Fascists? Do Liberals Even Known the Definition?

Benito Mussolini

The Huffington Post reports that a member of the American Nazi Party is running unopposed as a GOP candidate in Illinois for an upcoming primary.

A GOP as a fascist? Aren’t they all fascists, according to the liberals? This gets me to thinking: What is fascism, and which political/economic views are fascistic in nature?

Historically, the word fascism developed from ancient Rome. Webster’s says that a “fasces” is “A bundle of rods bound together about an ax with the blade projecting, carried before ancient Roman magistrates as an emblem of authority.” The fascists adopted the symbol—and the name—as an indicator of having the power of life over death.

Fasces can be found in designs even in some Washington, D.C. buildings such as in the chamber of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol and on the arm rests of Abraham Lincoln’s statue in the Lincoln Memorial.

Fascism is most closely identified with the Italian 20th century dictator, Benito Mussolini. Desiring to take a page from the ancient Caesars, Mussolini adopted the fasces as a symbol of his regime.

Mussolini is often categorized as a man of the right. But that’s not correct. He believed in the government take-over of business. That’s the essence of fascism. He was commended by Lenin for his policies.

In his book, Liberal Fascism, Jonah Goldberg notes that fascism is purely a product of the left. In fact, Mussolini, during the early days of his rise to power, was actually a darling of leftists. The Briish version of Cole Porter’s classic song, “You’re the Top,” from the musical “Anything Goes,” even paid homage to Mussolini.

You’re the top!

You’re the Great Houdini

You’re the top!

You are Mussolini!

Hitler also practiced a form of fascism—not free market policies (which is what conservatives advocate). People forget that “Nazi” is short for the National Socialist German Workers Party.

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