Fascism

Liberals and Fascists.

For Christmas our older daughter, Carolyn, bought us a board game.  It was originally proposed as an idea on the crowd source funding platform Kickstarter… and, evidently, it achieved enough sponsors it was actually produced.

The game itself is awesome looking.  The box has that 1960’s vintage distressed look.  The playing pieces are elegant, and have the look of a product that has had enormous state resources thrown at it for its development… a fitting image.

As you peruse the exterior of the box, there are witty little quotes from academics and people who evidently review board games.  One was this gritty little missive: 

“America, pay attention!”

(Hehe… look at that… the intellectual is actually trying to think.  How adorable.)

This fascination with fascism began about the time of President Trump’s election.  Those who voted for him were fascists!  Those who did not were elegant liberals who participated in a higher form of consciousness. 

Three years into this, the “fascist” thing deserves more investigation.

This, incidentally, coincides with a conversation that Sandy had with her old pen pal from Scotland.  (The two of them were paired up in elementary school as part of a class pen pal program and have been communicating ever since.)

Right before the referendum on Boris Johnson, Neil (Sandy’s pen pal) asked Sandy in a Facebook message, “What is it like living under Trump?”

Her response was instructive.

She told Neil that we do not “live under” our representatives.  In fact, the more appropriate articulation of the relationship would be the reverse.  If he was asking about his personality…well, she is not a particularly big fan.  If he was asking about the result of his policies… lowest unemployment among women, lowest unemployment among African Americans, increased European spending in NATO, proper legal scholars as opposed to political hacks being appointed to the bench, deregulation, highest stock market… well… if asking about those things… yep… his administration is pretty damn good! 

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You could hear the sounds of AOC supporters gnashing their teeth:

“Fascist!”

These battle lines that have been drawn as we enter into this political year are disturbing for one major reason:  a complete lack of understanding as to what labels actually mean.

In this case… those most closely aligned with fascism are the ones calling us fascists.

Fascism (as opposed to socialism), is a religious elevation of the State.  Along with that comes State ownership of industry and (typically) a violent suppression of dissent.

The other day there was a glorious mobilization of climate change activists at a hotel conference.

It was not their conference… they had the intention of invading a corporate event and essentially squatting in the conference room disrupting the event.  Unfortunately, when the large group of activists arrived they went to the wrong convention room.

They had invaded a local governmental transportation meeting. 

They squatted and chanted and the government organizers explained to the protest leaders they were in the wrong room… the target of their ire was down the hall.

They couldn’t have cared less.

They stayed and chanted.  The meeting was disrupted.  A victory for the planet!  (I guess.)

I am a huge proponent of free speech and political activism, especially that with which I potentially disagree.  (The only way for me to know the veracity of my ideas and philosophies is to have them constantly aggressively tested against competing theories.)

But like our endearing Second Amendment… (as many of you have heard Sandy and I say)… “with rights come responsibilities”.

You have the right to speak and advocate for your position… but, you have the responsibility to articulate a coherent message.  The corollary is that you must acknowledge where your positions fall on the political spectrum.  Acting like a fascist, advocating for fascist policies, using violence and threats to limit dissent… means YOU are a fascist!  If you are… fine.  Acknowledge it.  But calling the other side a fascist only shows your level of political ignorance.

Steven Lieberman and Sandy Lieberman are the owners of the Artemis Defense Institute. A tactical training facility headquartered occupied California.   (adi.artemishq.com).  Mr. Lieberman is also one of the founding partners in the Law Offices of Lieberman and Taormina LLP.  Their law firm specializes in use of force, and Second Amendment defense and litigation.