Julie Borowski, a libertarian blogger, recently asked “Can the commies and Nazis just destroy each other?” This question, which if actualized would make for a much better world, suggests (at least to us nerdy types) a matter-antimatter annihilation. Yes, indeed, the commies and Nazis in todays America stand against each other, but we should not let ourselves be fooled into thinking that their opposition validates some notion that they’re ideological opposites. The fallacy that communists and Nazis are polar opposites is gleefully perpetuated by the American Left, because they see benefit in tarring people on the Right with guilt-by-association accusations, and it’s bolstered by the European form of the left-right axis, which few realize differs quite substantially from the American form.

The Nazis self-identified as “National Socialists,” and while I’d expect that people who embrace the concept of self-identification even when biology and reality dissent would accept the right of Nazis to call themselves socialists, it’s clear both from current conversation and from history that Nazis and socialists don’t agree, get along, or like each other. In fact, the socialists tend to refer to the Nazis as fascists, with good cause.

Indeed there are substantial differences. They are aptly illustrated in the European left-right model, with the starkest being the elements of nationalism-nativism-protectionism that are core to the fascist/Nazi model but are far less a part of traditional socialism. The former had/has a more exclusive/divisive long-view, while the latter tends more towards coercive inclusivity.

Those differences pale, however, to their commonalities. Both socialism and fascism are statist ideologies, elevating the group above the individual and empowering government to control matters economic. Thus, while socialism and fascism clash, they’re clashing over position and primacy, not over fundamental conflicts of ideology. Each wants to be in the position of power over the masses, neither wants to leave the masses alone to live as they wish.

To come back to the physics analogy, this makes them isotopes of the same element. And, given the destruction and death that both socialism and fascism have wrought in the past 100+ years, this makes them isotopes of a particularly poisonous element. Perhaps arsenic.

This is a shame, because isotopes can coexist. Sure, they compete for the same space in compounds, and one can displace another, but they don’t annihilate each other the way matter and antimatter do.

What are we to do? Rather than quibble over the form of poison, we should simply step back and call all of it poison.

• About the Author

About Peter Venetoklis

I am twice-retired, a former rocket engineer and a former small business owner. At the very least, it makes for interesting party conversation. I'm also a life-long libertarian, I engage in an expanse of entertainments, and I squabble for sport.

Nowadays, I spend a good bit of my time arguing politics and editing this website.

If you'd like to help keep the site ad-free, please support us on Patreon.