Fascism

Its interesting how the definition of a word changes over time... sometimes so much so that it loses all meaning... and just becomes a universal negative. I'm sure ever school girl can tell you that fascists are bad... but she can't tell you why. When pressed she'll shuffle her feet and mumble. She may make some gurgling noises about rights that she also doesn't understand.

I'd like to take this time to roll back history to 1919... and remind you all that Fascism is an ideology, and a very concrete and specific one. It was the primary ideology of Italy's government during halftime of the Great World War.

So take the blinders off for a moment... strip away the negative conotation the word fascist has, and logically look at the ideology.

With Vox's Permission...

The Manifesto of the Fascist Struggle, published in The People of Italy on June 6, 1919.

Italians! Here is the program of a genuinely Italian movement. It is revolutionary because it is anti-dogmatic, strongly innovative and against prejudice.

For the political problem:

We demand:

a) Universal suffrage polled on a regional basis, with proportional representation and voting and electoral office eligibility for women.
b) A minimum age for the voting electorate of 18 years; that for the office holders at 25 years.
c) The abolition of the Senate.
d) The convocation of a National Assembly for a three-years duration, for which its primary responsibility will be to form a constitution of the State.
e) The formation of a National Council of experts for labor, for industy, for transportation, for the public health, for communications, etc. Selections to be made from the collective professionals or of tradesmen with legislative powers, and elected directly to a General Commission with ministerial powers.

For the social problems:

We demand:

a) The quick enactment of a law of the State that sanctions an eight-hour workday for all workers.
b) A minimum wage.
c) The participation of workers' representatives in the functions of industry commissions.
d) To show the same confidence in the labor unions (that prove to be technically and morally worthy) as is given to industry executives or public servants.
e) The rapid and complete systemization of the railways and of all the transport industries.
f) A necessary modification of the insurance laws to invalidate the minimum retirement age; we propose to lower it from 65 to 55 years of age.

For the military problem:

We demand:

a) The institution of a national militia with a short period of service for training and exclusively defensive responsibilities.
b) The nationalization of all the arms and explosives factories.
c) A national policy intended to peacefully further the Italian national culture in the world.

For the financial problem:

We demand:

a) A strong progressive tax on capital that will truly expropriate a portion of all wealth.
b) The seizure of all the possessions of the religious congregations and the abolition of all the bishoprics, which constitute an enormous liability on the Nation and on the privileges of the poor.
c) The revision of all military contracts and the seizure of 85 percent of the profits therein.

That's the accurate translation. That is Fascism as an ideology.

That is the uncomfortable truth that liberals must face. Fascism is an extreme left-wing ideology.