Originally
posted by
CKHustler:
Rockman, here's where we differ on this. You call it state capitalism, while I say it isn't capitalism at all. Rather it is fascism, where the government controls business. Capitalism is where the government does not have the power to control business. So state capitalism, by the very definition of capitalism, cannot exist.
I wouldn't advocate calling either fascists, but I wouldn't call them very far off either.
"Fascism" as an ideology can't really be nailed down that neatly, but you're generally right about its economics. However, you have our situation reversed: in reality today, business controls the government. They donate to the candidates, they flood the airwaves, and they buy elections. Folks from Goldman Sachs get appointed throughout the government. Folks from Congressional offices go back to lobbying firms and use their connections to influence votes. You sometimes get people from industries literally writing the bills. So it's not your "fascism," and it's not "state capitalism" either by normal definitions, since that usually means state-owned industries participating in market economies. No, this is just capitalism, the natural state of capitalism in our type of "democracy."