Re: "define Fascism "
Quoting Benito Mussolini, the founder of Fascism:
"Fascism might be best described as corporatism ".
It is the state and major corporations operating as one, the state using coercion to control corporate production for the benefit of the state.
Contrary to the accepted beliefs of most Americans, fascism is not Nazism.
Fascism, per se, is not an ideology centered around racial superiority, nor is it exclusively socialistic.
Fascism is totalitarian, tolerates no dissent, and values the supreme power of the state as the greatest good.
Under a fascist government, individuals and businesses matter only to the extent that they contribute to the wealth and power of the state.
Fascism existed before Hitler established his rule over Germany, and while the two forms of government were both authoritarian in nature, National Socialism was a left wing ideology which believed that all rights of citizenship, together with access to the nation's goods and services were reserved exclusively for one racial group deemed superior to all others, all under control of a regimented state bureaucracy ruled by one absolute dictator. Period.
The National Socialist State was like all other socialist states in that all major means of production, marketing, and distribution, was owned by the State.
However, unlike other socialistic ideologies, Nazism was in theory nationalist rather than internationalist in scope.
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In my opinion the ease with which some denounce others as "NAZI" degrades and cheapens the insult because it is possible to have a strong dislike for Jews and Judaism while also having an equally strong dislike for National Socialism.
My opinion holds also for those who all too quickly denounce anyone holding firm convictions with which they disagree as "fascists".
There are indeed fascists in operation today - those controlling the platforms of both major political parties.
At present the policies of the United States Federal Government are more and more fascistic, as indicated by Obama's seizure of the health care, banking, and automobile industries.
And just because you cheer and wave flags and vote for one or another candidate doesn't mean that you yourself are not fascista !