I'm reading Hobsbawm and these guys randomly appear all the time but he never bothers to explain who they are and what they want

  • JosipBRUHTito [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    The Freemasons weren't a big secret or anything, I have a bunch of their weird "code" books I bought at yard sales over the years. The Freemasons was just what the rich weird dudes in your town did to hang out with each other, like the elks lodge but 50-200 years ago. And while there's really no evidence to suggest they were ever a nationally or internationally powerful force, they could have a large role behind the scenes at the community level, because that was just where all the owners and bosses went to hang out on the weekend, so of course things like anti-union activities were coordinated at Masonic meetings. I think this is where a lot of their sinister reputation as string pullers in American lore comes from. The masons were where the mayor, your state legislators, and the factory owners networked and hung out

    • rubpoll [she/her]
      ·
      2 years ago

      "Turns out the Illuminati is just Capitalism." - Michael Scott

        • CTHlurker [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          But wasn't the P2 Gladio-lodge merely named after the famous Freemasonic lodge? Obviously the lines are a bit blurry when it comes to that, but I seem to remember that the P2 where they did Gladio was named after something, but wasn't strictly a Freemason-type thing. Which was how and why the Catholic Church justified its participation, since they are banned from being part of the freemasons by Cannon law.

    • Sharon [none/use name]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I wouldn't discredit them entirely regarding pulling strings, especially 1910s-1970s. They would hold conventions of tens of thousands in major cities. A nationwide network of thousands and thousands of small business owners and professionals is nothing to sneeze at. I don't mean the org itself putting out commands but rather the opportunity for members across the country to communicate and coordinate their business/finanical actions for their own benefit.