Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Why Basically All The People Around Me Are Socialists And Fascists, And That’s OK
 
 
From Sonic Charmer:
I think the words ‘fascist’ and ‘socialist’ should be reclaimed for polite conversation. They are too useful not to be used.

‘Socialist’ has dropped into this weird uncanny valley where you’re basically not allowed to call anyone socialist, not because they’re not socialist, but simply because if you do, they’ll say sarcastically to other people ‘…but for my views they call me ‘socialist”. Yes, for socialist views one gets called socialist, why not? *shrug* It’s all very mysterious to me for example why we can’t just call the prevailing economic policies of most of the (D) party (and much of the (R) party) socialist. Why shouldn’t we.

Meanwhile, obviously ‘fascist’ long ago became little more than a pejorative, but the actual word is a very meaningful and useful term in its own right in the sense of using state power and monopoly to harness and unify private institutions towards public ends. This is the usage I would like to bring back, only, I’ll need to cleanse it of its pejorative connotations. (Wish me luck on tilting against that windmill!)
I know, I know, the picture doesn't help in the endeavor, but it was just too good to pass up.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

your right. im just waiting for the watershed event where reality catches up to the inability of the lefts ideas to continue

kevin said...

Fascists are socialists. Both are gruesome examples of government run amok. We should be thinking it terms of democracy vs totalitarianism.

Damien said...

Pastorius,

I personally think the terms fascist, and even socialist is over used, and often misused.

Damien said...

Rgranger,

Actually what people usually mean by conservative and liberal has changed a lot over the years. The founding fathers and the people who inspired them called themselves liberals and how modern liberals think and act would really shock them.