Split Thread Is communism a viable alternative economic system these days?

[bikerdruid]

It's hard to imagine a more blatantly capitalistic way for the government to participate in the market. .

the government participating in the market?
is that what 'free-market capitalism' is meant to be?

 

[BStrong]

A friend of mine fought on the Sandanista side before '79, and had an interesting observation:

"After Somoza lost, first there were ten Cubans, then there were a hundred, and then there were more *********** Cubans than Miami."

 

[KoihimeNakamura]

the government participating in the market?
is that what 'free-market capitalism' is meant to be?

Yes. The government is just a large actor in the market. As, you know, it doesn't dictate what the market is, the markets are free for most definitions of the word.

 

[theprestige]

like in central planning?

You know, I always thought you were better than this.

I still think you know the difference between trying to influence outcomes through participation in the market, versus trying to control outcomes by abolishing markets.

 

[theprestige]

the government participating in the market?
is that what 'free-market capitalism' is meant to be?

Pretty much. The government buys and sells goods and services at market prices, just like every other player. But I understand a free market to also be a market where the government participates by upholding a rule of law that all other participants can rely on.

 

[WildCat]

At least food is cheap in the US though.

Not since the ethanol idiocy. 40% of the corn crop now gets turned into fuel instead of feed.

 

[eckhart]

answer is "yes, but only in theory"

 

[Humes fork]

answer is "yes, but only in theory"

It's theoretical foundations are very poor though.

 

[Virus]

A picture tells 1000 words.

East Germany before and after communism.

I wonder if an East German border guard ever caught a single West German commie trying to sneak in?

 

[Weird Science]

I don't see the logic of thinking communism would become viable if it could be proven that capitalism isn't. That communism isn't viable, we have dozens of kelptocratic or murderous dictatorships and tens of millions o dead to show us. If capitalism too isn't viable, the conclusion is that neither is, not that communism suddenly becomes rehabilitated.

 

[Humes fork]

A picture tells 1000 words.

East Germany before and after communism.

I wonder if an East German border guard ever caught a single West German commie trying to sneak in?

That's interesting. And then it is worth keeping in mind that East Germany was among the more affluent countries in the East Bloc.

 

[Virus]

I don't see the logic of thinking communism would become viable if it could be proven that capitalism isn't. That communism isn't viable, we have dozens of kelptocratic or murderous dictatorships and tens of millions o dead to show us. If capitalism too isn't viable, the conclusion is that neither is, not that communism suddenly becomes rehabilitated.

They're Communists. Logic doesn't come into it. They're True Believers.