I think this is an interesting article that you should read

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1160972/The-far-right-march-rise-Fascism-Austria.html

This reporter has given equivalency between the Jews in Europe before WWII and the Islamofundamentalists who are taking over Europe now, and if you think it's because it's because they want "peace" and a better life, well, I disagree.

The Jews were assimilated,they were Germans, they were just not Lutherans or Catholics
.
There is no comparison.

The rest of his article is suspect, to me, because of that. He has told me ,pretty much, who he is.

The problem is that the media is looking for Hitler on the far right. In fact, Hitler was just a leftist who waved his own country's flag instead of preaching Internationalism.

They need to be looking across the spectrum for the next Hitler:

1. Cult of personality
2. Aggrandizing power
3. Militarism
4. Existing grievances he can exploit.

etc.

I respectfuly disagree. Hitler was neither full right nor full left, but operated somewhere in the middle.

The facts show that Hitler was left-leaning to the extent he wanted nationalization of German industries. The facts also show Hitler was right-leaning to the extent he wanted a strong military, was a strong nationalist, and cared little about diversity.

But to espouse that Hitler was left (or right) is flat out wrong and merely places him into a box that suits whatever political party you support.

I agree with primrose, they are attempting to compare apples with oranges.
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I have seen the enemy, and he is us.

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Losers make excuses while winners go home with the homecoming queen.

[This message has been edited by Danger Mouse (edited 3/19/2009 2:30p).]

[This message has been edited by Danger Mouse (edited 3/20/2009 11:23a).]

I have spent a decent amount of time in Austria over the years. There is a strong nationalism movement in the country that can be a little scary.

For those who really want to see what it is like there I suggest you go to Austria and have someone attack you because you are an American. For something like that the attacker could get lets say...9 months in prison. But for doing that to me...the guy got his @$$ kicked.

Tell them you are a Texan and they wont bother you to start with in my experience.

As for the Hitler left/right argument, I would suggest he was not only one of a kind but also the product of a peculiar set of circumstances that are not likely to recur anywhere in precisely the same way.

There are elements of his policy that are from the left, such as social security, family bonuses, other safety net features and his passion for improving the living standards of the masses; but some of his policy was distinctly rightist---the nationalism being the best example.

His authoritarianism can be found in left and right.

What you cannot find in his policy is any hint of libertarianism----he did not think the individual was of any concern except as a subject for motivating to greatness for the good of the pack.

Our concern should not be for the emergence of someone with all of Hitler's traits but of those who wish to sacrifice the individual to the pack. And we are surrounded by them.

And left and right and fascist and socialist and communist are now terms like democrat and republican---they have largely lost their meanings.

nm

[This message has been edited by Bullmoose (edited 3/20/2009 10:37p).]