-Caveat Lector- There is an important difference between the Italian Fascist "corporatism" and the "corporate state" of American-style monopoly capitalism. Mussolini's model was based loosely on the medieval "estates," with elements of the guild system thrown in for good measure. Italian "corporations" were conceived of as *social* entities, defining one's place in the Fascist state, as much as they were *economic* entities. Each corporation comprised the total workforce of a given industry, from top management to the lowest maintenance worker on the shop floor. Within the hierarchy of Fascism, every member of a corporation was considered (theoretically) to be the equal of every other member, regardless of prior social or economic standing. This decidedly leftist bent, with its contempt for traditional elites and particularly for the mercantile establishment, was characteristic of both Fascism and National Socialism, especially in their earlier stages. The "corporate state" as we know and love it today is a different breed of cat entirely. The Italian corporations were more like American industrial unions (CIO) than they were like modern corporations. The modern American corporation is characterized by a strict hierarchy based on income and established power. A rigid wall is erected between "management" and "labor," with precise protocol governing interactions between the two. Power in the American corporation is concentrated in the board of directors; and because corporate boards frequently, even usually, overlap in membership a pattern of interlocking directorates emerges, effectively producing behind-the-scenes coordination and collaboration to manipulate the supposedly free market. And, because the interlocking directorates include the vast majority of potential political leaders, it is these combined boards--the Oligarchy, to borrow Jack London's term from *The Iron Heel*--that control the political process, manipulating the "marketplace of ideas" in the same way they manipulate the economic marketplace. More on this later... > -----Original Message----- > From: Das GOAT [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Thursday, November 18, 1999 6:06 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [CTRL] (2/2) Who Killed JFK? Communists or NAZIS? > > <snip> > > Too much attention, IMHO, is given to Hitler's Nazi Germany as the epitome > of > fascism, thanks to its atrocities, when the ideology of Fascism really > began > in Mussolini's Italy, > where the Roman Empire was remembered nostalgically, with dreams of > reviving > it. > > The "neo-classical" atmosphere promoted by the Nazis at Germany's hosting > of > the Olympics, for example, was first evident in the official iconography > of > Fascism in Italy. > > Before Hitler redefined it for us, fascism was only, as Mussolini wrote, > "the > Corporate State" -- which became the blueprint for ALL nations, even our > own, > after the military takeover of production --hence "the Military-Industrial > Complex"-- during World War II. > > I wonder how the "Conspiracy Theory" view of post-War history would see > things if, instead of being obsessed with Hitler and Teutonic Nazism, it > paid > more attention to Mussolini's elitist corporate technocratic state -- to > the > ROMAN model of Fascism? > > DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
