Immature conservatives

[Hamel]

During the election of 1925, Paul Von Hindenburg was considered the right-wing industarialist which defeated the Left-wing Adolf Hitler. So for the time, Hitler was a leftist.

Uh huh

That's why he hunted down commies and socialists, busted unions and replaced them with corporate farces, handed utilities over to private entities, etc

[Alyeska]

There is a myth of growing proportions that homosexuals are being denied their civil rights in our society.

This foundation of this myth rests entirely on the equally mythical assumption that homosexuality is genetically predetermined and immutable. The fallacy of this convenient excuse of homosexual apologists is easily disproved by 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the testimony of the many former homosexuals who have been set free by the power of Jesus Christ through ministries like Exodus International, and the wealth of scientific information available through organizations such as the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).

I wonder how many holes exist in this little paragraph?

[Peregrin Toker]

During the election of 1925, Paul Von Hindenburg was considered the right-wing industarialist which defeated the Left-wing Adolf Hitler. So for the time, Hitler was a leftist.

Uh huh

That's why he hunted down commies and socialists, busted unions and replaced them with corporate farces, handed utilities over to private entities, etc

However, it is undeniable that Hitler as well as Mussolini were - to some extent - inspired by Vladimir Lenin. In fact, it had been said that if Hitler and Stalin met and avoided discussing the topics of economics, nationalism vs. internationalism and the whole racial purity thing, they would agree almost totally.

[Andrew J.]

However, it is undeniable that Hitler as well as Mussolini were - to some extent - inspired by Vladimir Lenin. In fact, it had been said that if Hitler and Stalin met and avoided discussing the topics of economics, nationalism vs. internationalism and the whole racial purity thing, they would agree almost totally.

My AP European History teacher had an interesting idea that the political "spectrum" was actually a circuit. The political spectrum is usually reperesented as a half circle, with "moderate" on top, "reactionary" on the far right, "radical" on the far left, and "liberal" and "conservative" between the extremes and the middle.

The lower part of the circle, the part that completes the circuit, however, had "Communism" and "Fascism" following "radical" and "reactionary," respectively, and where they both met was labeled "totalitarianism." In other words, going too far right or too far left will get you to the same place, which explains why fascist Hitler and Mussolini were so similar to communist Stalin.

[Glocksman]

That's why he hunted down commies and socialists, busted unions and replaced them with corporate farces, handed utilities over to private entities, etc

But Hitler was also concerned with the welfare of the German (he didn't give a fuck about non-Germans) working man.

Kraft durch Freude and the Volkswagen were the principal fruit of this concern, though the Nazi Labor Front also made low interest loans for home ownership available.

The Nazi party was a diverse collection of people ranging from former Communists, to outright corporate fascists, to wild-eyed agrarian dreamers and pagan mystics, all fighting and competing for power with the only unifying factors being loyalty to Hitler and (to a much lesser extent) a varying degree of anti-Semitism.

[Thinkmarble]

In 1934 the left-wing of the NSDAP was eliminated and their leaders shot under the guise that Röhm, then head of the SA, aimed to overthrow Hitler.
Eventhou the NSDAP called itself "worker party" it in reality never was.
Mainly their voters were lower middle class, freelancer, white collar worker and officials.
In fact without the support of the industry and military leaders her would never have gotten control from Hindenburg and his strongest opposition came from the communists and social democrats (which I give you this doesnot mean much, afterall they were also fighting each other over the correct way to achieve the socialistic utopia ).

[Peregrin Toker]

The lower part of the circle, the part that completes the circuit, however, had "Communism" and "Fascism" following "radical" and "reactionary," respectively, and where they both met was labeled "totalitarianism." In other words, going too far right or too far left will get you to the same place, which explains why fascist Hitler and Mussolini were so similar to communist Stalin.

Hmm... I'm more accustomed to the Political Compass model, where the upper half is the totalitarian one. BTW - radicalism (sp?) is not necessarily a left-wing trait. Ayn Rand described herself as a "right-wing radical" IIRC.

Kraft durch Freude and the Volkswagen were the principal fruit of this concern, though the Nazi Labor Front also made low interest loans for home ownership available.

I thought that KDF was a series of benefits for people who voluntarily joined the military, in order to maximize the army during peacetime?? (or have I just misunderstood it grievously?)

[Sam Or I]

However, it is undeniable that Hitler as well as Mussolini were - to some extent - inspired by Vladimir Lenin. In fact, it had been said that if Hitler and Stalin met and avoided discussing the topics of economics, nationalism vs. internationalism and the whole racial purity thing, they would agree almost totally.

My AP European History teacher had an interesting idea that the political "spectrum" was actually a circuit. The political spectrum is usually reperesented as a half circle, with "moderate" on top, "reactionary" on the far right, "radical" on the far left, and "liberal" and "conservative" between the extremes and the middle.

The lower part of the circle, the part that completes the circuit, however, had "Communism" and "Fascism" following "radical" and "reactionary," respectively, and where they both met was labeled "totalitarianism." In other words, going too far right or too far left will get you to the same place, which explains why fascist Hitler and Mussolini were so similar to communist Stalin.

Here is a website that explains that theory to an extent.

http://www.oicu2.com/afc/leftright.html

It is a Multi-Capitalist website (which is a very intresting political theory in itself, but it sides slightly with the "right"). Left and right are not so simply defined. We should all know that, Hitler had strong ideas of both the left and the right in his regiem. Americas right-wing is not Hitlers, Nor is Americas Left-Wing Hitlers. I could name parts todays left and right that identifies with the riech, and parts that are oppisite of it.

[Andrew J.]

the Political Compass model, where the upper half is the totalitarian one. BTW - radicalism (sp?) is not necessarily a left-wing trait. Ayn Rand described herself as a "right-wing radical" IIRC.

That's radical as in "extreme." Speaking politically, "radical" means "willing to commit illegal actions in order to create change." Reactionaries commit crimes to preserve the status quo, and liberal and conservatives work within the system to achieve their respective goals.

[Glocksman]

The KdF

The NS Gemeinschaft Kraft durch Freude, the National Socialist Organization Strength through Joy, was a subset of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, the national German labor organization. All members of the DAF were also members of the KdF, and as basically any worker was a part of the DAF, so too were they in the Kraft durch Freude. The KdF was essentially designed for the purpose of providing organized leisure for the German work force. Interestingly enough, the DAF calculated that the work year contained 8,760 hours of which only 2,100 were spent working, 2,920 hours spent sleeping, leaving 3,740 hours of free time. Thus the driving concept behind the KdF was organized "relaxation for the collection of strenght for more work." The KdF strived to achieve this goal of organized leisure by providing activities such as trips, cruises, concerts, and cultural activities for German workers. These events were specifically directed towards the working class, and it was through the KdF that the NSDAP hoped to bring to the "common man" the pleasures once reserved only for the rich. By opening the door for the working class to easily and affordably take part in such activities, it was believed that the labor force could be lulled into being more flexible and productive.

There were many aspects of the German KdF program, including wildly popular and easily affordable international cruises provided by an extensive fleet of KdF liners and smaller waterway pleasure vessels. Trips were organized to the coasts of Norway, Spain, and Italy, as well as destinations on the Baltic Sea, and the German and Danish coasts. The KdF also sponsored and organized a wide variety of other activities, inlcuding retreats, day trips, tours, concerts, theater and opera performances, art exhibits, and other cultural and historical displays and events, all of which were supposedly designed to aid the "average" German enjoy their free time more. It was hoped that this would help in creating a healthier, more educated and more productive workforce.

Another aspect of the KdF organization was the provision for workers to have a right to vacation and paid holidays, a concept totally unique to the period in nearly all nations of the world. Even hourly and temporary workers were extended these sorts of concessions. Another major aspect of the KdF was the attempt to make the automobile a reality for as many Germans as possible. To this end, the world famous Volkswagon was created and and an extenisve system was setup to allow nearly anyone to purchase and own one. The Volkswagon (The Peoples Car) was extensively used by the German Wehrmacht in a military role also - the military versions of the VW are often compared not entirely without basis to the American Jeep.

[Peregrin Toker]

the Political Compass model, where the upper half is the totalitarian one. BTW - radicalism (sp?) is not necessarily a left-wing trait. Ayn Rand described herself as a "right-wing radical" IIRC.

That's radical as in "extreme." Speaking politically, "radical" means "willing to commit illegal actions in order to create change."

And isn't that what Harry Roarke did in Ayn Rand's novel "The Fountainhead"??

[Andrew J.]

the Political Compass model, where the upper half is the totalitarian one. BTW - radicalism (sp?) is not necessarily a left-wing trait. Ayn Rand described herself as a "right-wing radical" IIRC.

That's radical as in "extreme." Speaking politically, "radical" means "willing to commit illegal actions in order to create change."

And isn't that what Harry Roarke did in Ayn Rand's novel "The Fountainhead"??

Wouldn't know, never read it. Sometimes even conservatives and reactionaries want change, so much as things are changed to the way they used to be.

[SPOOFE]

Hitler is merely an example of what happens when somebody - liberal or conservative - goes too far. To say that the Republicans or Democrats (or whatever) are like Hitler is idiocy, plain and simple.

And to say that Hitler was anything other than a grotesque monster is also idiocy in the extreme.

Who cares if he was a rightist or a leftist? Is this some sort of "Your side's extreme psychopathic monsters are worse than my side's extreme psychopathic monsters" dick-sizing contest?

[Joe]

And isn't that what Harry Roarke did in Ayn Rand's novel "The Fountainhead"??

Howard Roarke was an idiotic businessman and probably a rapist.

[Peregrin Toker]

And isn't that what Harry Roarke did in Ayn Rand's novel "The Fountainhead"??

Howard Roarke was an idiotic businessman and probably a rapist.

I didn't say I endorsed what he did. I just said he was willing to commit illegal actions in order to create change.

Hitler is merely an example of what happens when somebody - liberal or conservative - goes too far. To say that the Republicans or Democrats (or whatever) are like Hitler is idiocy, plain and simple.

And to say that Hitler was anything other than a grotesque monster is also idiocy in the extreme.

Economically, Hitler was actually a centrist. His true extremism was as a totalitarian. (and such exist on both right and left wings)