What's a "cut and paste essay"? An essay with many quotations from authorities inserted in it? Humor me, I've never heard the term before.

And there is no need to make apologies for your interest in the subject. It is the BIG STORY of the Twentieth Century, Fascism and Communism and the struggle between them and the rest of the world turned the 1900s into a bloodbath.

Both Communism and Fascism arose early in the 20th century when it became clear that between the robber barons, economic imperialism, and world wide depression and war, unrestricted Capitalism was not living up to its promise. A few people were getting very rich all right, but most of the rewards didn't seem to be filtering down to those who were actually doing the work. This was not so much the case in America, with its vast resources, small population and empty continent. But in Europe
it was obvious to everyone.

My own position is that all isms are difficult to define precisely, and a scan at the scholarly authorities finds little agreement except in the broadest areas. Communism actually comes right out and rejects private ownership of capital altogether, although it usually finds it can't function at all without some. Fascism is a lot kinder to the idea of private enterprise, and in fact relies on collaboration with business to build its power base. It usually does better economically, but it seems to always have a need for other countries' resources.

The Communist says, "I'm taking all this away from the rich and we'll all be free and prosperous". The Fascist says, "You let me do whatever I please and if you help me out a bit I'll let you keep what you've got, and make it worth your while too."

But in practice, both Communism and Fascism are dictatorships run by either a strongman or an all-powerful Party. Initially, (before anyone realizes what is actually going on), Communism appeals to the poor, who have nothing to lose, while Fascism is very tempting to the middle class, who have something to lose, and to the upper classes, which have everything to lose.

Fascism was discredited by World War II, Communism is finished for the time being, the end of the Cold War exposed that sham for what it was. But Fascism is making a big comeback, for the same reason it became popular in the 1920s, it has taken over in China and Russia, and it is pushing hard in this country. It is only a matter of time before some form of Communism arises somewhere and challenges it. Both systems seem to flourish during hard times.

It would be tragic if the ideological struggle of the last century is perpetuated into the new millennium. My own hope is that a regulated and managed capitalism operating in a constitutional democratic system is the best combination for a humane and effective political/economic organization, in other words, the middle way.

This is what the USA (and a few other Western countries) had in the last half of the 20th century. But it may be that it will be too difficult to implement a progressive social free-enterprise democracy in a society fractured along class lines and under severe economic and political stress.

And the rest of the world is now challenging us economically and politically in an environment of resource shortages and rising populations. It may turn out that a balanced and harmonious social fabric simply relies to much on prosperity and peace, it may no longer be a luxury we can afford.