy is running without any feedback on the essential issues that should govern the use of scarce resources. For this reason, I have always placed communism and fascism in a tiny region of space in terms of the multidimensional parameters that are of significance in the modern world. Ideology and pragmatism are inevitably at odds, and only the latter offers the chance to make progress as false promises are exposed and corrected. The former requires the regime to double down on the madness.
To distinguish clearly socialism, communism, etc., from fascism, it's private ownership in name only but government control, i.e., no freedom. See the Ayn Rand lexicon.
Communism presumes the withering away of the state to be replaced by a Garden of Eden without the snakes. It is a form of Christain apostasy. Socialism presumes the rule by an enlightened few who will make it possible for the rest of society to own nothing and be happy. Fascism is simply a socialism that embraces a wider group of rulers to include the managerial class of an industrial society. Contractual freedom by individuals is absent. No feedback, nothing but cancerous growth feeding on the ever-diminishing wealth of the society that has fallen prey.
Nice job, Robert. This is a great article. Finally, there is a realistic solution to the political divide that would produce better solutions for each national issue while insulating the making and administration of laws from corporations (special interests), elites, political parties, lobbyists, and foreign governments. The blueprint and a viable plan for implementing it is described in the book End Politics Now. It's great to illuminate the problem but even better to get on board with the solution. https://a.co/d/dK776NH
Looking at politics from a linear spectrum, far left is total government control (totalitarianism) and far right is anarchy (no government control).
A right winger would be a conservative who wants limited government, and a libertarian is further to the right than the conservative, wanting extremely limited government but is not full on anarchist – anarchist/capitalist. Anarchists have a history of marrying socialists for a silly utopian ideal that betrays itself.
Maybe the confusion lies in the fact that fascists are not as dumb economically as the socialists/communists who spend other people’s money and eventually run out of spending other people’s money. Fascism is a totalitarian government that creates corporatism, so they spend their own money, but nevertheless, fascism is a totalitarian government and all the way to the left.
Every time I hear the "fascist" epithet, what I hear is, "accuse the other side of that which you are guilty."
What underlies all these political schemes is the simple fact, exhibited by several thousand yrs of history, that people in mass are much more inclined to be led than to involve themselves in their own governance. This has led to the destruction of innumerable republics and is on the cusp of destroying ours
I think it was James Madison who spoke of the intellectual dishonesty entailed in using definitions of words in the laws that are known to be different than the definitions used at the times of the drafting of the laws. Such intentional equivocation is deceitful. As such, it is morally equivalent to a bald-faced lie. Fauci did it with Rand Paul and in many other cases. I suspect many legislators were perfectly aware of his mode of operandi and never called him on it. After all, it was obvious to many of US.
I remember hearing Thomas Fleming, editor of the paleoconservative publication Chronicles, saying back in the 90's that we live in a kingdom of lies. As an editor of that publication, he was much more knowledgeable of the political shenanigans that occur routinely. Fortunately, much more of it is being revealed to more people now. Hopefully it's not too late. Praying accordingly.
Don’t the real Facists label their enemies as facists and our mass media just reinforces the con?
The MSM is definitely doing that.
My saying is: When the left accuses others of misconduct, it is usually the left that is doing the misconduct, also know as projecting.
Good post Drs Malone. Good comments from your readers. Reflecting on our past few decades of leadership, our country dodged a cannonball, not just a bullet, with the results of the last election. Such a fight ahead of not just our elected leaders but ourselves who cherish freedom. The left using the Fascist label just means they are looking in the mirror. We need to be strong and continue our fight.
the problem with this essay is it is stuck in "classical fascism" (totalitarianism) . thus it focuses on individuals and totalitarian regimes. fascism has morphed into "inverted totalitarianism" as described by Sheldon wolin. this makes it much more difficult to identify fascism. inverted totalitarianism does not rely on a dictator . thus the u.s is a fascist empire in which the government has become captured by corporations. thus it fits the classic definition but lacks the focal point of a dictator.
Yes, a critical distinction. It was the aspect of authoritarianism/totalitarianism that the liberty loving US public found most repugnant with WWII Fascists.
--- Posts (memes) related to these concepts:
Fascism = Gov't + Corporate Tyranny. Faucism = Gov't + Corporate + Medical Tyranny
https://nedb.substack.com/p/fascism-vs-faucism
Totalitarian Takeover Disguised as Pandemic Response
https://nedb.substack.com/p/totalitarian-takeover-disguised-as
The “dictator” today is the “Administrative State.”
A great piece! Reimann's 1939 book came out closely in time with Hervey Cleckley's 1941 "The Mask of Sanity". The 'Top-Down' thinker saw the simplicity of their own perceptions and sought to force these on society. Everyone of these fits the sociopath label of Cleckley. It was never Fascism but was always sociopathy with Hitler. Stalin and et al being pathological sociopaths. The problem with sociopathy is these people never recognize the value of the whole individual. The personality has dominated both big business and big government. One did not dominate the other as much as they saw a larger wealth target and being of similar mind worked together, much like Bill and Hillary. They all thought they could acquire a bigger piece of the pie by working supportively. We remain at nascent levels in understanding this very manipulative and destructive personality. The list of authors in the 1937 “Economic policy, Industrial policy, Economics” is a list of sociopaths best I can ascertain. The 'finest minds' is what they called themselves. This thinking goes back to Plato's proposed elitist ruling class. Sociopaths always think of themselves as superior as they always 'see the simplest solutions' while the rest of us are mired in human detail.
Needless to say, Gov. Waltz said it out loud. The country is being "stolen by fascists and Nazis". And he won't apologize as he considers running for the senate! (now watch him cover his butt)
He won't make it DD...
They all know now what a "dumb nuthin burger" this meathead has showed the world.
Unfortunately "they" don't all feel the same. The hypnosis goes deep.
Walz will have to kiss George Soros' naked reticle orifice on 1616 Pennsylvania
on spring tourist day when those cherry trees blossom.....
And provide George 4 hours to draw a TV crowd. If he wants any golden promises!
What a moronic saga that needs cancelations across the board. Haha really!
Excellent précis, Drs!
History quiz question: Adam Smith is the Economist-Philosopher of Capitalism; Marx of Marxism:
Q: Who is the Economist-Philosopher of Fascism?
A: Giovanni Gentile - Redwashed by the Progressive educational system. He and the American Communist Party have provided the motive force for Leftists for decades.
Cf. Islam - different playbook - same plays.
I had a rare moment of agreement with my left leaning friends when I said: Look, I worry about too much government, you worry more about unbridled industry. Fine. But think about a bigger threat - when these powerful forces combine and instead of having an antagonistic relationship, they work for their mutual benefit and not ours.
It's a big club and you ain't in it - G. Carlin
Robert, thank you for both this terrific essay and today's Sunday Strip. I think much of the problem that people have in categorizing communism and fascism comes from the binary results of elections. The electoral choice is often made on the basis of least harm, versus some deeper understanding of the nonbinary nature of our society and its economic realities. In terms of the fundamental issues that must be secured for a successful modern society, primarily the rule of law and individual freedom of choice and expression, the candidates almost always claim to support these things. Certainly, their supporters assume so. As a result, given the binary choice they face, they create largely imaginary distinctions between the two forms of totalitarianism. The consequence of this simplification largely explains the problems France experienced in the 1930s.
And yet both communists and fascists would deny the foundational underpinnings of a functional modern state. The rule of law and even medical ethics are quickly seized by the state and with that disappears the benefits of freedom to contract to set prices. This means the economy is running without any feedback on the essential issues that should govern the use of scarce resources. For this reason, I have always placed communism and fascism in a tiny region of space in terms of the multidimensional parameters that are of significance in the modern world. Ideology and pragmatism are inevitably at odds, and only the latter offers the chance to make progress as false promises are exposed and corrected. The former requires the regime to double down on the madness.
"Following an erudite examination of the main theorists, Flynn provided a beautiful summary.
Fascism, he wrote, is a form of social organization with the following characteristics:
#1 thru 8 depict the Joseph Biden Admin past four years quite nicely don't you think?"
"DARK DAYS ARE INDEED AHEAD" is what this man said in his opening red curtain Act in 2020.
Anyone else recall just how much "NAZI" this bastard proclaimed his "NEW AMERICA" ???
To distinguish clearly socialism, communism, etc., from fascism, it's private ownership in name only but government control, i.e., no freedom. See the Ayn Rand lexicon.
Communism presumes the withering away of the state to be replaced by a Garden of Eden without the snakes. It is a form of Christain apostasy. Socialism presumes the rule by an enlightened few who will make it possible for the rest of society to own nothing and be happy. Fascism is simply a socialism that embraces a wider group of rulers to include the managerial class of an industrial society. Contractual freedom by individuals is absent. No feedback, nothing but cancerous growth feeding on the ever-diminishing wealth of the society that has fallen prey.
Nice job, Robert. This is a great article. Finally, there is a realistic solution to the political divide that would produce better solutions for each national issue while insulating the making and administration of laws from corporations (special interests), elites, political parties, lobbyists, and foreign governments. The blueprint and a viable plan for implementing it is described in the book End Politics Now. It's great to illuminate the problem but even better to get on board with the solution. https://a.co/d/dK776NH
Looking at politics from a linear spectrum, far left is total government control (totalitarianism) and far right is anarchy (no government control).
A right winger would be a conservative who wants limited government, and a libertarian is further to the right than the conservative, wanting extremely limited government but is not full on anarchist – anarchist/capitalist. Anarchists have a history of marrying socialists for a silly utopian ideal that betrays itself.
Maybe the confusion lies in the fact that fascists are not as dumb economically as the socialists/communists who spend other people’s money and eventually run out of spending other people’s money. Fascism is a totalitarian government that creates corporatism, so they spend their own money, but nevertheless, fascism is a totalitarian government and all the way to the left.
Thanks for this.