Actually...

...you DO use the terms "socialism," "communism," and "collectivism" as synonyms (i.e., a "whipping boy") for fascism. Genuine socialism/communism as formulated by Marx and Engels does NOT resemble fascism or anything like the system in the former Soviet Union. In fact, it also doesn't resemble what Henny has described and linked to as "libertarian socialism." The term "socialism" has frequently been used to describe totalitarianism and liberalized capitalism, i.e., the existence of social programs to help the poor. In actuality, socialism means social or common ownership of the industries and services by the workers. In a true socialist world, there would be no rich and poor.

I don't understand why so many people see unbridled and unregulated capitalism as the benchmark of "freedom." This simply allows the rich minority to become something equivalent to a fascist state, and to rule directly over the people via economic dominance, without using politicians as a go-between. This is the very essence of fascism. Though I am against capitalism, if I am stuck living in such a system then I prefer to live in a system where the economic landscape is well regulated by the state rather than allowing the rich to run rampant and to take whatever they want and become more and more powerful and to take more and more of the collective wealth without limits. As someone who isn't rich and who never will be rich, this is NOT in my best interests to support. I just don't understand why so many non-wealthy people support this paleo-conservatism.

Also, I should point out that collectivism and a regulated system is NOT the same thing as the Nanny State. It is NOT the same thing as supporting the right of the government to control people's personal lives. I disagree with state interference in our personal lives. It's possible to have a regulated system where the economy is managed by the government but where an extreme degree of personal freedom is allowed to people in their personal lives. I think this is what Henny was talking about...he supports civil liberties in our personal lives but believes that the government should regulate the economy and assure that the poor have as much of a chance as possible to rise above their circumstances.

The reason the AoC is currently so high in all of these states is because the U.S. and Britain put pressure on all of these countries, and they have enough economic power to hurt these less powerful states. A high AoC is NOT characteristic of a regulated capitalist economy.