Economic or social freedoms?

[Citizen James]

One of the things I've noticed is that some people seem to confuse the axis between economic and social freedoms.  Although I would agree that a mixed capitalism is more efficent than socialism, socialism is not the oposite of freedom in the broad sense the word is generally used - the oposite of freedom would be a totalitarian/authoritarian state.

So, leaving out the easy choices (free market democracy and authoritarian socialism/communism), which would you rather live in given a choice between the two - A democratic republic (such as Sweeden) which practices socialistic policies by the consent of the governed, or a totalitarian regime which practices free market policies (such as Generalisimo Pinochet)?

I have my obvious preference, but some of the people here I've found hold rather suprising opinions.

[Bono]

One of the things I've noticed is that some people seem to confuse the axis between economic and social freedoms.  Although I would agree that a mixed capitalism is more efficent than socialism, socialism is not the oposite of freedom in the broad sense the word is generally used - the oposite of freedom would be a totalitarian/authoritarian state.

So, leaving out the easy choices (free market democracy and authoritarian socialism/communism), which would you rather live in given a choice between the two - A democratic republic (such as Sweeden) which practices socialistic policies by the consent of the governed, or a totalitarian regime which practices free market policies (such as Generalisimo Pinochet)?

I have my obvious preference, but some of the people here I've found hold rather suprising opinions.

First option, because they'd allow me to leave.

[A18]

A free market can not be maintained under a totalitarian regime.

[opebo]

I chose the democracy, though by social freedoms I assume you mean total personal freedom including drugs, prostitution, etc.

[John Dibble]

A free market can not be maintained under a totalitarian regime.

Indeed. Either the regime or the market would fall.

[Richard]

The second choice.  A free market is more important than a free society.  Prostitution and legal weed are not much use if there is mass starvation.  Besides, I can always hide from the government.

[KEmperor]

"Intellectual freedom cannot exist without political freedom; political freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; a free mind and a free market are corollaries."
-- Ayn Rand, "For The New Intellectual,"

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Depends what you all mean by "economic freedom".

[Joe Kakistocracy]

This might be a poor example, but I'd prefer to live in Sweden than China.

Yeah, I know China doesn't really have a free market as yet, but that just proves the point that A18 and John Dibble made.