Is this "Capitalism Central" or can we discuss different economic models here?

[txlibdem]

Just wanna know.

[BOG PERSON]

1. sure!

we can discuss liberal capitalism, state capitalism, welfare capitalism, crony capitalism, rentier capitalism... whatever you like!

[txlibdem]

3. That reminds me of something

"What kind of music do you have here?"

"We have BOTH kinds... Country and Western."

[truedelphi]

10. My laugh of the day, thank you! n/t

[LAGC]

2. What did you have in mind?

I think the "free market" is pretty good at setting prices for most goods and services based on supply-and-demand, coming up with new ideas and niches to satiate different people's tastes and what not...

But I wouldn't mind seeing the energy and banking sectors socialized at least. Health care, too.

I think northern European countries like Norway have found a good balance between capitalism and socialism.

[LeftOfCenter7]

4. Norway is drifting rightwards.

Unfortunately, the Nordic countries are becoming more right-wing (less economic regulation) under the influence of neoliberalism. Along with this, the citizens are losing social and economic rights. Remember that shooter in Norway? He was an extremely right-wing, Christian fundamentalist, who got fed up with Norway's welfare state capitalism. In his manifesto, he freely plagiarized the work of many right-wing economic figures in the U.S.. Prior to the shooting, Norway was one of the happiest countries in the world.

[truedelphi]

12. If you cut back fuel flow, slightly, to an eight hundred degree oven, you still have

over seven hundred degrees of heat.

Norway was so far to the left, that Michael Moore edited out all the footage of their health care system for his movie, "Sicko." You can still catch that footage of the health care system on YouTube. He thought people simply would not believe how Norway sets things up.

When I lived in Norway in the seventies, it was standard operating procedure that a convicted murdereer be sent home to tidy up his life and then report back to the authorities to do his sentence. I read in the newspaper maybe three years ago, that Norway officials were thinking of changing the system, as the murderers and others with stiff sentences simply weren't showing up to do their time. And officials were wondering, Why aren't they coming in?

When I was there, most prisoners got out of prison at least four days a month, to be with family and attend to their business needs. And the top drama teachers, poets, musicians dancers etc all clamored to teach in Norway's prisons.

It was simply so far to the left I felt like I was in Monty Python land.

[txlibdem]

5. Just trying to learn the boundaries.

I think post #1 pretty much summed it up.

[tama]

6. Free market

has nothing to do with capitalism - and state regulation and monopoly of violence to protect capitalistic ownership, etc. etc. etc. laws and restrictions to free market. As free market is anarchy, capitalism with all kinds of restrictions to protect capitalistic ownership is nothing but a restriction of free market.

[golfguru]

8. I dealt with socialized banks

growing up in India. Thanks, but no thanks. The modern
privately run banks are so much better, not even close.

[truedelphi]

11. Scandanavian countries are a wonderful

place to look for guidance.

[stevebreeze]

13. there are no free markets. this is just a label used to mislead.

The markets we have are determined in many many ways by the rules the government sets up. From consumer protection things like no lead paint, to the value of the currency are regulated and greatly controlled by the government. This is true whether the government is protecting the consumer or the producer.

[Yo_Mama]

7. Discuss whatever you want to discuss - just don't expect a cheering section. n/t

[golfguru]

9. China is moving towards capitalism in a huge way

after experimenting with communism for decades.
China is currently creating more millionaires than any other country. That says something.

[barb162]

14. It's "Jungle Capitalism Central" n/t