It feels really surreal having to point this out on the 76th Italian Liberation Day, but Mussolini's CORE political philosophy was based on the rejection of liberal values and on the pursuit of the 'common good'. In 1932, he wrote: 'Anti-individualistic, /1

the Fascist conception of life stresses the importance of the State and accepts the individual only in so far as his interests coincide with those of the State, which stands for the conscience and the universal, will of man as a historic entity. /2

It is opposed to classical liberalism which arose as a reaction to absolutism and exhausted its historical function when the State became the expression of the conscience and will of the people. Liberalism denied the State in the name of the individual; /3

Fascism reasserts the rights of the State as expressing the real essence of the individual.And if liberty is to he the attribute of living men and not of abstract dummies invented by individualistic liberalism, then Fascism stands for liberty, and for the only liberty /4

worth having, the liberty of the State and of the individual within the State. The Fascist conception of the State is all embracing; outside of it no human or spiritual values can exist, much less have value. /5

Thus understood, Fascism, is totalitarian, and the Fascist State - a synthesis and a unit inclusive of all values - interprets, develops, and potentates the whole life of a people. [...] If liberalism spells individualism, Fascism spells government.' /6

So careful kids, when you read certain nonsense on this (otherwise often very entertaining) site. /END