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It is often claimed that corporatism means "the power of business corporations over society."<ref>Luis Suarez-Villa, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=RjJUmthF7zIC Technocapitalism: a critical perspective on technological innovation and corporatism]'' (Temple University Press, 2009) ISBN 1439900426, p. 1</ref> For example, in the wake of his upset defeat by [[Tea Party]] backed challenger Dr. Nan Hayworth, then-Congressman John Hall (D-NY) said, "I learned when I was in social studies class in school that corporate ownership or corporate control of government is called Fascism."<ref>David Freedlander, "[http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/soon-be-ex-congressman-john-hall-warns-against-creeping-fascism Soon To-Be Ex-Congressman John Hall Warns Against Creeping Fascism]," ''New York Observer'', December 28, 2010</ref> Likewise, an article published by the Council for Secular Humanism claims that under fascism, "the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised."<ref>Laurence W. Britt, "[http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?page=britt_23_2&section=library Fascism Anyone?]" ''Free Inquiry'', Vol. 23, No. 2 (Spring 2003)</ref> While he didn't mention business, President [[Franklin Roosevelt]], a [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], said, "in its essence... fascism [is] ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,759590,00.html INDUSTRY: Anti-Monopoly], ''Time'', May, 9, 1938</ref> (a statement approvingly quoted by secret [[Communist]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Spies: the rise and fall of the KGB in America |last=Haynes |first=John Earl |coauthors=Harvey Klehr, Alexander Vassiliev |year=2009 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |isbn=0300123906 |page=169 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qCAVQ_cdomcC |accessdate=9 January 2011}}</ref> [[George Seldes]]).<ref>George Seldes, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=roV3AAAAMAAJ One thousand Americans]'' (Boni & Gaer, 1947), p. 6</ref> Such claims are often buttressed by an apocryphal quote, attributed to Mussolini, that "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power."<ref>Joseph Burrell, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=52MHbNZhhT8C The Republican Treason: Republican Fascism Exposed]'' (Algora Publishing, 2008) ISBN 0875866670, p. 137, n. 1</ref>

It is often claimed that corporatism means "the power of business corporations over society."<ref>Luis Suarez-Villa, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=RjJUmthF7zIC Technocapitalism: a critical perspective on technological innovation and corporatism]'' (Temple University Press, 2009) ISBN 1439900426, p. 1</ref> For example, in the wake of his upset defeat by [[Tea Party]] backed challenger Dr. Nan Hayworth, then-Congressman John Hall (D-NY) said, "I learned when I was in social studies class in school that corporate ownership or corporate control of government is called Fascism."<ref>David Freedlander, "[http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/soon-be-ex-congressman-john-hall-warns-against-creeping-fascism Soon To-Be Ex-Congressman John Hall Warns Against Creeping Fascism]," ''New York Observer'', December 28, 2010</ref> Likewise, an article published by the Council for Secular Humanism claims that under fascism, "the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised."<ref>Laurence W. Britt, "[http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?page=britt_23_2&section=library Fascism Anyone?]" ''Free Inquiry'', Vol. 23, No. 2 (Spring 2003)</ref> While he didn't mention business, President [[Franklin Roosevelt]], a [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], said, "in its essence... fascism [is] ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,759590,00.html INDUSTRY: Anti-Monopoly], ''Time'', May, 9, 1938</ref> (a statement approvingly quoted by secret [[Communist]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Spies: the rise and fall of the KGB in America |last=Haynes |first=John Earl |coauthors=Harvey Klehr, Alexander Vassiliev |year=2009 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |isbn=0300123906 |page=169 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qCAVQ_cdomcC |accessdate=9 January 2011}}</ref> [[George Seldes]]).<ref>George Seldes, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=roV3AAAAMAAJ One thousand Americans]'' (Boni & Gaer, 1947), p. 6</ref> Such claims are often buttressed by an apocryphal quote, attributed to Mussolini, that "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power."<ref>Joseph Burrell, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=52MHbNZhhT8C The Republican Treason: Republican Fascism Exposed]'' (Algora Publishing, 2008) ISBN 0875866670, p. 137, n. 1</ref>

But there is no evidence that Mussolini ever said this,<ref>[http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=280606 Q: Quotation search: "Benito Mussolini - Fascism should more appropriately be..."], Google Answers</ref> and as one self-proclaimed "[http://www.chipberlet.net/ progressive activist]" admits, "it contradicts most of the other writing he did on the subject of corporatism and corporations."<ref>Chip Berlet, [http://www.publiceye.org/fascist/corporatism.html Mussolini on the Corporate State], Political Research Associates</ref> Corporatism has nothing to do with incorporated firms or businesses; all fascist movements have in common the aim of "eliminating the autonomy (or, in some proposals, the existence) of large-scale capitalism and major industry."<ref>Stanley Payne, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=9wHNrF7nFecC A History of Fascism]'' (Routledge, 1996) ISBN 1-85728-595-6, p. 10</ref> That is because property rights are a bulwark against the state: by outcompeting the state in the satisfaction of social wants, private enterprise threatens the state's monopoly on legitimacy. As Mussolini put it, "Our formula is this: everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State."<ref>"''La nostra formula e questa: tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, niente contro lo Stato''." Benito Mussolini, “[http://www.mussolinibenito.it/discorsodel28_10_1925.htm Discorso del 28 ottobre 1925] al Teatro della Scala di Milano” (October 28, 1925), reprinted in ''Opera omnia di Benito Mussolini'' XXI (1956), p. 425</ref>

But there is no evidence that Mussolini ever said this,<ref>[http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=280606 Q: Quotation search: "Benito Mussolini - Fascism should more appropriately be..."], Google Answers</ref> and as one self-proclaimed "[http://www.chipberlet.net/ progressive activist]" admits, "it contradicts most of the other writing he did on the subject of corporatism and corporations."<ref>Chip Berlet, [http://www.publiceye.org/fascist/corporatism.html Mussolini on the Corporate State], Political Research Associates</ref> Corporatism has nothing to do with incorporated firms or businesses; all fascist movements have in common the aim of "eliminating the autonomy (or, in some proposals, the existence) of large-scale capitalism and major industry."<ref>Stanley Payne, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=9wHNrF7nFecC A History of Fascism]'' (Routledge, 1996) ISBN 1-85728-595-6, p. 10</ref> That is because property rights are a bulwark against the state: by outcompeting the state in the satisfaction of social wants, the market offers an alternative to the state's aggression-enforced monopoly on legitimacy. As Mussolini put it, "Our formula is this: everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State."<ref>"''La nostra formula e questa: tutto nello Stato, niente al di fuori dello Stato, niente contro lo Stato''." Benito Mussolini, “[http://www.mussolinibenito.it/discorsodel28_10_1925.htm Discorso del 28 ottobre 1925] al Teatro della Scala di Milano” (October 28, 1925), reprinted in ''Opera omnia di Benito Mussolini'' XXI (1956), p. 425</ref>

While it may preserve the ''appearance'' of ownership, corporatism strips owners of ''control'' of their property, thus stripping "ownership" of meaning. Under fascism, "the state directs and controls" business,<ref>R. E. Pahl and J. T. Winkler, "Corporatism in Britain," in ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=RGpXAAAAMAAJ The Corporate State-Myth or Reality?]'' (London: Centre for Studies in Social Policy, 1976), as cited in Bob Jessop, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=HcxBBhXjAUcC State theory: putting the Capitalist state in its place]'' (Penn State Press, 1990) ISBN 0271007354, p. 133</ref> exercising "absolute authoritarian control of production."<ref>Ludwig Von Mises, ''[http://mises.org/books/plannedchaos.pdf Planned chaos]'' (Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1947) ISBN 1933550600, pp. 3-4, 62-63</ref> As Mussolini put it, "the organiser of the enterprise is responsible to the State for the direction given to production." He demanded "State intervention in economic production" whenever "private initiative is lacking or insufficient, or when the political interests of the State are involved. This intervention may take the form of control, assistance or direct management."<ref>Benito Mussolini, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=zp8TAQAAIAAJ Fascism: Doctrine and Institutions]'' (Rome: 'Ardita' Publishers), pp. 135-136</ref> Under fascism, the "private employer is retained, but he is stringently regulated by the state," writes progressive writer Roger Shaw. "Communism eliminates the private employer and profit-maker, but Fascism, at least in economic theory, retains him as a slave of the state."<ref>Roger Shaw, "[http://ia600504.us.archive.org/19/items/northamreview238miscrich/northamreview238miscrich.pdf Fascism and the New Deal]," ''The North American Review'', Vol. 238, No. 6 (Dec., 1934), pp. 559-564</ref> The state thus becomes the ''de facto'' owner, reducing ''de jure'' owners to bureaucrats, carrying out government orders. It is therefore more accurate to say that "corporatism" means government control of corporations than corporate control of government.

While it may preserve the ''appearance'' of ownership, corporatism strips owners of ''control'' of their property, thus stripping "ownership" of meaning. Under fascism, "the state directs and controls" business,<ref>R. E. Pahl and J. T. Winkler, "Corporatism in Britain," in ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=RGpXAAAAMAAJ The Corporate State-Myth or Reality?]'' (London: Centre for Studies in Social Policy, 1976), as cited in Bob Jessop, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=HcxBBhXjAUcC State theory: putting the Capitalist state in its place]'' (Penn State Press, 1990) ISBN 0271007354, p. 133</ref> exercising "absolute authoritarian control of production."<ref>Ludwig Von Mises, ''[http://mises.org/books/plannedchaos.pdf Planned chaos]'' (Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1947) ISBN 1933550600, pp. 3-4, 62-63</ref> As Mussolini put it, "the organiser of the enterprise is responsible to the State for the direction given to production." He demanded "State intervention in economic production" whenever "private initiative is lacking or insufficient, or when the political interests of the State are involved. This intervention may take the form of control, assistance or direct management."<ref>Benito Mussolini, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=zp8TAQAAIAAJ Fascism: Doctrine and Institutions]'' (Rome: 'Ardita' Publishers), pp. 135-136</ref> Under fascism, the "private employer is retained, but he is stringently regulated by the state," writes progressive writer Roger Shaw. "Communism eliminates the private employer and profit-maker, but Fascism, at least in economic theory, retains him as a slave of the state."<ref>Roger Shaw, "[http://ia600504.us.archive.org/19/items/northamreview238miscrich/northamreview238miscrich.pdf Fascism and the New Deal]," ''The North American Review'', Vol. 238, No. 6 (Dec., 1934), pp. 559-564</ref> The state thus becomes the ''de facto'' owner, reducing ''de jure'' owners to bureaucrats, carrying out government orders. It is therefore more accurate to say that "corporatism" means government control of corporations than corporate control of government.