From: "Chip Berlet" <cberlet at igc.org> Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 14:32:22 -0500
Hi,
Sorry, your irony was lost in cyberspace.
Yes, many on the left use the term fascism as an all-purpose epithet. This is both unfortunate and dangerous IMHO.
Dimitroff's definition is a paltry rhetorical device in defense of a failed parrty line.
-Chip
----- Original Message ----- From: Brett Knowlton <brettk at unica-usa.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 1:57 PM Subject: RE: Where the Fascists Are
> I obviously wasn't clear enough in my last post.
>
> I know what the definition of fascism is. But the term is usually bandied
> about without much caution, and often used inappropriately.
>
> For example, I've heard virtually every American president since WWII
> called a fascist. But none of them were. Yes, there are similarities.
> But none of them wanted state control of the economy - they represented
> business control of the government, to highlight one difference.
>
> Maybe this isn't a big deal. But I think you risk losing credibility with
> people when you use such loaded terms loosely.
>
> Brett
>