Problems with Capitalism and Socialism and why we need an economic alternative

[Xandal]

This is the most accurate discriptions of Capitalism and Communism that I have read. This is from Willis Carto. This is why we need to look into distributism as an alternative system.

 

I finally got hold of Willis Carto's book "Populism vs Plutocracy, The Universal Struggle". In Appendix A, there's 'Populist Glossary". Here are the definitions:

 

"Capitalism - The economic system of democracy but often found in some form in military dictatorships. A degenerate from of free enterprise. The means of production, money, banking and the political process are controlled by a small group of oligopolist/monopolist plutocrats for their own personal gain. Basically hostile to nationalism. Constant expansion through war, imperialism or tax-financed pyramid building required to feed the constantly-growing interest burden. Inflation is inherent in the system. Capitalism is incompatible with widespread competition in the economic, intellectual or political spheres. Because of the interest incentive and its common foundations with Marxism of equalism and monopoly, capitalism inevitably degenerates to crisis and Marxism. The word [capitalism] was coined by Karl Marx and ever since then has been defended by conservative and libertarian intellectuals.

 

Communism - An amalgram of philosophical delusion (Marx) and ruthless political aggression and population control (Lenin). A perfect society will result by enforced equality of people (destruction of the superior) and the suppression of free enterprise (called capitalism) because free enterprise implies inequality of human gifts. The communist deceit of naming free enterprise "capitalism" is copied by capitalist (conservative and libertarian) intellectuals in order to hold up capitalism as the champion of anti-communism whereas capitalism is really the symbiotic partner and bedmate of communism. Basically, communism is nothing but a social system with all competition forcibly removed except the competition to control the system. Internationalist in theory, communism is nationalist in practice. Totalitarian and monopolistic - these two words are synonymous."

[The Mikado]

You know, plenty of people have proclaimed the need for a third alternative to the two.  You hear of people crying for the need of a government that harmonizes and mediates between capital and labor, promotes national industrial growth and self-reliance instead of trade, and a strong national identity over the soulless loyalty to corporations and church or the limp Internationalism of the communist.  Benito Mussolini proposed the above (though, granted, embraced next to none of his own ideas in power)

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

We could use an actual free market economic system, which (depending on how you define it, as in this case is not) can be considered to be Capitalism in its most pure form. But we don't seem likely to head that direction right now.

[Ban my account ffs!]

We could use an actual free market economic system, which (depending on how you define it, as in this case is not) can be considered to be Capitalism in its most pure form. But we don't seem likely to head that direction right now.

Any form of free market would need strong government oversight to prevent monopolies and ensure competition is merit and efficiency based and not on other factors (like I have the capital in my pocket to cover enough losses to drive you out of business before I jack up prices and recover my losses).

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

We could use an actual free market economic system, which (depending on how you define it, as in this case is not) can be considered to be Capitalism in its most pure form. But we don't seem likely to head that direction right now.

Any form of free market would need strong government oversight to prevent monopolies and ensure competition is merit and efficiency based and not on other factors (like I have the capital in my pocket to cover enough losses to drive you out of business before I jack up prices and recover my losses).

That doesn't work against a half competent competitor. Look at the DOW Chemical Company; the German cartel attempted to drive them out of the market, but DOW bought their sales and resold them to make a huge profit. So long as the government isn't dipping its fingers in the market, things ultimately resolve themselves for the better.

[phk]

Political Debate?

[Gustaf]

We could use an actual free market economic system, which (depending on how you define it, as in this case is not) can be considered to be Capitalism in its most pure form. But we don't seem likely to head that direction right now.

Any form of free market would need strong government oversight to prevent monopolies and ensure competition is merit and efficiency based and not on other factors (like I have the capital in my pocket to cover enough losses to drive you out of business before I jack up prices and recover my losses).

That only works if there are sufficient entry barriers though. Some markets need a lot of government regulation to work, others a lot less.