I was going to sit down and write a detailed point-by-point refutation, and realized right after I started that I really didn't disagree fundamentally with any of your bullets.
On the other hand, it did nothing to change my mind about the essential correctness of Robert's, Eco's, or my own remarks and conclusions. How can this be?
Its what I have often pointed out myself, in other posts and contexts. Language, even reason, is simply an inadequate tool to evaluate the fundamental correctness or value of a political or economic system. Listening to us debate these issues is like being an atheist eavesdropping on theologians arguing. He just perceives it as sophistry and bullshit.
No, I'm not saying living in Nazi Germany is better, or even equivalent to, living in late 18th century Philadelphia, or that Soviet Russia was a Socialist paradise. It most assuredly wasn't. In the final analysis, it depends on the person doing the experiencing, and on the individual regime they find themselves in, not on any philosophical or ideological check-off list. Some times and places just are better than others, and it all depends on who the observer is as well. For example, post-colonial America wasn't that much different from 1965 Cultural Revolution Red China if you were a black slave, a red Indian, or a woman with 21st century feminist views. It must have sucked big time.
This type of debate depends more on the language skills and articulateness of the participants than on any logical or historical arguments or knowledge. In other words: "Fuck Dictionaries". Dictionaries can only list the contemporary usage of a word, not whether it describes reality or not.
It is important that everyone reading this understand I am NOT saying that all governments or economic systems are equivalent, or that there is no such thing as freedom or tyranny, or that "there is no Truth". All I'm saying is that each community has to be judged on its own merits, and by those who thrive or suffer there. There are no rules, and there are no ideological checklists. A tyrannical hell-hole, or a free and prosperous nation does not depend on whether it is leftist, or rightist, Socialist or Capitalist. It stands on its own.
Current Events » in reply to If you are really asking a question:
Excellent post.
The whole thread (74 posts)
- Defining fascism--a little light reading
- A superb description of the Republican Party with their goosestep members of Congress.
- It's funny, even you guys have to look up the definition of fascist.....n/t
- Do you already know one?
- Please..
- OK, the long way round, you're saying you don't think Trump is a Fascist
- I think you're just a little too gleeful.
- "Glee" is the wrong word
- I'm sorry you took offense Robert
- If you are really asking a question:
- Racism was more of a prominent example than the sole characteristic
- Excellent post.
- It wasn't that Eco, or even Robert, were wrong.
- Your ideology is showing.
- I should hope so.
- Your ideology is showing.
- Thanks for that
- It wasn't that Eco, or even Robert, were wrong.
- I'm tending to agree with TB on this
- Have you read this whole thread?
- "Glee" is the wrong word
- I think you're just a little too gleeful.
- They're in the "furious gibbering" phase.
- I don't think Trump is making any effort NOT to be shoehorned.
- Be honest Rob...
- OK, the long way round, you're saying you don't think Trump is a Fascist
- I don't think Trump has a political ideology...
- Please..
- That's because there IS NO definition of fascist.
- Do you already know one?
- Fascism is the dictatorship of the middle class.
- Definitions