Can we cease with the term "fascist" in the context of anti-government politics? Fascism, by definition, is the marriage of business with government. It's only one step away from full-on Communism. As such, it's a dyed-in-the-wool LEFTIST phenomenon. The media are responsible for this misconception, labelling fascism, Nazism specifically, anti-communist and, therefore, somehow "right-wing". Fascism is one-step away from total government. The ultimate expression of right-wing political idea is anarchy, the absence of government. It is ludicrous (and ignorant) to label those who oppose top-down, authoritarian government as "fascists". Remember this when you read or hear "fascist" bandied about. Best always. PM
I asked Gemini to define fascism. It had lots to say - here are some excerpts:
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement that rose to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.
It champions the nation or race above the individual and is characterized by a centralized, autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader. Fascist regimes typically enforce a severe regimentation of society and the economy, forcibly suppressing opposition and democratic processes.
Anti-Communism/Anti-Socialism: Fascism arose in opposition to various leftist movements, particularly Marxism and Communism.
Who is Gemini? Gemini contradicts itself. It's impossible to be characterized by "centralized, autocratic government" and simultaneously right-wing. By definition, right-wing is anti-government and pro-liberty and freedom. The ultimate expression of right-wing is anarchy, the absence of government! How can fascism, the penultimate expression of top-down, total-conrol, big-government, be right-wing? It can't. The media, as usual, are in full-on indoctrination mode.
Visualize a number line. Zero is the middle. To the right go positive numbers, and to the left go negative numbers. Communism is the ultimate destination of the left side of the number line, and Anarchy is the ultimate destination of the right side. Since the universe (per Einstein) ultimately turns back on itself, sooner or later, the two, left-wing (negative and communist) and right-wing ( positive and anarchist) eventually bump into each other, but seen in a linear perspective, the two are opposites. What the Left fears more than anything is somebody getting the idea that big government is not only harmful, it's not necessary.
How did the Nazis, avowed fascists and socialists, become known as "far-right"? Nazism was a response to Communist violence and attempted government takeover during the chaos of the Weimar years. The SA Brownshirts were the enforcement arm of the National Socialist German Workers' Party in order to respond to Communist street chaos. They, the fascist Nazis and the Communists fought each other, not because they were opposed in principle, but because they were both left-wing control organizations fighting for primacy with the same objective: becoming exclusively the party of control/big government. The media, then and now, seized on this conflict with the intent of being able to claim that Nazis were/are somehow right-wing. It's poppycock and illogical. Best always. PM
PM, what about our new sovereign wealth fund? IBM, MP materials? Seems like our government is buying chunks of companies. And Trump is not left in my opinion.
Not a fan, obviously. I didn't like Jimma's bailout of Chrysler. I didn't like Bush/Obama bailout of GM (vote-buying via union preservation). I guess we could squint and crane our necks and somehow or other justify it as a national defense move in wartime, which, basically this is, and I still get squeamish. Best always. PM
Grateful to have found you. Substack is so much more than a social media platform, it truly is (imo) the best chance we have as a nation to get the misinformed and uninformed critical information if they care to care. Keep up the great work and loving the Argentina success story 🛢️🥩💸 freedom and free markets will always provide prosperity if left to do so🇺🇸🙏
Outstanding, good sir. Thanks for your kind words. I suspect there are many people out there looking for an alternative to the msm bile. Here’s to building something new together!
Good analysis. I am eager to learn how to transform so many public employees into private sector workers. We would need something like that here in Spain, but it seems like an impossible endeavour.
Besides, we have now a Government that lies compulsively and insults everyone who doesn't think like them. And it is one of the most corrupt governments of our latest democracy period (after the dictator Franco, I mean, because there have been periods of democracy before, especially while fighting the invader Napoleon in 1812, and later).
Thanks for joining the conversation, Sr. Soto. I’m eager to hear more of what’s happening in your country. I’m following along from this End of the World. Hopefully this experiment can be an example for other liberty-minded gente elsewhere. Salud!
I will note that Stalin was the original Superman, since that name translates as "Man of Steel". But certainly was not very super in the eyes of those whom he considered enemies, which would be anyone who challenged him.
Congratulations. It’s clear how big a deal this is for you. Happy for you.
That being said I hope the vote is an awakening of the reformed citizenry. Hoping it’s not a drunk waking with a serious hangover. Let’s pray that they (and we to the north) will follow this trajectory of reform and maturity.
Joel, you never talk about corruption in the Milei administration. I asked Gemini about it, and
here's part of its reply:
Perception Index: Argentina scored 37 out of 100 on Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking it 99th out of 180 countries. A score below 50 indicates serious public sector corruption. This score has remained largely consistent in recent years, though it has fluctuated over the past decades.
Current Administration Allegations: The government of President Javier Milei, who campaigned as an anti-corruption outsider, has recently faced allegations, including a scandal involving his sister and Chief of Staff, Karina Milei, related to an alleged bribery scheme in the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) concerning pharmaceutical contracts.
Despite these measures, the key difficulty remains the lack of consistent political will and judicial independence to ensure rigorous, impartial enforcement against high-level officials.
Yes, I understand your concern. I covered the $LIBRA allegations at the time, but it’s not easy to parse “allegations” from “facts” when it comes to what they call here the “campaña sucia,” (dirty campaign) as expertly employed by the Peronists. For the moment, I prefer to let the Argentine people speak for themselves, as they are far more well-versed in such matters than am I, as recent election results show.
One step at a time. Corruption is at all time high world wide from what I can glean from various sites on the web. At the moment this is in Argentina. Hope it will be controlled. They are still, in My opinion on the correct path to freedom and liberty.
I suspect Transparency International is another World Health Organization or such. Just because they have a positive name, lately that means they are hiding corruption.
I never heard of transparency international till today. But of course I asked Gemini about them and it had a lot to say. Pretty impressive outfit - I wish them well. Here's
part of its reply:
Global Network: It operates as a global movement with an international Secretariat in Berlin and a network of over 100 independent national chapters that lead the fight against corruption in their respective countries.
Transparency International receives its funding from a diverse range of donors to ensure its independence and reputation. These sources include:
Government Agencies: Funding comes from various national government agencies and development cooperation organizations (e.g., U.S. Department of State, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)).
Multilateral Institutions: Donors include bodies like the European Commission and various United Nations organizations.
Foundations and Trusts: Contributions are received from private foundations (e.g., Open Society Foundations, Sigrid Rausing Trust).
The Private Sector/Corporate Donors: The organization accepts funding from some companies, although it has a strict policy to ensure such contributions do not impair its independence.
Individuals: Generous individuals also contribute to their work.
Transparency International's policy is to publicly disclose donations over €1,000 and to accept funding only if it does not compromise their mission or endanger their integrity. The income for the international secretariat is predominantly provided by institutional donors, with government agencies and multilateral donors being major contributors
Joel, Am glad to see the comments on corruption in Pres. Milei's government. Again it educates us to know the big picture when we try an educate the people in our countries(U.S.for me), we need to know what are talking about when explaining the political expierement in Argentina. I liked one commenter said, she would refer to the people in Argentina, they are more knowledgeable than I am. For us in the U.S. of A., President Trump is a sideshow to keep us divided, while he dots the i's And crosses as he supports the 1%'s agenda.
This article comes at the perfect time, following up on your Monday Note. I'm wondering about the long-term sustainibility of such rapid change. How are essential human rights, like access to healthcare and education, being protected for all citizens under these polices? It's a vital consideration.
Keep it up Joel.
May this great experiment continue....
Can we cease with the term "fascist" in the context of anti-government politics? Fascism, by definition, is the marriage of business with government. It's only one step away from full-on Communism. As such, it's a dyed-in-the-wool LEFTIST phenomenon. The media are responsible for this misconception, labelling fascism, Nazism specifically, anti-communist and, therefore, somehow "right-wing". Fascism is one-step away from total government. The ultimate expression of right-wing political idea is anarchy, the absence of government. It is ludicrous (and ignorant) to label those who oppose top-down, authoritarian government as "fascists". Remember this when you read or hear "fascist" bandied about. Best always. PM
I asked Gemini to define fascism. It had lots to say - here are some excerpts:
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement that rose to prominence in early 20th-century Europe.
It champions the nation or race above the individual and is characterized by a centralized, autocratic government led by a dictatorial leader. Fascist regimes typically enforce a severe regimentation of society and the economy, forcibly suppressing opposition and democratic processes.
Anti-Communism/Anti-Socialism: Fascism arose in opposition to various leftist movements, particularly Marxism and Communism.
Who is Gemini? Gemini contradicts itself. It's impossible to be characterized by "centralized, autocratic government" and simultaneously right-wing. By definition, right-wing is anti-government and pro-liberty and freedom. The ultimate expression of right-wing is anarchy, the absence of government! How can fascism, the penultimate expression of top-down, total-conrol, big-government, be right-wing? It can't. The media, as usual, are in full-on indoctrination mode.
Visualize a number line. Zero is the middle. To the right go positive numbers, and to the left go negative numbers. Communism is the ultimate destination of the left side of the number line, and Anarchy is the ultimate destination of the right side. Since the universe (per Einstein) ultimately turns back on itself, sooner or later, the two, left-wing (negative and communist) and right-wing ( positive and anarchist) eventually bump into each other, but seen in a linear perspective, the two are opposites. What the Left fears more than anything is somebody getting the idea that big government is not only harmful, it's not necessary.
How did the Nazis, avowed fascists and socialists, become known as "far-right"? Nazism was a response to Communist violence and attempted government takeover during the chaos of the Weimar years. The SA Brownshirts were the enforcement arm of the National Socialist German Workers' Party in order to respond to Communist street chaos. They, the fascist Nazis and the Communists fought each other, not because they were opposed in principle, but because they were both left-wing control organizations fighting for primacy with the same objective: becoming exclusively the party of control/big government. The media, then and now, seized on this conflict with the intent of being able to claim that Nazis were/are somehow right-wing. It's poppycock and illogical. Best always. PM
PM, what about our new sovereign wealth fund? IBM, MP materials? Seems like our government is buying chunks of companies. And Trump is not left in my opinion.
Respectfully,
Not a fan, obviously. I didn't like Jimma's bailout of Chrysler. I didn't like Bush/Obama bailout of GM (vote-buying via union preservation). I guess we could squint and crane our necks and somehow or other justify it as a national defense move in wartime, which, basically this is, and I still get squeamish. Best always. PM
Joel, I've nothing to say for once just happy at the results.
Me too.
me3
Grateful to have found you. Substack is so much more than a social media platform, it truly is (imo) the best chance we have as a nation to get the misinformed and uninformed critical information if they care to care. Keep up the great work and loving the Argentina success story 🛢️🥩💸 freedom and free markets will always provide prosperity if left to do so🇺🇸🙏
Outstanding, good sir. Thanks for your kind words. I suspect there are many people out there looking for an alternative to the msm bile. Here’s to building something new together!
Good analysis. I am eager to learn how to transform so many public employees into private sector workers. We would need something like that here in Spain, but it seems like an impossible endeavour.
Besides, we have now a Government that lies compulsively and insults everyone who doesn't think like them. And it is one of the most corrupt governments of our latest democracy period (after the dictator Franco, I mean, because there have been periods of democracy before, especially while fighting the invader Napoleon in 1812, and later).
Thanks for joining the conversation, Sr. Soto. I’m eager to hear more of what’s happening in your country. I’m following along from this End of the World. Hopefully this experiment can be an example for other liberty-minded gente elsewhere. Salud!
Salud. Y que viva la libertad, cojones. I made it more Andalusian style, where I am from. 😂
I may have to steal that one 😂
I will note that Stalin was the original Superman, since that name translates as "Man of Steel". But certainly was not very super in the eyes of those whom he considered enemies, which would be anyone who challenged him.
If I didn't know better this might be the second coming in Argentina.
Gee who would have thunk it. Free markets and real capitalism works. It might be sloppy some times but greed is good.
Crazy, right?
BBC= British bullshit company
Congratulations. It’s clear how big a deal this is for you. Happy for you.
That being said I hope the vote is an awakening of the reformed citizenry. Hoping it’s not a drunk waking with a serious hangover. Let’s pray that they (and we to the north) will follow this trajectory of reform and maturity.
Joel, you never talk about corruption in the Milei administration. I asked Gemini about it, and
here's part of its reply:
Perception Index: Argentina scored 37 out of 100 on Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking it 99th out of 180 countries. A score below 50 indicates serious public sector corruption. This score has remained largely consistent in recent years, though it has fluctuated over the past decades.
Current Administration Allegations: The government of President Javier Milei, who campaigned as an anti-corruption outsider, has recently faced allegations, including a scandal involving his sister and Chief of Staff, Karina Milei, related to an alleged bribery scheme in the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) concerning pharmaceutical contracts.
Despite these measures, the key difficulty remains the lack of consistent political will and judicial independence to ensure rigorous, impartial enforcement against high-level officials.
Yes, I understand your concern. I covered the $LIBRA allegations at the time, but it’s not easy to parse “allegations” from “facts” when it comes to what they call here the “campaña sucia,” (dirty campaign) as expertly employed by the Peronists. For the moment, I prefer to let the Argentine people speak for themselves, as they are far more well-versed in such matters than am I, as recent election results show.
One step at a time. Corruption is at all time high world wide from what I can glean from various sites on the web. At the moment this is in Argentina. Hope it will be controlled. They are still, in My opinion on the correct path to freedom and liberty.
I suspect Transparency International is another World Health Organization or such. Just because they have a positive name, lately that means they are hiding corruption.
I never heard of transparency international till today. But of course I asked Gemini about them and it had a lot to say. Pretty impressive outfit - I wish them well. Here's
part of its reply:
Global Network: It operates as a global movement with an international Secretariat in Berlin and a network of over 100 independent national chapters that lead the fight against corruption in their respective countries.
Who funds them? That will tell the tale...
Gemini says:
Transparency International receives its funding from a diverse range of donors to ensure its independence and reputation. These sources include:
Government Agencies: Funding comes from various national government agencies and development cooperation organizations (e.g., U.S. Department of State, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)).
Multilateral Institutions: Donors include bodies like the European Commission and various United Nations organizations.
Foundations and Trusts: Contributions are received from private foundations (e.g., Open Society Foundations, Sigrid Rausing Trust).
The Private Sector/Corporate Donors: The organization accepts funding from some companies, although it has a strict policy to ensure such contributions do not impair its independence.
Individuals: Generous individuals also contribute to their work.
Transparency International's policy is to publicly disclose donations over €1,000 and to accept funding only if it does not compromise their mission or endanger their integrity. The income for the international secretariat is predominantly provided by institutional donors, with government agencies and multilateral donors being major contributors
Major Funders
Based on TI's reports and external analyses, here's a breakdown of key funding sources (drawing from 2021–2024 data where available):
Governments and Multilateral Institutions (Primary source, ~70–80% of funding):
U.S. Department of State and USAID.
UK Department for International Development (DFID, now FCDO).
European Commission and member states (e.g., Germany, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
World Bank, United Nations agencies (e.g., UNDP, UNICEF), African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank.
National Endowment for Democracy (NED, U.S.-funded).
Foundations and Philanthropies (~10–20%):
Open Society Foundations (George Soros-linked, progressive focus on democracy and human rights).
Carnegie Corporation of New York (supports international peace and governance).
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (focuses on global justice and human rights).
So Soros, USAID, EC, about as woke as it gets ha ha
Joel, Am glad to see the comments on corruption in Pres. Milei's government. Again it educates us to know the big picture when we try an educate the people in our countries(U.S.for me), we need to know what are talking about when explaining the political expierement in Argentina. I liked one commenter said, she would refer to the people in Argentina, they are more knowledgeable than I am. For us in the U.S. of A., President Trump is a sideshow to keep us divided, while he dots the i's And crosses as he supports the 1%'s agenda.
This article comes at the perfect time, following up on your Monday Note. I'm wondering about the long-term sustainibility of such rapid change. How are essential human rights, like access to healthcare and education, being protected for all citizens under these polices? It's a vital consideration.
What somewhat shocks me is that with all of the positive things going on down in Argentina Mileli is still not winning a majority of the vote!