I think Barkley raises a valuable point. I've always been uncomfortable with the epithet fascism being thrown around --- Fascism has to be more than "repression as usual" by the capitalist state. One element in it, IMHO, ought to be _mass mobilization_ and _mass psychology_. In this area, it does appear that Buchanan, the Militia Movement, and the Christian Right all have the potentials of becoming fascist movements. The other element of fascism from the Mussolini model is "corporatizing" society with the state in charge. The right wing _shrinkage_ of the state envisioned by the budget balancers would seem to go against that. Just musing. I believe this point is worth following through on ... but by people who know a lot more than I do. I like asking questions ... I LOVE reading answers on PEN-L. Cheers, Mike -- Mike Meeropol Economics Department Cultures Past and Present Program Western New England College Springfield, Massachusetts "Don't blame us, we voted for George McGovern!" Unrepentent Leftist!! [EMAIL PROTECTED] [if at bitnet node: in%"[EMAIL PROTECTED]" but that's fading fast!]