Ask a liberal which is worse, fascism or socialism and you might be surprised how many would say socialism is worse, if they were being honest. Not that they like fascism. Not at all, they hate it. They just hate socialism more. To them, fascism is the lesser of the two evils. And I’m not just making this up, a prominent liberal economist of the 20th century said it explicitly:
As you will understand, it is possible for a dictator to govern in a liberal way. And it is also possible for a democracy to govern with a total lack of liberalism. Personally I prefer a liberal dictator to democratic government lacking liberalism.
Under fascism, if you’re not from a scapegoat minority, you still get to practice your religion, and if you know your place and stay out of things that aren’t your business (such as political questions, lofty ideas about human rights, or why a new family suddenly moved into the Rosenzweigs’ house across the street), you get to keep what you have, and if you’re lucky, you might even get some slaves.
Not for long with these fashies in charge, they are no Franco, not even mussolini. Like stalin but older and dumber. Maybe meaner even but the dumb moderates the mean somewhat.
They will crash the economy, and ruin what remains of prosperity was what I meant to say.
The problem is, if you’re not from a scapegoat minority, that doesn’t mean you won’t wake up one tomorrow. The circle of who is “in the club” and who isn’t is ever-shrinking.
He is right in the sense that there can be a benevolent dictator like Cinncinnatus who famously was made dictator, saved Rome from an invading army, and retired back to his farm after 16 days. At the same time a liberal democracy can vote that a minority ethnic group should all become slaves.
At the same time a liberal democracy can vote that a minority ethnic group should all become slaves.
That’s not what Hayek was talking about when he referenced a “democratic government lacking liberalism.” He was talking about Chile after the election of Salvador Allende, a socialist. Allende “sought to nationalize major industries, expand education, and improve the living standards of the working class.” No mention of mass enslavement. Although his replacement, Augusto Pinochet, who was supported by Hayek and the US, tortured and/or murdered tens of thousands.
Ask a liberal which is worse, fascism or socialism and you might be surprised how many would say socialism is worse, if they were being honest. Not that they like fascism. Not at all, they hate it. They just hate socialism more. To them, fascism is the lesser of the two evils. And I’m not just making this up, a prominent liberal economist of the 20th century said it explicitly:
Under fascism, if you’re not from a scapegoat minority, you still get to practice your religion, and if you know your place and stay out of things that aren’t your business (such as political questions, lofty ideas about human rights, or why a new family suddenly moved into the Rosenzweigs’ house across the street), you get to keep what you have, and if you’re lucky, you might even get some slaves.
Not for long with these fashies in charge, they are no Franco, not even mussolini. Like stalin but older and dumber. Maybe meaner even but the dumb moderates the mean somewhat.
They will crash the economy, and ruin what remains of prosperity was what I meant to say.
The problem is, if you’re not from a scapegoat minority, that doesn’t mean you won’t wake up one tomorrow. The circle of who is “in the club” and who isn’t is ever-shrinking.
Dictatorship and fascism aren’t synonyms.
That’s true. Does that mean you agree with Hayek?
He is right in the sense that there can be a benevolent dictator like Cinncinnatus who famously was made dictator, saved Rome from an invading army, and retired back to his farm after 16 days. At the same time a liberal democracy can vote that a minority ethnic group should all become slaves.
That’s not what Hayek was talking about when he referenced a “democratic government lacking liberalism.” He was talking about Chile after the election of Salvador Allende, a socialist. Allende “sought to nationalize major industries, expand education, and improve the living standards of the working class.” No mention of mass enslavement. Although his replacement, Augusto Pinochet, who was supported by Hayek and the US, tortured and/or murdered tens of thousands.