Obviously liberals hate socialists more than fascists, but what exactly is it about the liberal mindset that makes them sympathetic to fascist ideas when push comes to shove? There seems to be some sort of death drive within them.
My two cents is that they trust the institutions of society so much that they would prefer a “strong man” fascist to come and save them than to dare question the sacred institutions that their entire world view relies upon, but I’m just spitballing here.
Fascists will promise the maintenance of the status quo to the extent that the status quo materially affects the liberal.
To elaborate on this I would refer to MLK’s letter from a Birmingham jail: First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.”
Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
When pushed Liberals are willing to condone a lot if it preserves the status quo.
They believe in preserving capitalism. They prefer doing that via liberal bourgeois democracy, but when capitalism starts collapsing they’ll begrudgingly allow fascists to take the reins and do the dirty work of slaughtering people which is what is required to preserve it at that point.
