So This is How You Want to Play This?

As I've said before, words matter. Cavalier use of language, throwing about words without care for the actual meaning, lowers both the quality of our discourse and the coherence of our culture. Words like "terrorist" are used interchangeably with words like "muslim," and it not only makes us look intolerant, it makes us look ignorant. This week, the buzzwords are "socialist" and "Marxist." I've already spoken about their misuse, but if some people think they can lob these as attacks and think no one will call them on it, they are sorely mistaken. Just this past Friday, while appearing on Larry King Live, Lars Larson referred to Barack Obama and other progressives as a "Marxist," to which Larry King responded by asking if he then thought that Conservatives were "fascist." Of course, Lars refuted this and then continued by falsely claiming that Obama is going to give tax rebates to people who don't pay taxes (apparently also confused about what a "tax rebate" is, since you have to pay taxes in order to get one back, and that it never exceeds the amount you pay in taxes.)

Well, let's examine this. I mean, since Glenn Beck, Karl Rove, and Bill Kristol all think that it's fair to call liberals "Marxist," then perhaps it is fair to call their right-wing counterparts "fascist." Let's take a look. Marxism is considered, politically, the extreme left-wing viewpoint in favor of collective ownership or the means and distribution of production. Fascism is considered the extreme right-wing viewpoint in favor of single-party and single dictator control of government and the economy. Well, under President Bush, the power of the Executive Branch has been expanded to hold more unchecked power (power that Sarah Palin said she would like to extend even more as Vice President than Dick Cheney has). He has also consistently used signing statements and claims of executive privilege to operate not as the law states but as he feels is appropriate, and has been backed up by his party who, for much of the last 8 years, have dominated the other two branches of government.

Fascism is also characterized by that party or dictator forcibly oppressing opposition and criticism. I think we all remember the firing of members of the justice department for refusing to investigate and prosecute Democrats for political reasons. I also seem to recall the constant attacks against liberals and Democrats for being "soft on terrorism," for "planning for defeat" in Iraq, and for "not caring about family values.' You need only check the news for the last few weeks to see how Democrats have been labeled "un-American."

Speaking of being labeled "un-American," fascism is known for emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. When Sarah Palin talks about liking to visit the "pro-America" parts of the country, that sounds like aggressive nationalism. When people complain about Barack Obama not wearing a flag pin (something that he actually did in all three debates while John McCain did not wear one) that sounds like ridiculous nationalism. When they complain about those socialist Europeans, and those terrorist Middle Easterners, and then talk about how America is the greatest and most powerful country in the world, blessed by God, and duty-bound to spread democracy unilaterally, that sounds like thoroughly aggressive Nationalism. As for racism, just watch a video of any McCain-Palin rally, listen to their supporters outside, and listen to Rush Limbaugh who characterized Colin Powell's nuanced defense of his endorsement of Obama as being "all about race."

Fascism promotes military preparedness and cults of unity, strength, and purity. Under Republican leadership, we spend more on our military than most of the world combined. Republican talking points are constantly and manipulatively espousing "supporting the troops," and attacking anyone who even suggest teaching anything other than complete abstinence from recreational drugs and premarital sexual activity.

What else falls under the label of "fascism?" An emphasis on corporatism is at the top of the list, which I think sounds a little like the Republicans. The Fascist government of Italy banned abortion and literature on birth control...that also sounds familiar. Fascist cultures also tend to reject multiculturalism, which springs to mind everytime I hear McCain supporters talk about how this is a Christian nation, and how they are worried about minorities ruining the culture. Fascist governments are also usually strongly opposed to homosexuals.

With them opposed to so many types of people, how is it that fascist regimes come to power? Easy, they appeal to the average person with an affectation of populism, which promotes the "average person" (Joe Six-pack perhaps) over "the elites." You know, like the elite media, that elite Barack Obama, those elite intellectuals and college graduates.

Do I think the Republicans are fascists? No. See, unlike some of these hate-mongers that will do anything to win elections or get on television, I don't just use slanderous labels against people I disagree with. Do I think some of the things they've done in the past decade and in this election share similar tactics with fascists? Yes, and that's something that they need to change. But here's the rub: if you want to label liberals as "marxist," not only is their equal evidence to support an argument that conservatives are "fascist," but their might even be more evidence to validate the latter hypothesis. Liberals are no more marxists than conservatives are fascists, so it's up to Rush, Glenn, Sean, Bill, Karl, John, Sarah, and all the rest if that's a name game they feel like playing.