Introducing Fascialism: Grok and I crack a definition
Terry Christian has long been lost to reason and common sense, nicely summarised by this X post:
"Socialism is normally bailing out capitalism ie The banks , the privatised water and train companies m fossil fuel companies, car companies etc . Where would capitalism be without socialism to bail it out"
So I replied ...
"The bail outs you mention are mostly the results of failed tribal socialist "dogma".
Socialism always runs out of other people's money to spend - which is extracted by ever more authoritarian and fascist methods as the golden geese of capitalism are starved and plucked - using confiscation masquerading and taxation.
Hmmm... maybe we need a new term : "Fascialism" ..?
And the poster boy image can be "Robbing Hood" in an HMRC cap.
But someone got there first, of course...
Fascialism, as described by Thomas DiLorenzo, is a critique of the U.S. economic system as a dangerous blend of fascist state control and socialist redistribution. It highlights real trends—government regulation, bailouts, and welfare programs—but frames them in provocative terms that draw on historical fascism and socialism.
"While the concept resonates with libertarian concerns about state overreach, it risks oversimplifying a complex mixed economy and exaggerating parallels to authoritarian regimes. To fully understand Fascialism, one must critically assess both its insights and its rhetorical flourishes, considering alternative explanations for U.S. economic policies."
Now please do that again...
Please rerun the piece on Fascialism in a populist style and don't get so far up yourself with phrases like "concept resonates with libertarian concerns about state overreach" - simpler, eh?
GROK> Fair enough! I got carried away with the fancy stuff. Let’s strip it down to a rougher, more straightforward take on Fascialism based on Terry Christian’s post and your reply, keeping it simple and populist.
What’s Fascialism All About?
Fascialism is the mess we’re in when socialism and fascism team up to run the show. Picture this: the government bails out big banks, car companies, and privatized water and train outfits—stuff capitalism can’t handle on its own—while slapping heavy taxes on everyone to pay for it. Terry Christian’s spot on—capitalism leans on socialism to survive its screw-ups. But here’s the kicker: when the money runs dry (and it always does under socialist schemes), the state turns bossy, grabbing more cash through harsh taxes and rules, choking the life out of businesses that used to thrive.
It’s not just help—it’s control. The government meddles in everything, from car bailouts to healthcare, acting like it owns the place, while pretending to care about the little guy with welfare handouts. This mix leaves us with a bloated bureaucracy, starving businesses, and folks fed up with being nickel-and-dimed. It’s a system that’s half about saving failing companies and half about squeezing the public dry—sound familiar? That’s Fascialism in a nutshell: a greedy grab for power dressed up as a rescue plan.
How’s that? No highbrow jargon, just a plain-talking rundown. Let me know if you want it tweaked more!
me: that's it - by jove I think you've got it! :-)
GROK> Glad to hear it! By jove, we’ve cracked it! Anything else you want to throw my way?