"More Terms Defined--'Fascism' "

"You're nothing but a fascist!" I hear this loosely tossed around often enough--sometimes on TV, usually on talk radio. Almost always in anger. To be called a fascist is an insult, to be sure.
And for good reason. We associate the most criminal minds of the past 100 years with this word: Benito Mussolini of Italy and Francisco Franco of Spain. But what does the word mean? Does it refer to just anybody with whom you have some sort of political disagreement? Is it "left wing" or "right wing" in the political spectrum? Does it apply only to little dictators with moustaches, silly uniforms and jackboots?

First, fascism is a real political term. Groups calling themselves "fascists" gained power in devastated European countries after World War I (1914-1918). These nations (Italy and Spain for example) had no history of representative government and were poverty stricken. Politicians who guaranteed peace, economic prosperity and glory for the nation rose to power through violent intimidation of their enemies.

The fascists believed that a strong central government should not necessarily confiscate all private businesses or property (as the Communists would). Under fascism there is some nationalization of financial institutions as well as transportation and communication industries, but the rest of the private businesses would be tightly controlled by the central government through such things as wage and price controls, and restriction of production and distribution of goods and services. All of society would answer to the dictates of the central government.

In short, fascism (and its fraternal twin Naziism) was a more violent and oppressive strain of socialism. If a political spectrum shows left wing politics as calling for more government control over people and property, and the right as encouraging less government control, then fascism and naziism would be on the left. Only communism would be further left of fascism/naziism.