Thanks, Amos. Excellent article and excellent post.

The quote by Giovanni Gentile, often attributed (until now, even by me) to Mussolini, "Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power," should jerk everybody up short if they ever stopped to think about it. I also took note some time ago of the similarity between what many corporations would like to see in the way of a social order with feudalism.

I think that in most people's minds, the word "fascism" conjures up images of black uniforms, swastika armbands, jackboots, and goose-stepping troops. But that sort of image is just one dictator's particular style. Fascists can just as easily be found wearing dark suits and power ties, while smiling pleasantly in board rooms and Congressional committee meetings. Nor does the definition of fascism require racism, such as Hitler's anti-Semitism. It usually does, however, need some kind of scapegoat to keep the populace a bit scared and to justify the steps it wants to take to tighten its authority. Gays, or terrorists, or pro-choicers, or those who are adamant about not want religion crammed down their throats—or the most dreaded evil force of all:   "liberals"—can fill that function just as well.

Can't happen here? Dammit, it is happening here!

(I know, Doug, I know. "The sky is falling!")

Sheesh!!

Don Firth