Ok folks, there seems to be a lot of misinformation regarding what a Nazi is or is not, so here’s a quick primer:
Nazi - short for Nationalsozialismus, aka national socialism, which despite the name, has *nothing* to do with Marx/Lenin.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite. 1/
Nazi - short for Nationalsozialismus, aka national socialism, which despite the name, has *nothing* to do with Marx/Lenin.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite. 1/
Indeed, Nazi Germany fought Stalin and the USSR (aka United Soviet *Socialist* Republic). So no, Nazis were never socialists in the actual historical sense.
They were *National Socialists* aka a populist/extreme nationalist movement that developed in Germany in the 1920s. 2/
They were *National Socialists* aka a populist/extreme nationalist movement that developed in Germany in the 1920s. 2/
Nazis were a subgroup of fascism.
Fascism is, in essence, state-enforced radical INequality. It is inherently anti-democracy.
Socialism, in the Soviet communist form that lost people think of, is the opposite. It was state-enforced radical *equality.* 3/
Fascism is, in essence, state-enforced radical INequality. It is inherently anti-democracy.
Socialism, in the Soviet communist form that lost people think of, is the opposite. It was state-enforced radical *equality.* 3/
That sounds great, except for the state-enforced aspect. No one really had a say at all, since there was only one party, planned economy that discouraged innovation / creativity, travel was restricted.
Social Democracy = most countries in Europe today. 4/
Social Democracy = most countries in Europe today. 4/
Social democracies provide a basic level of stability for everybody, a safety net where no one starves, everybody has access to medical care, etc.
SDs view society as a cooperative endeavor as opposed to an individual struggle. Like a family. 5/
SDs view society as a cooperative endeavor as opposed to an individual struggle. Like a family. 5/
Many Americans hate this idea because the myth of the “self-made man” and the individual struggling against a harsh frontier is so deeply engrained in the American culture & mindset that anything opposed to it is, for many, unthinkable. 6/
Fascism, which includes any form of Nazism, fits in well with the ultra-deregulated anarcho-capitalism favored by many alt-righters. It applies the “survival of the fittest” notion from Darwin to economics. That sounds like it makes sense, except that it doesn’t at all. 7/
Applying principles from “nature” to human institutions ignores all kinds of factors. In a society without any regulation, people who are old, sick, disabled, not economically or culturally privileged from the outset? They get inherently trampled in this system. 8/
There is no way around that fact. We have regulations, essentially, to keep greed and “might is right” from taking over.
Unregulated anarchist-capitalism reinforces any existent inequalities. Social Darwinism was a principle expressly endorsed by H*ler in Mein Kampf. 9/
Unregulated anarchist-capitalism reinforces any existent inequalities. Social Darwinism was a principle expressly endorsed by H*ler in Mein Kampf. 9/
The whole point of democracy is that everyone, on some level, has an equal voice, and further, that everyone has a shot at a good life. It presumes a basic human equality & a democratic state creates laws to make that possible.
Fascism assumes inherent human inequality. 10/
Fascism assumes inherent human inequality. 10/
Fascism means making laws that create the conditions for is maintaining human inequality.
Read about the development of the Nuremberg laws if you want to see an example of the slow creep of fascist policy, enacted in tiny increments by the day or week or year, 11/
Read about the development of the Nuremberg laws if you want to see an example of the slow creep of fascist policy, enacted in tiny increments by the day or week or year, 11/
* or maintaining. ^
...until well, you know what happened. The Holocaust was the logical extreme end result of a daily trickle of laws, decreed, declarations, public speeches, propaganda from state-controlled media, slowly normalizing the enforcement of human inequality. 12/
...until well, you know what happened. The Holocaust was the logical extreme end result of a daily trickle of laws, decreed, declarations, public speeches, propaganda from state-controlled media, slowly normalizing the enforcement of human inequality. 12/
Nazism / fascism is not an opinion. It is not an idea. It is a set of actions, legal practices, institutional change in little, seemingly unrelated fits and starts. Seemingly unrelated until disparate institutions form a hegemonic network of mutually self-perpetuating power. /13
Although not strictly coordinated, anti-democratic practices are creeping towards normalization, weaving together to form a dangerous situation. In the press, in government, in economic practice. 14/
Democrats and republicans alike are sitting back and letting this happen, probably thinking “of yeah those alt-right kooks. This will all blow over.” You know who also thought that? Centrists in Germany in the 1920s.
Informed, educated Repubs who back Tr*mp? We all know 15/
Informed, educated Repubs who back Tr*mp? We all know 15/
...that they realize T is an idiot. But he’s a Trojan horse of idiocy who can overshadow policies they’ve wanted to bring in for years. Euphemistically named initiatives like these alleged “religious freedom” bills, which are anything but. It’s all anti democratic. 16/
But Tr*mp’s blithering public idiocy and the dramatic, extreme nature of the Neo-Nazis/white supremacists, will make them seem rational. They hope anyway. 17/
We are on dangerous ground. History tells us all we need to know.
Don’t be naive about what “neo-Nazi” or “fascist” means. Don’t be naive about the idea that our democratic institutions, the Constitution, and long-held American ideals are infallible bastions.
/18
Don’t be naive about what “neo-Nazi” or “fascist” means. Don’t be naive about the idea that our democratic institutions, the Constitution, and long-held American ideals are infallible bastions.
/18
America is not invulnerable to the whims of the rich and powerful. It never has been.
I’ve seen some nonsense in this country: Reagan, both Bushes, and now this. Tr*mp is not just another president. Neonazis, a movement whose underlying principles Tr*mp de facto supports, /19
I’ve seen some nonsense in this country: Reagan, both Bushes, and now this. Tr*mp is not just another president. Neonazis, a movement whose underlying principles Tr*mp de facto supports, /19
... is not just a group of misguided youths. It’s far more than that. Regardless of political party, people should oppose these forces with all their efforts.
Unless, of course, you oppose basic democratic principles. In which case I guess you can just watch it all crumble./20
Unless, of course, you oppose basic democratic principles. In which case I guess you can just watch it all crumble./20
Oops: thread got broke. It continues here. I *always* do this ::facepalm::
This just came over my TL, pertaining to some of the history above.
