First published in 1943 at a time when the United States was at war with Germany, Italy and Japan, Isabel Paterson’s God of the Machine clarified one of the greatest and most fatal of misunderstandings about the nature of government and governing. Contrary to prevailing belief and opinion, countered Paterson: “It is a mistake to say that ‘Government is Force.’ Force is what IS governed.”
In this regard, no more powerful words have ever been spoken. The great political choice facing mankind is, and always has been, whether that Force should be governed by the Left or by the Right – or by both. At the heart of this moral dilemma lies the answer to why Western society has been so radically drifting towards the Left.
In our continuing discussion about Left and Right, we have already clearly demonstrated that fascism in all its forms is a direct manifestation of the Left, and will continue to do so on over the course of today’s presentation. But beyond the continual misrepresentation that fascism sits on the ‘Right,’ there are still many other popular misinterpretations of the ‘political spectrum’ that require remedy.
One in particular is the notion that the Left – Right ‘spectrum’ represents a gradual transition from ‘Extreme Force’ on the Left, to ‘Degrees of Force’ in the ‘middle,’ and finally to ‘No Force’ on the Right. Unfortunately, this has become a popular viewpoint of many ‘libertarians’ and ‘Objectivists’ who knowingly or not are at odds with the fundamental nature of Objectivism.
Once again, this viewpoint has fallen into the trap of believing that an imaginary ‘center’ or ‘middle’ of a ‘spectrum’ exists, which is simply not the case. The error is amplified by juxtaposing the Left’s ‘Extreme Force’ against the Right’s ‘No Force.’
Both in theory and in practice, there is no such thing in politics as ‘degrees of force,’ no more than there are ‘degrees of death or pregnancy.’ One is either resorting to force or one is not. And it’s inescapable that when it comes to force itself, both the Left and Right represent ‘Extreme Force.’ Like it or not.
The question is not a matter of ‘degree.’ It’s a matter of whether that Force is being used to violate individual rights, or to defend/protect them. And you don’t need a ‘degree’ to understand the distinction.
The truth about ‘Force’ is that, in the defense of Life Liberty and Property, using it justly is always Just Right.
One Response to “563 – Fascism, force, and the Left”
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Instead of debating what “fascism” means, why don’t we just ask the creator of the concept?
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The Manifesto of the Fascist Struggle, published in The People of Italy on June 6, 1919. Written by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement.
(Translated from Italian)
Italians! Here is the program of a genuinely Italian movement. It is revolutionary because it is anti-dogmatic, strongly innovative and against prejudice.
For the political problem: We demand:
a) Universal suffrage polled on a regional basis, with proportional representation and voting and electoral office eligibility for women.
b) A minimum age for the voting electorate of 18 years; that for the office holders at 25 years.
c) The abolition of the Senate.
d) The convocation of a National Assembly for a three-years duration, for which its primary responsibility will be to form a constitution of the State.
e) The formation of a National Council of experts for labor, for indusrty, for transportation, for the public health, for communications, etc. Selections to be made from the collective professionals or of tradesmen with legislative powers, and elected directly to a General Commission with ministerial powers.
For the social problems: We demand:
a) The quick enactment of a law of the State that sanctions an eight-hour workday for all workers.
b) A minimum wage.
c) The participation of workers’ representatives in the functions of industry commissions.
d) To show the same confidence in the labor unions (that prove to be technically and morally worthy) as is given to industry executives or public servants.
e) The rapid and complete systematization of the railways and of all the transport industries.
f) A necessary modification of the insurance laws to invalidate the minimum retirement age; we propose to lower it from 65 to 55 years of age.
For the military problem: We demand:
a) The institution of a national militia with a short period of service for training and exclusively defensive responsibilities.
b) The nationalization of all the arms and explosives factories.
c) A national policy intended to peacefully further the Italian national culture in the world.
For the financial problem: We demand:
a) A strong progressive tax on capital that will truly expropriate a portion of all wealth.
b) The seizure of all the possessions of the religious congregations and the abolition of all the bishoprics, which constitute an enormous liability on the Nation and on the privileges of the poor.
c) The revision of all military contracts and the seizure of 85 percent of the profits therein.
In 1925, Mussolini encapsulated the heart of fascist philosophy in a memorable phrase:
“Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.”
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So if Il Duce were to return today which current political party or movement would he find most agreeable?