Communism, Socialism, Fascism and the United States of America


This was not my intended post for today. I just received this e-mail over the weekend and the teacher in me requires that I post it. It is relevant to the budget discussion we have been engaged in concerning the federal 2010-2011 budget and the proposed 2011-2012 federal budget.

First some definitions:

Means of production:

1) land
2) labor
3) capital
4) entrepreneurship

Communism:

1 a: a theory advocating elimination of private property b: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

2 c: a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition; Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. © 1995; page 233.]

Fascism:

1: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts a nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition; Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. © 1995; page 422.]

Socialism:

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism …. [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, tenth edition; Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A. © 1995; page 1114.]

One of the difficulties that many people have in distinguishing the three systems is that they have both political and economic elements.

Fascism and socialism both have centralized governments. However, in fascism private ownership of the means of production is allowed by the government. The government, nevertheless, establishes extreme controls over those private enterprises. In socialism there is no private owner of the means of production. Communism also does not allow private ownership of the means of production. In contrast to the other two though, there is no government in the final stage of communism according to Marx. The society in general determines all aspects of the society. How this is done is never realistically explained and no communist system has ever occurred on a large scale because no large scale government has ever ended itself voluntarily.

Thus,

Fascism:

1) Strong centralized government
2) private ownership of the means of production is allowed but strongly regulated by the central government

Socialism:

1) Strong centralized government
2) No private ownership of the means of production

Communism according to Karl Marx:

1) No government, centralized or otherwise
2) No private ownership of the means of production

From: Human Events

“Dear Fellow Conservative,

Only a few decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, all too many Americans have forgotten the horrors that stood behind it. A recent survey found that only 53% of American adults believe that capitalism is better than socialism. (An unbelievably low percentage considering that there is absolutely no question that the free enterprise system—capitalism—is vastly superior to and vastly more beneficial for most of society than is ANY form of socialism, communism, and/or fascism—my addition.)

And while progressives, including President Obama, scoff when conservatives denounce what is currently coming out of Washington as ‘socialism,’ socialism it is. (Actually a mixture of socialism—ownership of GM, Chrysler, and Nationalized Healthcare—and fascism—extreme regulation of the banking system, energy sources, and education. By the way, all three of these systems emphasis the control of education to gain control of the people within the society. America beware of nationally controlled education!—my addition)

Now, in The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Socialism, Kevin D. Williamson provides a historical and contemporary analysis of socialist policies—including Obamacare and other up-to-the-minute examples—and explains why they inevitably lead to economic catastrophe and political repression, while benefiting a privileged few.”

From: https://members.humaneventsonline.com/visitor.php?offer=2274

The above is an audio commercial but worth listening to and reading from!