Amen!!!baldeagle wrote:I think the classical way of defining political systems is completely wrong. Both communism and facism are totalitarian systems. So I think it is incorrect to call fascism a "right side" system and communism a "left side" system. I believe a better way of defining political systems is from anarchy on the right to totalitarianism on the left. Somewhere in the middle is where I would put democracy and to the right of that a republic (which is what America is supposed to be.)
During the 30s, the most common party switch to make in Germany was not from Communist to Social Democrat, or Nazi to Social Democrat, but Communist party to Nazi party and back. Why? because they had the same goals!
The attempts to paint the Nazis as far right wingers are incredibly off base. They and the communists wanted the exact same things...Authoritarian control of the govt.
I'm with bald eagle. To me, it is incredibly misleading and ignorant to paint the spectrum this way:
Anarchists-Communists-Democrats-Republicans-Nazis
If you're going to insist on linear, this is my take. From Authoritarian on the left to no govt on the right.
Communists/Nazis-Socialists-Democrats-Republicans-Libertarians-Anarchists
Though a 2 axis description is far more valuable. I love this guys explaination:
http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=1644
Sorry for the rant, but Nazis as "right wingers" is one of my biggest pet peeves.