Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning

Additional Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning Information

“Fascists,” “Brownshirts,” “jackbooted stormtroopers”—such are the insults typically hurled at conservatives by their liberal opponents. Calling someone a fascist is the fastest way to shut them up, defining their views as beyond the political pale. But who are the real fascists in our midst?

Liberal Fascism offers a startling new perspective on the theories and practices that define fascist politics. Replacing conveniently manufactured myths with surprising and enlightening research, Jonah Goldberg reminds us that the original fascists were really on the left, and that liberals from Woodrow Wilson to FDR to Hillary Clinton have advocated policies and principles remarkably similar to those of Hitler's National Socialism and Mussolini's Fascism.

Contrary to what most people think, the Nazis were ardent socialists (hence the term “National socialism”). They believed in free health care and guaranteed jobs. They confiscated inherited wealth and spent vast sums on public education. They purged the church from public policy, promoted a new form of pagan spirituality, and inserted the authority of the state into every nook and cranny of daily life. The Nazis declared war on smoking, supported abortion, euthanasia, and gun control. They loathed the free market, provided generous pensions for the elderly, and maintained a strict racial quota system in their universities—where campus speech codes were all the rage. The Nazis led the world in organic farming and alternative medicine. Hitler was a strict vegetarian, and Himmler was an animal rights activist.

Do these striking parallels mean that today’s liberals are genocidal maniacs, intent on conquering the world and imposing a new racial order? Not at all. Yet it is hard to deny that modern progressivism and classical fascism shared the same intellectual roots. We often forget, for example, that Mussolini and Hitler had many admirers in the United States. W.E.B. Du Bois was inspired by Hitler's Germany, and Irving Berlin praised Mussolini in song. Many fascist tenets were espoused by American progressives like John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson, and FDR incorporated fascist policies in the New Deal.

Fascism was an international movement that appeared in different forms in different countries, depending on the vagaries of national culture and temperament. In Germany, fascism appeared as genocidal racist nationalism. In America, it took a “friendlier,” more liberal form. The modern heirs of this “friendly fascist” tradition include the New York Times, the Democratic Party, the Ivy League professoriate, and the liberals of Hollywood. The quintessential Liberal Fascist isn't an SS storm trooper; it is a female grade school teacher with an education degree from Brown or Swarthmore.

These assertions may sound strange to modern ears, but that is because we have forgotten what fascism is. In this angry, funny, smart, contentious book, Jonah Goldberg turns our preconceptions inside out and shows us the true meaning of Liberal Fascism.

What Customers Say About Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning:

You know, those that look to MTV's cast of characters (P. I came to this book from watching Glenn Beck's show on television. Diddy) for political advice. I began reading and could not put it down. The author - intentionally or not - draws comparisons of the past and present that open my mind to the order of things to come - due to national figures and the liberal mass media taking advantage of those that do not THINK for themselves. Or, those that listen to Hill(billy)ery Clinton because they are the same sex - but fail to realize that she is in a higher economic class.Liberals should be named to the list of potential terrorists seeking to destroy our country. Just because one thinks of a different approach, does not mean it is a better approach.

It's interesting that both of the professional book reviews listed here in amazon page conclude that "Liberal Fascism" is a truly olympian feat of stretching logic in an attempt at making connections between liberalism and fascism. Even the washington post's efforts to throw this dog a bone and find some sense in the book is qualified as an "attempt at balance". Unfortunately for Jonah Goldberg that sense is merely neo-liberalism's detachment from both socialism and fascism.The only praise this book receives is from frothing ideologues who are overly excited at this sad attempt to turn the Fascism bomb onto the other side. It fails to convince anybody else, but I have to hand it to Jonah for having the guts to try to persuade Jon Stewart with pathetic connections between vegetarians and the Nazis, and liberals who liked to wear mustaches curiously similar to Hitler's mustache.

I'm not so sure Jonah Goldberg wasn't just putting us all on when he penned this eloborate diatribe, with nice doses of satirical & subtle humor, right down to the cute little smiley faced Hitler on the book's cover. Clearly, the proliferation of government intervention in practically everything we do, is alarming and needs to be held in check.Socialism---the ObamaNation way of doing business since 2009---is sending this country down the path of further economic & social turmoil; and it's time we took action. That's what the legal system does; it's their business to confuse the simple facts to satisfy their own agenda.

Who doesn't stop to take a gander at this book after seeing that whimsical cover. Who cares. He's no dummy; he's a smart guy who has a good gift of gab & a smooth hustler's marketing touch.Goldberg's simply a very good capitalist, and it's refreshing to see someone cleverly marketing their book with a cover that catches the eye so effectively.

Is it right or wrong. Sure, it's a little disturbing, but lighten up; Goldberg's just having fun with us.Essentially, Goldberg's historical comparison between the early American Progressive movement of the early 20th century, Roosevelt's New Deal, the Facsist movement, sponsored by Hitler & company, and today's socialistic ObamaNation ideology, all have similarities. Big deal; you could find a common thread in many seemingly polar opposite social or political perspectives if you looked hard enough.

It's reality, so get used to it.Perhaps the most compelling argument raised in this well researched & documented treatise, is the pernicious effect a government can have on its interpretation of serving the "best interests" of we, the people. Goldberg is using a somewhat tongue in cheek argument, but it's compelling; this country needs to return to common sense, and take back our future from the ineptitude of a socialistic regime.

After reading this, I wonder, Why wasn't I taught in school about men like Mussolini and Hitler--not about their roles in WWII, but how the stage could have been set for them to come to power, and why they wanted it so badly. It leaves me with the question: Will there be a politician we will vote into office who will invoke laws, revoke rights, and do it all in the name of American liberty and justice.

This is a book that I think everyone should read. It sure did open my eyes and I can see where this country is going. And it is no good.