Good try, Keith.
The definition YOU provide for fascism describes the US quite well.
We have a State-controlled and regulated 'mixed' economy.
As Jeffrey Tucker observed:
- Every aspect of our lives is subjected to [government planning] from birth to death. Every product we buy, every service we use, every decision we make is filtered through this morass. You can try this on your own by going to gpoaccess.gov and typing in anything from chicken stock to funerals, and observe the state at work, managing the whole of life as we know it in the most minute detail one can imagine. Think of anything and search it, and then see if you think we enjoy "free enterprise."
Socialism is the PARENT of Marxism, Fascism, Communism, Hitlerism, Stalinsim, Bolshevism, etc. Is it any wonder that various definitions intermingle and intertwine their characteristics.
So ... what is your goal here? To fix -- at least in your OWN mind -- that America is something OTHER than its own variant of Socialism?
Higgs assertion and creation of such a variant -- Participatory Fascism -- is certainly on target.
Regard$,
--MJ
There is simply no other choice than this: either abstain from interference in the free play of the market, or to delegate the entire management of production and distribution to the government. Either capitalism or socialism: there exists no middle way. -- Ludwig von Mises
At 08:27 PM 10/31/2012, you wrote:
Mr. Higgs' premise and definitions are slightly skewed. (Try to follow me here.....)--
The "legendary" definition of socialism:
"Date: 1837. From Latin socialis for "friend" or "companion" or "associate". Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods; usually there is no private property; in Marxist theory this is also considered just a transitional stage between capitalism and communism and it is distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done."
The above definition is by Mr. John Spargo, from his work titled: "Socialism, A Summary And Interpretation Of Socialist Principles" (McMillan & Co. 1913). Below is the Wiki definition, which is quite similar.
"Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. A stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done"
=============
The definition of fascism is the proverbial "mixed bag"; with numerous entities and individuals attempting to define the political theory and concept. In general, most I believe, including Higgs, woudl agree that:
"Fascism advocates a state-controlled and regulated mixed economy; the principal economic goal of fascism is to achieve national self-sufficiency and independence, sometimes through protectionist and interventionist economic policies. Fascism promotes regulated private enterprise and private property contingent whenever beneficial to the nation and state enterprise and state property whenever necessary to protect its interests"
See Blamires, Cyprian, World Fascism: a Historical Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2006) p. 188-189.
Therefore, when Higgs says:
"Socialism is a system in which all the major means of production are owned and operated by the state. Except perhaps for small firms or farms, all productive enterprises are state enterprises. All natural resources belong to the state. All resources are allocated and employed as the state dictates, insofar as its dictates can actually be carried out in practice (all such systems display much slack between orders given and actual conduct on the ground, owing to corruption and attempts to “fix”flaws embedded in the state’s overall plan)."
Mr. Higgs is not defining and describing "Socialism" or "Facisim", Higgs, even by his own reluctant admission, is defning "Communism" under Marxist theorem. Therefore, the premise of Mr. Higgs' whole article is flawed, and baseless.
--
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