You are looking (seemingly) to find a definitive answer to "What is fascism?" but isn't that just as problematic a question as "What is capitalism?" or "What is socialism?" Are either of these any easier to define simply than fascism is?
These are all ideologies... theoretical models and explanations of political goals and aspirations that might or might not have some historical examples to reflect upon. We can give a general definition of "communism" based on the required tenants as defined by the man who wrote the "manifesto" of the ideology... Karl Marx... but there are no historical or extant examples of the ideology functioning on a national (or even micro-national) level. Does that mean there has never been a "communist" state?
Is "republicanism" any easier to define? The US is defined as a "republic", but so was Rome prior to 27 BC... can both possibly be categorized in the same "ism" with any reasonable accuracy?
In all earnestness, is the question one of the use of fascism as an invective? When the term is applied as such (and I have used it A LOT in my day, as you well know... hehe), it is usually reserved for someone that does one of two things: maintains a degree of ultranationalistic fervor (as in "My Country, Right or Wrong"), which is idiotic, in my opinion... or holds a relativistic view of his/her nationality/ethnicity (as in "My Country is Always Right") which is morally reprehensible, since there is no nation or national government that isn't made up of flawed individual human beings that are more than prone to make mistakes.
My point is simply this: When I used to (and I have stopped doing it, you know) call you a "fascist" back in the day, it was because you were so prone to take what you perceived as the "patriotic" stance, and I am very (VERY) afraid of "patriotism" as a general definition of intent. I define patriotism as "devoted love, support and defense of one's country" and that is a fine thing... but it is very easily taken to extremes, isn't it?
When does the "love and support" for one's country become "fanaticism" instead of "patriotism"?
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