Attribute to L. Neil Smith’s The Libertarian Enterprise

An idea-meme that one runs into on Gab (and no doubt elsewhere) is the notion that fascism will save us from communism. (I am using “idea-meme” to refer to the original definition of “meme” as an idea that spreads through a population, rather than as some picture with a slogan on it.) It’s also claimed that national socialism will save us from communism.

Whenever I see “Hitler love” posts on Gab, I always get the feeling the poster is a provocateur from SPLC, trying to drive people away from Gab. But I’m guessing there are still some real Nazis around, trying to save us from communism.

This is an interesting notion. I have no doubt that fascism (and we can include national socialism in this for now) grows as a reaction to communism—but that’s not the same thing as saying it will actually be such a remedy. It’s just that people turn to fascism in the erroneous belief that it will help. No doubt there will be showy street battles here and there between crowds of thugs, just to reinforce that erroneous belief.

I don’t even think the current more-or-less communist ruling class are concerned about fascism. As long as people continue believing in government, they are happy, and are unconcerned what label will end up tacked on that government. They like those street battles. “Divide and conquer”, after all.…

I have to wonder about these government-believers. Government is doing lots of things they don’t like, and is stealing money from them to do it. Now, just imagine the government turns fascist, through the ballot box (we’re already in the Twilight Zone now, but bear with me). Is that fascist government really going to bring all the soldiers home, particularly from the Middle East? Is it really going to reduce the military budget? Are the wars going to stop? Is it really going to chuck our 20,000 unconstitutional gun laws? Is it really going to stop building Bridges to Nowhere? Is it really going to keep the Mexicans out? Is it really going to get rid of Medicare, Socialist Security and “food stamps”? Is it really going to eliminate the Department of Edjookashun?

Or is it more likely, these are just lies that will be ignored when this faction comes to power—just like Trump and every other politician did in the past?

Those in power tend to like being in power; in fact they are power-mad. They are not going to surrender any of it. They are going to employ it to stay in power and to reward their friends and to loot the productive classes.

“Trust me,” the government-believers tell me, “This time it will be different.” Pardon my guffaw.