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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!allegra!don
From: don@allegra.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Fascism is a State of Mind
Message-ID: <1752@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 16-Aug-83 17:39:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: allegra.1752
Posted: Tue Aug 16 17:39:16 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Aug-83 03:22:36 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 16

Almquist is right, fascism need not be based on economics.  In practice
though, economic issues are often the driving force behind social
change.  Here are a couple points to clarify my view:

1.  Both Fascism and Communism can lead to a monolithic, all-important
state.  Many people make a distinction between these two systems based
on the social forces that bring them about.  Fascism is a dictatorship
of some "elite" class, while Communism is a dictatorship of the working
class or peasant class.

2.  Fascism (or Communism) isn't just a manifestation and can be
described as Almquist has.  I think of it as something dynamic that
HAPPENS to a society.  One should ask why it happens, and to answer
that one must understand the mind set of the people who support it.

3.  Pardon my technically incorrect use of "Communism".