Methods of Control

After reading about the "is Obama a fascist?" debate on Megan McArdle and Coyote Blog, I decided to memorize the definition of fascism for once and for all. I like to bandy the word around a lot and when challenged regarding who I consider fascists my response has to be the unsatisfying "people I don't like (because they tell me what to do)".

A search led me to this summary of the differences and similarities between fascism and socialism.

I think I can further summarize that summary:

• Fascists control the stuff by controlling the people.
• Socialists control the people by controlling the stuff.

Personally I think that managing the economy through a combination buying a major (but not majority) stake in companies and then subjecting them to additional regulation could put you (mildly) in either camp. But the burning of the bonus-receiving-AIG-witches would seem to push you more towards fascism...

Oh well. It's not like McCain would have been much better.