(10-10-2018, 12:19 AM)Classic-Xer Wrote:(10-09-2018, 04:59 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: The Left always represents freedom; the right-wing represents authority.
These days, of course, authority uses slogans of freedom to deceive the people into voting to enslave themselves.
Did the Soviet Union represent freedom? Do any of the communist nations that are still left represent freedom? Do you represent freedom when compared to me? Come on dude, think like a liberal before you blurt out something stupid like a person who claims to be liberal does.
Totalitarian regimes ossify fast in their politics. They may begin with rhetoric of daring radicalism, but the reality of power sets in. One is connected or one gets stepped on. Government ownership and operation of business without democracy degenerated quickly into serfdom. The political system was always fixed to get a predictable result that always favored those in power.
Dissent? You die. That is one way to develop a perverse sort of conservatism.
One rap on the Soviet Union was that despite the 'socialist' ownership of productive enterprise, the system became increasingly reactionary. It is worth remembering that fascists typically imitated the terror, regimentation, and violence of the Soviet Union. It is also worthy of remembering that the French Popular Party (which was the leading force in French politics under the traitorous Vichy Regime) was founded by a former Commie and had a Politburo.
So let's look at a list of vices associated with Fascist regimes and see how many apply to Commie regimes. I am using Laurence Britt's fourteen warning signs of fascism, which apply in general to authoritarian right-wing regimes ranging from Hitler's Germany to Pinochet's Chile. Does the Infernal State of Iraq and the Levant count, too?
Red applies to both, and purple if it varies or is ambiguous.
1. Rampant nationalism. Use of national or Party symbols everywhere. Sometimes commies pretend to be internationalist like liberals.
2. Disdain for the value of human rights. Fascists and commies are about equal at this.
3. Scapegoating. Finding people easy to demonize for the failures of the regime. Kulaks, reactionaries, spies, 'wreckers'.
4. Avid militarism. Commie states are highly regimented with great importance on military prowess.
5. Sexism. I'll hand it to the Commies -- they are not particularly sexist.
6. Controlled mass media. Oh, is it controlled!
7. Obsession with national security. Communist states always see dangers from elsewhere. Every capitalist state is a menace.
8. Religion and government closely intertwined. Communists may be hostile to religion, but they certainly control it where they rule.
9. Corporate power exalted. It is the power of state-owned enterprises, so it is not some aristocratic elite. It is still crushing. I prefer small business as the default, as it cannot buy the political process.
10. Labor power suppressed. Unions are of the sort that simply exhort workers to work harder and more dedication and supply audiences for mass rallies of the regime. No worker needs that.
11. Disdain for intellectuals and the arts. Propagandists do well, but there is no art for art's sake. It is for the Socialist ideal.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Especially with economic offenses.
13. Corruption and cronyism. It goes with the territory in all despotic and dictatorial societies. Those who have the power steal at will.
14. Rigged elections. A common story: Over 90% of eligible persons voted, and over 90% voted for candidates of the ruling Party, and the numbers for both can be as high as 100%. The single list is the norm.
If you dislike fascism, you probably will not like Communism in practice. Life is a privilege, liberty is non-existent, and the pursuit of happiness is sheer folly under Communism, fascism, Ba'athism, or ISIS.
For most of these reasons, you should understand why I despise Donald Trump as President of the United States.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.