[MD] Value and the Individual

[Krimel]

[Craig]
Regarding the connection between fascism & marxism,
both systems tend to be totalitarian.
That having been said, I don't think the usual left-right spectrum
is adequate.  I prefer to view the "political space" is terms of 3
mutually perpendicular axes: "economic", "social" & "foreign affairs".
The "economic axis" ranges from free markets at one end to
increased government intervention/spending on the other.
The "social axis" ranges from free speech, abortion rights, freedom
of association, etc. at one end to censorship, anti-abortion laws &
prohibition at the other.
The "foreign affairs axis" is less clear.  It can either be thought of as
ranging from nationalism to internationalism or else as ranging from
isolationism to interventionism.

[Krimel]
I've seen libertarians use this sort of Cartesian division of political
space with good effect. The trouble is that the various forms of government
do not always map well into this space. Take Platt's paranoia of communism.
On your chart a truly Marxist government would be very liberal with regard
to personal liberty yet restrictive of economic activities but it might
still promote markets and entrepreneurs. You might have a dictatorship that
promotes both laisser-faire and civil liberties. The labels just don't fit.