Economic Systems

[opebo]

Anarchy - you're on your own.   No government, no taxes, if you want a road you build it yourself (or pay whatever toll the owner chooses to charge)

Laissez Faire - Caviat Empor.  The government exists on a minimal basis to enforce contracts and provide essential shared services.  No taxes, but there are user fees (toll roads, 911 surcharge, etc).  You are expected to educate yourself and your kin, or pay private individuals to do so, an you are responsible for inspecting your own food for safety/cooking it well.

Mixed Capitalism - The system in the US today, give or take a few tweaks.

Planned economy/socialism - the government decides what is made and in what quanity.  Taxes are heavy, but everyone gets a certain minimal cradle to grave support.   Private ownership, if it exists at all, is small buisness and subject to major governmental oversight.

Communism - the government owns everything.  Everyone gets paid the same.  Get used to standing in loong lines.

I voted 'mixed capitalism' before I realized you had defined it so poorly.  Europe is 'mixed capitalism', the US today is very close to laissez-faire. 

Really you didn't give a proper option for liberal Keynesian redistributionist capitalism - the best compromise.

[opebo]

'Mixed capitalism' as defined by the posters in this topic should be called 'mixed socialism.'

And no, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, public schools, a multi-bracket income tax, and the FDA do not exist in a 'near laissez-faire' country.

Well, he certainly should have made an option that distinguished between the modern US, with very little provision being made for the bottom 80%, with only the vestiges of the New Deal remaining (and under attack), and Europe, where citizens are treated quite decently.