Who thinks the word "fascist" gets tossed around far too often in these q and a sessions?

Question

There are many facets to being a true fascist. The possessed a certain economic philosophy. The believe that the state was of utmost importance as opposed to the individual, who had no rights which were in defiance to the will of the state. The were politically arrogant and allowed noone to dissent with them. Those who did faced violence or death. They held the man subservient to the dictator in esteem - no glory was higher than service to the state.

Do you think that we throw the term around so much as to minimize and neutralize its true meaning?

Answer 1

Finally, someone who knows his terms! I hate this boars for its labelling..'Liberals, Cons, Republicans, Commies' etc..and so many of these people just dont understand what the hell they're on about

And Lo! Panacea does exactly that, throws around a term he neither seems to understand or comprehend. Facism is indeed a form of totalitarian socialism, but it can also be a market economy, such as Nazi Germany

Answer 2

Definition---> Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism.

It is used way to often but does apply in many cases.
In some cases the label makes sense when applied (in the extreme) to how some leaders lead-- e.g. Bush, the Mullahs

Let's see...
Totalitarian Political Philosphy-- yep, that's Bush ("things would be easier if this were a dictatorship and I was the dictator")
Corporatism-- hmmm, yep that applies too
authoritarianism - yep
extreme nationalism - yep
militarism - double yep
anti-anarchism - not so much
anti-communism - not so much now but alot year ago
anti-liberalism - definitetly yep yep and yep

Answer 3

Fascism comes out of marxism. Of the political types active in the US, it's liberals who are the true fascists.

Before you start thinking that is only hyperbole, understand that they have successfully prevented the US from intervening in several genocides over the last two generations. They are fascists in every sense of the word....right down to the part about tossing people into ovens.

They are loathesome.

Answer 4

Yes, the term is overly used because of its usage in describing Adolf HItler. Hitler was a facist and thus people use facist in way to describe someone as cruel or synonymous to HItler's idiosyncracies. For example, the swastika. The swastika was a good luck symbol origninating three thousand years before Hitler was even born. However, after the atrocities commited by Hitler and his loyal subjects, the swastika was viewed as a symbol of anti-Semitisim. Same thing. Another fun example would be "orgasm" Today, people think of it as a sexual climax. A few decades ago, its meaning was not even close. That is why people reading older literature would be surprised at its usage.

Does this answer your question?

Answer 5

Probably, but with good reason. Personally I like to toss around Nazism myself.

Bush's will never openly declare that his is a fascist regime, though they will slowly but surely introduce and implement aspects of fascism in this country.

Bush's PR people know how to influence gullible Americans. Only in retrospect will they see what the smirking imbecile is up to.

Answer 6

"Islamo-Fascist" is the term I hate most.

Most of the people who use this term don't realize that terrorist groups aren't fascist at all. They're only militaristic. That doesn't make you a fascist.

They need to read a book or something. Or just stop quoting Bill O'Reilly. One or the other.

Answer 7

Good question... Fascists are statist, with no dissent allowed.. A lot of the ignorant on this site equate fascist with conservative which are almost polar opposites. Even worse is comparisons with Nazi's who where Nationalist Socialist. Trying to equate conservative/capitalist with either system shows gross ignorance of political systems normally seen with college professors

Answer 8

You fascist! j/k :)

I hear you! Just like any other buzzword or overplayed song, it gets really old after a while...
Like paradigm (pronounced pair uh dine) or synergy. I got so sick of those overused and incorrectly used words... especially by people trying to sound intelligent. I don't have a problem if you don't know what something means and you ask for help understanding it, but when someone tries to use it again and again to sound intelligent, it just makes them look dumb....

Answer 9

I think people tend to use it pervading the idea that it's where we are heading, rather than where we are. Plus it just pisses the opposite side off, depending on what one considers the opposite side. And yes, I think it does a great desservice to the actual concepts of 'fascism' or 'communism' whom are far from almost anything out there.

Answer 10

In Yahoo Answers, yes of course

These people get off on venting in ways they don't have the balls to in real life.

I say stop giving yourself an aneurysm over the other side's beliefs, ignorance, etc

We live in a great country and have much to be thankful for and our rantings will CHANGE NOTHING,except our fellow man's view of ourselves.