The Triumph of Capitalism

rmarks1
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The Triumph of Capitalism Jan 30, 2014 23:53:30 GMT -5

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Post by rmarks1 on Jan 30, 2014 23:53:30 GMT -5

25 years ago on January 23, Robert Heilbroner a prominent socialist economist, threw in the towel with this article inThe New Yorker Magazine.

THE TRIUMPH OF CAPITALISM

by Robert Heilbroner January 23, 1989

REFLECTIONS about the contest between capitalism & socialism, which, writer asserts, capitalism has won. The Soviet Union, China & Eastern Europe have given us the clearest possible proof that capitalism organizes the material affairs of humankind more satisfactorily than socialism: that however inequitably or irresponsibly the marketplace may distribute goods, it does so better than the queues of a planned economy...the great question now seems how rapid will be the transformation of socialism into capitalism, & not the other way around, as things looked only half a century ago.

www.newyorker.com/archive/1989/01/23/1989_01_23_098_TNY_CARDS_000351619

Bob

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 6, 2014 19:06:41 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2014 19:06:41 GMT -5 Of course, in this case "capitalism" means "Western socialism" as per the Libertarian definition.

rmarks1
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The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 6, 2014 20:38:59 GMT -5

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Post by rmarks1 on Feb 6, 2014 20:38:59 GMT -5

Feb 6, 2014 19:06:41 GMT -5 @mcans said:

Of course, in this case "capitalism" means "Western socialism" as per the Libertarian definition.

Not really. Even with the ever increasing interference by the state, it is the part of the economy that remains free which is keeping the economy going.

Bob

Deleted Deleted Member Posts: 0	The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 7, 2014 3:10:52 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2014 3:10:52 GMT -5 Can you point to any part of the US economy that is not being regulated by the government?

rmarks1
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The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 7, 2014 12:01:55 GMT -5

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Post by rmarks1 on Feb 7, 2014 12:01:55 GMT -5

Feb 7, 2014 3:10:52 GMT -5 @mcans said:

Can you point to any part of the US economy that is not being regulated by the government?

Regulation, while bad, is not as bad as the government actually running businesses. When the Soviet Union was still around, I saw a cartoon that showed a giant screw 20 feet long and 10 feet high. The factory manager was telling an official looking person that "We have fulfilled our quota of producing 1,000 tons of screws."

Bob

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The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 8, 2014 22:02:15 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 22:02:15 GMT -5

But the US government has been running businesses in the 1980s... hospitals, roads, water treatment, sewage, subway systems, security... those are all businesses that can make money for capitalists if they are clever enough.

rmarks1
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The Triumph of Capitalism Feb 9, 2014 13:17:17 GMT -5

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Post by rmarks1 on Feb 9, 2014 13:17:17 GMT -5

Feb 8, 2014 22:02:15 GMT -5 @mcans said:

But the US government has been running businesses in the 1980s... hospitals, roads, water treatment, sewage, subway systems, security... those are all businesses that can make money for capitalists if they are clever enough.

Yes. And running most of them badly. For example:

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401394.html

Bob

Post by rmarks1 on Jan 30, 2014 23:53:30 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2014 19:06:41 GMT -5

Post by rmarks1 on Feb 6, 2014 20:38:59 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2014 3:10:52 GMT -5

Post by rmarks1 on Feb 7, 2014 12:01:55 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2014 22:02:15 GMT -5

Post by rmarks1 on Feb 9, 2014 13:17:17 GMT -5