I would characterize the protection of individual liberty as a nineteen
century or laissez faire liberal position that is now sometimes called
conservative. You can see the tension or contradiction within the
conservative movement over the issue of abortion. The individuals for
religious conservatism seem to favor state intervention in order to
protect people from themselves as well as the unborn.
To me, fascism is a recent expression of the 17th and 18th century idea
of mercantilism in which it was assumed that the state needed to direct the
economic activity of the nation for the benefit of the group. Fascism is
conservative in the sense that it tends to be hierarchical and tends to
favor the status quo. Socialism is also a form of mercantilism that is
liberal in the sense that it favors equality and change. Socialism attempts
to use the state for the greater good through more direct intervention in
the life of the society on behalf of workers.
The link between fascism and contemporary conservatives, as I understand
it, is that both favor hierarchy and the status quo, fascists from a
mercantile perspective and conservatives from a laissez faire capitalist
perspective. The religious conservatives tend to shade into the mercantile
approach however, as I see it. The link between socialism and contemporary
liberals is similar. Both tend to favor equality and change, socialists
from a mercantile and liberals from a laissez faire capitalist perspective.
These links are convenient for name calling on both sides.
Perhaps one of the reasons this country does not tear itself apart is
because there is wide spread agreement on the need to protect individual
liberty albeit from different perspectives.
Steve Cooke
To the Editor:
In yesterday's lead story about WSU's visting self-described "mild
fascist," your reporter notes David Irving "has made frequent appearances
before far-right groups."
What does the reporter mean? Those of us over here on the right would
describe ourselves as conservatives, and conservatism respects individual
freedoms while realizing those freedoms are best held in check by
non-governmental institutions such as churches, schools, and families, so
we can all live together somewhat peaceably.
What on earth would a fascist have to say to conservatives? Fascism and
Nazism (originally the National SOCIALIST German Worker's party) believe in
(among other things) collectivism, which is surely a leftist principle.
Would it not be more accurate to describe groups who share Irving's
collectivist principles as "far-left"?
I suspect the reporter didn't think about what he was writing, because the
term "far-right" is one of those empty, meaningless terms that gets thrown
about carelessly. In the national consciousness, however, right-wingers
get associated with fascists, Nazis, and other racists.
Please be more careful about your terminology in the future; words have
consequences.
Sincerely,
Briana LeClaire
Moscow, ID