This-ism, That-ism

Socialism:

so·cial·ism  (ssh-lzm) n.

1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.

2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

National Socialism:

Nazism, known officially in German as National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), refers to the totalitarian ideology and practices of the Nazi Party or National Socialist German Workers’ Party under Adolf Hitler, and the policies adopted by the dictatorial government of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.

Nazism is often considered by scholars to be a form of fascism. While it incorporated elements from both left and right-wing politics, the Nazis formed most of their alliances on the right. The Nazis were one of several historical groups that used the term National Socialism to describe themselves, and in the 1920s they became the largest such group.

The Nazi Party presented its program in the 25 point National Socialist Program in 1920. Among the key elements of Nazism were anti-parliamentarism, Pan-Germanism, racism, collectivism, eugenics, antisemitism, anti-communism, totalitarianism and opposition to economic liberalism and political liberalism.

No wonder the Nazi-Soviet pact only lasted for two years...

see also: It's Called Fascism, Asshole and Won't Hurt A Bit

Comments

[LewScannon]

Thanks! I was happy to to remain willfully ignorant as I tossed around these horrible scarisms but now that I know what they mean I can't be excused for my inability to connect them to any appropriate action by any given party at any given time.

[blogenfreude 666]

Jonah Goldberg begs to differ ...

[Randal Graves]

Ismism is the worst.