A connection between arguments made by capitalists and fascists

[L.A.P.]

Whenever I talk to someone who supports capitalism they always explain to me that it's because

"Capitalism allows me to make the money I want without that pesky socialism standing in the way"

Well to me that sounds an awful like what a fascist could say in their point

"Fascism allows me to gain the political power I want without that pesky democracy standing in the way"

Does anyone see the relation between these two right-wing arguments or is it just me?

[Stephen Colbert]

A lot of times the idea of social darwinism and only the economically fit survive fits in really well with the concept of fascism, being that only the socially accepted should be the ones who thrive.

I agree with you though. Oftentimes, the economic stances by fascist thought are very close economically with a more neo-conservative 'turn a blind eye towards corporate influence' stance.

Scary, really.

[Nolan]

Fascism is fundamentally social darwinist and it shows in every way. Even among those socially accepted, there is to be a clear hierarchy of power. It's as if society were a giant military barracks. They are obsessed with the rule of the strong and the "natural" and "organic" order of things. Their ideal society would be one where everyone is the perfect soldier: subservient and ready to die at the whims of another yet fiercely competing for privilege and glory in the eyes of the nation. Similarly, states go to war because it is in their interest to do so. To an honest fascist this fact should be embraced, not hidden in rhetoric and propaganda even though those things are ultimately needed to sell war to the public. To them, constant struggle is the source of strength.

You can easily see where this overlaps with more liberal political traditions. Capitalists (meaning liberal cappies) argue that the institution of private property is the only system compatible with human nature. Society is treated as Wall Street at every level - the will of the free market is the will of God. Collective action like unionizing is theft. Those with wealth and power have it because they earned it and defeated the competition. Those without it don't have it because the market has deemed them unworthy. Their ideal society is one where everyone is a perfect economic actor: a person knows their place and doesn't question the privilege of the rich. At the same time, they will not pass up the opportunity to walk over others to further themselves in the grand scheme of things. Again, competition is what makes the world go 'round.

A lot of political scientists that buy into such false dichotomies like to label fascism as "collectivist," but this doesn't do it justice. It would also have to be strongly individualist. The same goes for free market ideology. The profit motive only exists because having a lot of capital is power, and such power only exists in a "collective" setting, like the market, or human society as a whole. No one would want to haves lots of green tickets in the bank if it meant absolutely nothing in the eyes of society and had no effect on others, i.e. if it gave them no power. Even they believe that if everyone had 5 mansions, there would be people that wanted 500.

[#FF0000]

A lot of political scientists that buy into such false dichotomies like to label fascism as "collectivist," but this doesn't do it justice. It would also have to be strongly individualist.

Dividing ideologies into "collectivist" and "Individualist" camps is the sure sign of a fuckin' mook.

[ComradeMan]

Dividing ideologies into "collectivist" and "Individualist" camps is the sure sign of a fuckin' mook.

What does fuckin' mook mean? :)

Social darwinism-hmmm. I read some stuff a while back about transhumanism, futurism and extropianism and it struck me as being pretty damn scary stuff too.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/H%2B_Cover_1.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/70/H%2B_Cover_1.jpg)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/ArnoBrekerDiePartei.jpg/250px-ArnoBrekerDiePartei.jpg (http://www.revleft.com/wiki/File:ArnoBrekerDiePartei.jpg)

Edit to below: Noted! :)

[#FF0000]

What does fuckin' mook mean?

fuckin' mook \fə-kiŋ, -kin ˈmük\ (n) - a big dumb idiot