Stick Your Finger HERE

.. merely two sides of the same coin. And neither is remotely like Capitalism - the use of the word Fascism to depict Conservatives (who are, by and large, aligned with Capitalism) is a great example of THE BIG LIE.

Once the people have been subjugated by force, Communism and Fascism create the specter of a 'greater good' for which the people are supposed to work.

In both cases, people are supposed to 'toil' so that others can eat. The methods of distribution may vary, but it is the undescribable hell of slavery.

Fascism is actually a more transparent form of this visciousness. The brutality is obvious, because there are usually plenty of jack-booted thugs running around, ready to inflict pain upon those who disobey - but, hey, at least the trains run on time!

Communism is more seductive, since it is based on altruistic (selfless) ideological principles. Each man works for the common good and the State ensures that everyone is cared for! What could be wrong with that?

After all, Judeo-Christian belief systems (and almost all religions) view altruism as a virtue.

So, if Religion is good, a system that is based on altruism must also be good. How can Religious people remain consistent and object to a selfless economic system?

That is why you will often hear well-meaning people say that "Communism is good, but it just wasn't properly implemented in Soviet Russia".

And this is exactly why socialism finds a fertile soil in Religious countries. It isn't surprising that America has a large percentage of socialists - we usually call them liberals.

.. from my previous post.

Religious Conservatives have to use the "it doesn't work" argument against socialism. And, they're right! Socialism DOESN'T work.

But that is an argument from pragmatism - not from morality.

So, some religious conservatives (who can't shake off the intuitive feeling that their argument is without moral strength) attempt to say that they are FOR altruism, but they are for Capitalism (not socialism) because it's success provides benefits to their fellow man.

That's when they have to come up with pretzel-like contortions like "Compassionate Conservatism".