Just as an aside, and totally unrelated to anything Mary Anne said, it is interesting to compare the definitions of communism and fascism from her source: two systems of thought that the leftists (and the fascists for that matter) currently characterize as absolute opposites:

Communism:



NOUN: 1. A theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members. 2. Communism a. A system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single, often authoritarian party holds power, claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people. b. The Marxist-Leninist version of Communist doctrine that advocates the overthrow of capitalism by the revolution of the proletariat.



Note that communism is listed as a theoretical system, "claiming to make progress toward a higher social order." which gives them the loophole to finish up the definition rather mildly. One would think they were discussing the definition of Methodists. The word "authoritarian" is thrown in as the only negative.

Now look at the definition for fascism.

Fascism:



NOUN: 1. often Fascism a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.



In point of fact, every communist nation that has ever existed has exactly matched this excellent definition of fascism, word for word. Including the nationalism and racism, I'm sorry to say. While the Soviet Union didn't shove its Jews into gas chambers, no one who knows anyone Jewish who fled from their could pretend that antisemitism wasn't a major feature of the Soviet system.

Anyone, socialist or fascist, who tries to place these two almost identical collectivist concepts at opposite philosophical poles is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

The only reason these systems hated each other was because they were fighting for the same turf, like two identical gangs wearing different colors. Other than that, and minor details, they are philosophically interchangable.

For an interesting third perspective, one might check out Mussolini's own definition of fascism. The entire thing is a load of philosophical horseapples from beginning to end, but it is interesting nonetheless.