Post #1715769

2026-04-23 12:53 UTC

Words are defined so that we can communicate effectively. The actual usage of a word gives it meaning, and thus the meaning may change over time. “Fascism” used to be nationalist, militarist, racist, authoritarian government with cult-leader worship. Now, I think, “fascism” means advocacy of a capitalist corporate-plutocratic authoritarian structure. Rather than “the blood is the land” mythology, it’s “wealth is self-justifying”. The classic “fascism” is a set of tools which the current one is willing to use: nationalism, militarism, racism, designation of an external enemy which is labelled as simultaneously weak and cowardly yet also implacable and dangerous, single-leader cult worship. Those are not core beliefs of these people, those are strategies that they find acceptable to achieve and maintain power. When someone whines at you that you're incorrect about the giant corpos being fascist because they don't wear shiny leather boots, tell them that they are wrong: words change. #politics #fascism #ai #tech #language

Replies (3)

@feoh@oldbytes.space 2026-04-23 15:34

@dashdsrdash They do change, and I think that's great so long as everyone or at least most people are on board enough with the change that meaning is not lost. When I think of the kinds of behavior I think you're referring to on the part of Megacorps, I think of words like "exploitative" "immoral" "inhumane", "profiteering" and the like. I don't really think of "facist". But perhaps that's because I struggled a bit for years understanding what Facism was other than "That thing Hitler and Mussolini did". Reading books and understanding the heuristics that, at least at the time made facism facism was very helpful. So maybe the problem is that tiny grug brained people like me need a new set of heuristics to actually understand what people mean for the NEW usage of "facist".

Open ##1754027
@wilbr@glitch.social 2026-04-23 15:36

@dashdsrdash you can argue that the original fascists/nazis ("Axis") also didn't really believe in those things and used them as tools for control. It's much easier to define how a politician or govt acts, than what they have in their true heart, especially when it comes to Nazis and titans of capitalism. Did Ford really love Hitler because of the fascism, the man, or the profit? Who cares? "Blood is the land" is just a justification to the populace.

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@feoh@oldbytes.space 2026-04-23 20:18

@dashdsrdash And thinking a bit further on this - I will admit I had to look up "plutocratic". I really don't understand where you're going with this. It feels to me like you're just hijacking a word that means one thing and coneniently shoe horning it into another undesirable thing just because it's undesirable. Sure, plutocratic Megacorps that exploit and abuse their power are bad, undesirable, and need to be eliminated or at LEAST brought under control so they stop behaving like lunatics... But does that mean we must label them facists? There are PLENTY of figures in our modern world who fit the traditional definition of the word. I say leave this particular combination of letters as the powerful totem they represent, and maybe coion a new word or phrase for the megacorps gone insane. Just my $.02, and obviously I'm more than willing to be convinced I've got it wrong.

Open ##1754042