I have heard this countless times, especially from libertarians and many GOP supporters, among others. The argument goes like this:
Clue #1
National Socialist Party of German Workers
Socialist Party of Workers?
Clue #2
A totalitarian state and free market economy regulated by the state coupled with social benefits and a big amount of state involvement in political, economic and social affairs
According to many, it wasn't a "right wing" political party, because "right wing" means "free unregulated market and no state involvement in political, economic and social affairs".
I'm not sure what to say, but to me, most self proclaimed "right wing" parties don't follow the "no state involvement" credo much anyway. Perhaps the left and right dichotomy is dead? Perhaps it was a "mixed" state? What do you think?
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[–] matthew-- 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
Yes.
Left and right changes depending on what you're talking about: economics, policy, etc. So some will say they were right wing because nationalism or some such bullshit.
The only that counts is economic policy. On the extreme left you have communism, and on the extreme right you have anarchy and no real government.
Nazis were left wing.
[–] downtownchinatown [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
That's what I thought. I mean their economic policy was to have more government control, not less.
[–] matthew-- 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Yup. More control over the money, including taxes, inflation, etc. Not right wing at all.