The Truth of the Case of Left V. Right

The Truth of the Case of Left V. Right

Political ideologies are often framed in terms of left and right, but those labels obscure the underlying mechanics of power and control. Taking a closer look at events and evidence in history reveals that authoritarian regimes—whether labeled fascist, communist, or otherwise—share a common foundation in socialism, which aligns them with leftist ideology.

In contrast, political philosophies to the right of center increasingly emphasize individual freedom and liberty. Ultra "right-wing" would actually be total anarchy with no government what-so-ever.

At their core, both fascism and communism are built on the principles of collectivism, centralized control, and the subjugation of individual rights to the state’s objectives—hallmarks of socialist ideology. Socialism, broadly defined, prioritizes collective goals over individual autonomy, often vesting the state with the power to enforce economic and social equality.

While the manifestations of fascism and communism differ, their reliance on state-driven collectivism ties them to the leftist spectrum.

Communism, as articulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, is explicitly socialist. It advocates for the abolition of private property, the collectivization of resources, and a state-controlled economy to achieve a classless society. All while naively and completely ignoring the fallibility and corruptions of humanity. Historical examples, such as the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin or Mao’s China, demonstrate that in practice: the state seized control of industries, agriculture, and even personal freedoms in the name of the collective good.

The Communist Manifesto itself calls for centralized control of production, communication, and transportation, leaving little room for individual agency.

This state-centric approach inherently suppresses dissent, as individual desires are subordinated to the state’s vision of equality. The result is authoritarianism, where the state becomes the ultimate arbiter of economic and social life, enforced through violence and censorship.

Fascism, often mischaracterized as a right-wing ideology, also has deep socialist roots. While it diverges from communism in its embrace of nationalism and cultural identity, fascism retains the collectivist ethos central to socialism. In Mussolini’s Italy, for instance, the state controlled key industries, suppressed labor strikes, and directed economic activity through corporatism—a system where the state mediates between labor and capital to serve national goals.

Similarly, Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) implemented policies that nationalized key sectors, controlled wages and prices, and prioritized the state’s vision of a unified Volk over individual rights.

Fascism’s socialist credentials are evident in its rejection of laissez-faire capitalism and its emphasis on state-driven economic planning. Both Mussolini and Hitler admired aspects of socialist thought, adapting it to their nationalist agendas.

The term “National Socialism” is not a misnomer; it reflects a system where the state harnesses socialist principles to achieve collective goals, albeit with a focus on racial or national identity rather than class struggle, like we see today's American left doing.

The key similarity between fascism and communism lies in their shared rejection of individual liberty in favor of state control. Both systems centralize power, suppress dissent, and prioritize collective goals—whether defined by class or nation or race or sexual identity—over personal freedom. This collectivism is the hallmark of leftist ideology, which seeks to reshape society through state intervention and oppression.

In contrast, political ideologies to the right of center emphasize individual freedom and limited government, moving further from authoritarian control as one progresses along the spectrum. While the left seeks to impose equality through state power, the right prioritizes liberty, allowing individuals to pursue their own paths with minimal interference.

The center-right, exemplified by traditional conservatism, supports limited government, free markets, and individual rights within a framework of societal stability. It values institutions like family, religion, and community as voluntary structures that bring order without heavy-handed state control.

For example, post-World War II Western democracies, such as those influenced by the ideas of Edmund Burke or the policies of leaders like Ronald Reagan, emphasized economic freedom, personal responsibility, and restrained government intervention.

Further to the right, libertarianism (the real liberals) takes the emphasis on individual liberty to its logical conclusion. Libertarians advocate for minimal government involvement in both economic and personal spheres, arguing that voluntary cooperation and free markets are the most effective and moral means of organizing society.

Figures like Ludwig von Mises and Ayn Rand championed individual sovereignty, private property, and the right to self-determination, rejecting the collectivist impulses of socialism entirely.

At the far right, anarcho-capitalism envisions a society without a state, where all interactions are voluntary and governed by private contracts. Thinkers like Murray Rothbard argued that even essential services like security and justice could be provided through market mechanisms, maximizing individual freedom.

While this extreme may be impractical for some, it represents the logical endpoint of the right’s commitment to liberty over control.

The conflation of fascism with the right stems from a misunderstanding of the political spectrum. Historically, the left-right divide emerged from the French Revolution, where the left supported radical change and state intervention, while the right defended tradition and limited government. Fascism’s nationalist rhetoric and opposition to communism led to its misplacement on the right, but its collectivist, state-driven policies align it more closely with socialism than with liberty-oriented ideologies.

The right is not without its flaws—extreme individualism can lead to social fragmentation, and unchecked markets can produce inequalities. However, these outcomes are not enforced by state coercion but arise from voluntary interactions, in stark contrast to the authoritarianism of socialist systems.

Authoritarian regimes, whether fascist or communist, share a common socialist foundation that prioritizes collective goals and state control over individual liberty. This places them firmly on the left of the political spectrum, where state power is wielded to enforce ideological visions. Conversely, the right of center represents a spectrum of increasing freedom, from the ordered liberty of conservatism to the radical individualism of anarcho-capitalism. Understanding this distinction clarifies the true nature of political ideologies and underscores the fundamental divide between control and liberty and goes to provide protection against propaganda and misconceptions pushed by today's StarBucks Socialists.