Author Topic: Was Stalin a Leftist or Friendly Fascism  (Read 2393 times)

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Offline Splashdown

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Was Stalin a Leftist or Friendly Fascism
« on: January 08, 2008, 09:27:48 AM »
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bryant69  (1000+ posts)       Tue Jan-08-08 10:06 AM
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Was Stalin a Leftist or Friendly Fascism 
 This is one where you'd benefit from reading what I actually wrote, rather than responding to the title.

For those who don't know, Jonah Goldberg's latest book is called Friendly Fascists, and it's about how Liberals are really fascists. Among it's other contentions, both Hitler and Mussolini were really leftists, not conservatives. I'm not going to waste your time explaining how Hitler and Mussolini really are conservatives as I already did that at my blog (in a limited kind of way).

Rather, I'm curious about the phenomena of Conservatives or Rightists trying to take people on the right they don't approve of and jam them on the left. This isn't unique to Goldberg; I've been reading Conservatives and talking with them for a long time and they love pointing out the Socialist in National Socialist as if that alone were proof that all the evils of the 20th century were our fault.

What I don't see is the counterpoint. I have heard the argument that Stalin was more of a Nationalist than a Communist (which seems accurate), but I haven't seen liberals arguing that Stalin or Mao or Pol Pot weren't leftists. Rather on the left it seems like our policy is to admit that some who hold some of our views have been evil and twisted. This is a more adult way of looking at the world, of course; it's somewhat childish to assume that everybody who agrees with you on a political point must be a paragon of virtue. Which is why it's not surprising to see Conservatives adopting that philosophy.

I guess my question is - is my impression accurate? Do Liberals/Leftists generally accept that on the Political spectrum, you place Mao and Stalin on the left (while leaving Hitler and Mussolini on the right)?
 


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Offline bijou

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Re: Was Stalin a Leftist or Friendly Fascism
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2008, 10:04:25 AM »
Nice to see bryant stirring the pot.  Stalin not a leftist?  :rotf: