Yes, I am a student of both Fascism (capital “F,” see Giovanni Gentile, philosopher of Fascism) and pardigmatic fascism (small “f”). My usage of the term was correct. Corporations like Olivetti supported Mussolini and were all too willing to help with bringing Italy out of the shadows and the citizenry to march in lock-step with the party line. Fascism does not deserve such harsh words by the leftist intelligentsia, since it was a variant of Hegelian theory, but it is contrary to liberty as we know it. Hitler did not like Mussolini, because he was married to a jew.

My corporatist definition and usage still stands as being correct. You can line up for your national ID card made by Diebold so you can vote on your Diebold voting machine after Rudy gets elected, “conservatives.”

Mussolini advocated central control of the economy, which conservatives do not. Schools of corporotavist thought argued that corporations secretly contolled the government. Conservatives don’t argue this either. Are either of these dishonest positions the ones you mean? Which “specific” meaning do you claim and which one do you, in your reply on Petty’s behalf, agree applies to conservatives?

I think daleyrocks is confusing your usage of the term “corporatist”, which, I admit, I’ve never heard before

Then you shouldn’t comment on it without looking it up.

Of course, what you mean is keeping corporations intact, but subjecting them to government control á la fascism.

No, I don’t mean anything of the kind. Corporatism has nothing to do with corporations. The corporate state is the defining feature of fascism, but it has nothing to do with Halliburton, or even Enron. As I quoted to Daleyrocks, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Daleyrocks (#43):

Milhouse – Are you and Petty Bourgeois sock puppets? My question was addressed to Petty, but I’m happy to have you intrude.

Intrude? It’s a public forum. If you want to have a private conversation with Petty Bourgeois, take it to email.

The word Corporatist must have a common meaning on the left.

No, it has a specific meaning in the English language, whether left or right. Petty Bourgeois used it correctly; you are not. And I don’t know why you think either of us is on the left.

Christoph correctly guesses my difficulty with Petty’s use of the term in describing conservatives.

Um, when did he do that? He used it of Giuliani’s supporters.

Milhouse – How many conservatives do you see advocating government control of corporations and their activities, essentially a centralized economy. It isn’t part of the conservative philosophy, sorry to disappoint you.

And where did I suggest it was?

Christoph (#44):

The traditional distinction between left and right is a bit of a misnomer. It’s more helpful to think of it is a circle, similar to a clock. Fascism is at 1 o’clock and communism at 11:30.

That is completely the wrong way to look at it. The distinction is nothing like a clock. Your analogy implies that fascism and communism are independent philosophies converging on the same point from opposite directions. That was not the case. Fascism was a Marxist heresy; Mussolini was one of Europe’s leading socialist intellectuals, until he decided to support Italy in World War I. The similarities between fascism and communism are no marvel of convergent evolution, but the result of their shared ancestry.

I consider myself a conservative Republican and you consider yourself a conservative Republican.

I consider myself King of the Universe! Thanks, alphie. That was pretty damned funny.

When I grew up, I was a committed atheist. I disliked Christianity and considered it absurd, logically.

Evolution and pure physics were my beliefs.

Yet I always considered abortion murder and strongly so. I had arguments with my teachers about it and caused at least one to cry in front of our class in grade 9.

How do you explain that?

Much later, I had an epiphany and knew there was a God as much as I didn’t understand the details.

Tonight, a moment ago, was another such epiphany where I was reminded of God’s presence. Laugh if you will.

Some things are true whether one believes in them or not.

I just believe our Creator is beyond my immediate comprehension. I also believe He/She/It is so much greater than the bible would give credit for.

I can’t believe God cares whether we touch ourselves, for example, or our best friend, Bruce. (I don’t have a friend Bruce lest anyone misunderstand… I much prefer Marys and Sallys).

I think God DOES care, though, whether we rape, or kill.

So in that sense, maybe I wasn’t being totally candid when I answered I’m not a Christian.

I’m not… but that doesn’t mean I’m not religious.

All that said, I know atheists who have a set of morals. I used to be an atheist and I had morals, however flawed they might have been.

Heck, I was a lot more pure then than now.

I meant alphie is at 8:30 and Leviticus at 10:30.

Extreme government intervention in the economy, private property, and individual liberties.

The traditional distinction between left and right is a bit of a misnomer. It’s more helpful to think of it is a circle, similar to a clock.

Fascism is at 1 o’clock and communism at 11:30. John McCain is at 6 and Patterico is at 3:15. I’m at 3:30. alphie is at 4:30 and Leviticus is at 2:30.

Something like that.