Steve Bannon is a fascist.
Tea Party Republicans are fascists
I doubt that not one in hundred people can give you a proper definition of "fascism" or "fascist".
Certainly not the people that overuse or misuse the term.
For example, here is what MSNBC's Rachel Maddow said about Trump.
She should know better. Maddow is a graduate of Stanford University and was a Rhodes Scholar. I guess she just can't help herself.
Benito Mussolini is generally credited with developing the fascist ideology in Italy. He ruled Italy under the mantle of the National Fascist Party beginning in 1922 through World War II.
Since Mussolini founded fascism it would seem to make sense to see how he defined it. You can read the complete "Doctrine of Fascism" as written by Mussolini in 1935. It is the most complete articulation of Mussolini's political views and the ideology of fascism.
A few key excerpts so you understand the core concepts of fascism quoted directly from the Mussolini text.
1. "The Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State."
2. "The Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value."
3. "Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State - a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values - interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people."
4."For Fascism the State is absolute, individuals and groups relative. Individuals and groups are admissible in so far as they come within the State."
5. "The concept of freedom is not absolute because nothing is ever absolute in life. Freedom is not a right, it is a duty. It is not a gift, it is a conquest; it is not equality, it is a privilege.
6. "The Fascist conception of life is a religious one, in which man is viewed in his immanent relation to a higher law, endowed with an objective will transcending the individual and raising him to conscious membership of a spiritual society. "
You can see from the above that there is not a lot of difference between fascism and communism in their absolute reliance on the State and the severe limitation of any individual rights. In fact, you can argue that fascism and communism are actually subsets of socialism.
The primary distinction is that in communism the state also owns all elements of production and controls the distribution of income whereas fascism is open to private ownership as long as it is subject to total state control. In a fascist regime, "all within the state, nothing outside the state and nothing against the state" is what matters.
We can identify communist regimes fairly easily--the former Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela.
When you speak of fascism most think of Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy. However, Iran, Saddam Hussein's Iraq and many Middle Eastern countries would also seem to meet the definition.
Taking all of that as context, this is how Merriam-Webster defines fascism.
Interestingly, Google defines fascism in a different way.
Google has decided that fascism is only a "right-wing system of government" represented by the "extreme right-wing".
You have to wonder how Google came to that conclusion?
Answer the following questions for me.
Who is most in favor of a large federal government and bureaucracy?
Who is most in favor of federal vs. state and local solutions to problems?
Who is most in favor of extensive economic regulations?
Who is most in favor of pushing government edicts irrespective of religious rights?
Who has been most aggressive in attempting to limit individual rights such as the right to bear arms, freedom of religion and free speech?
Who has proven to be the most militant in attempting to suppress opposing views?
It is not the right-wing.
It is not Donald J. Trump.
It is the liberal left.
I am not saying that liberals Americans are fascists. Far from it. The point is fascism is not an ideology that is left-wing or right-wing. Fortunately, our U.S. Constitution is perfectly constructed to protect us from fascism in all its forms with its separation of powers, Bill of Rights and limits on federal power. There should be no concerns about any fascism taking hold in this country as long as we continue to honor and uphold the Constitution.
What is truly troubling here is that with the power that Google has, its definition of fascism is always going to come up first on any search of the term "fascism".
Google refers to an autocracy as a synonym for fascism. This is how they define that term.
Notice the last bullet point.
- domineering rule or control
What is Google's power over people using the internet?
Google needs to be much more mindful of its power and influence. It also needs to be more responsible in not letting its political views color the fair dissemination of information without bias.
Is it any wonder we are calling our fellow Americans fascists?
Too many simply do not seem to understand what it means.
Including Google.
(Hat tip to BeeLine reader Ron R. for bringing the Google definition to my attention.)
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