Isn't it funny how the fascist Republicans are singing the praises of Communism?

[rateyes]

The people who wanted to privatize Social Security are now in favor of socializing the market. Republicans are turning their backs on the "free market capitalism" they have preached for years and years.

Well, if we can socialize the markets, we can certainly handle single-payer health care.

Republicans are pinko-commies.

[Aloha Spirit]

1. Republican economic principles are taking a thrashing, that's for sure.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. That would be "republican economic theories",

because they have no principles.

[Happyhippychick]

2. They also like censorship and book banning

[hobbit709]

3. They're against flag-burning too.

[Blue Meany]

4. Hey, we now own the biggest insurance company so

we should be able to use it to provide univrsal healthcare.

[Fuzz]

5. Socializing the risk, not the profits

[The Traveler]

6. Amazing stuff

Laissez fare free market capitalism as once again produced a massive abstract structure that collapsed when the first wood pecker flew by for a munch. Its staunchest advocates are now praising government intervention ... indeed, nationalization of the troubled financial institutions. Several questions immediately leap to mind.

1) Is Marx's hypothesis that capitalist societies must inevitably evolve towards socialism correct after all?

2) What kind of socialism are we moving toward? If the national government is now becoming the owner of financial institutions, then how does the franchise (the right of the common person to vote) translate to control of said institutions and sharing of the profits these institutions might generate in the future? In other words if government is to take on the burden of supporting and managing these institutions, will the process be managed to benefit the average tax payer or to benefit the upper class investor?

It seems to me the answers to these questions are kinda crucial.

I also think that these events need to viewed from the perspective provided by Klein's model of Disaster Capitalism as expressed in "The Shock Doctrine". Voters need to be alert to further attempts plunder the nation's assets as a "cure" for the recent set of financial diseases.

Trav

** On edit ... good grief I can't spell today ... more coffee ... more coffee ..

[rateyes]

9. Excellent. nt

[Hestia]

10. I mentioned "The Shock Doctrine" on another post, citing South

Africa specifically. While tribunals were going on, with people testifying against those
who murdered and tortured, the Afrikaaner's who sitting down with the new government, who
did not understand the economic ramifications what they were agreeing to. 90% of South
Africa's income/GDP goes to pay off Afrikaaner's and their debt.

Does capitalism have to go to socialism - I vote for Social Democracy,
which is the fairest and best of all systems. The Scandinavian's have proved that it works.

[The Traveler]

11. I just finished that chapter

This is a book I am having to read carefully and quite frankly in limited doses. It does bad things to my blood pressure. :)

But I think it may wll turn out to be the single most vital text of the past 25 years. I am still trying to digest its implications.

Trav

[Hestia]

12. It is so hard not to watch the news and then bring that book into context

of what is going on now. Venezuela, Bolivia now, Russia. The book has totally colored the way I read the news, especially in economic factors (and I have the slightest clue)

Right Wing sites (sorry, but I do have to peek now and then) are bring out an essay
called "The Chicago Solution" and saying that Milton Friedman was personally responsible
for pulling the US out the Depression! WTFH?

[The Traveler]

14. Conservatives now operate

under the theory that if history does not support their views, then history should be revised. The Big Lie ...

The crazy thing is that it has worked so well on the American people for so long. One can only speculate as to what happens when an American awakening crystallizes.

Scary times. The best thing we can do for our countrymen now is to stand tall and talk hard.

Trav

** edited because typing accurately seems to beyond my means today **

[Hestia]

15. Talk hard - I like that - that is what FDR had to do during the 1932

election - the country was leaning toward communism (starvation has a way of doing that), Huey Long was on the rise, he was really the last chance of any type of a Republic that we have now - for ill and for good. He promised them a 3rd way (jeez, that sounds too Palinish church) in bring in the reforms and jobs. It kept the country from totally splintering, but what unfortunately brought out of the Depression was WWII.

The only thing that kept us from a total revolt, so far, is education, plain and simple. Revolt for revolt's sake is not an ideology to preach. I'm not sure that people even know what they should be revolting against. I don't know about ya'll, but my daily conversations consist of - if it wasn't for you, I would never know half of what I know.

Anyway...

There has got to be an economic system that is fair for all, for those innovative entrepreneurs to make money off of their sustainable inventions, that we aren't all just working for the 'man', in that we can live sustainably, universal health care, you know, some semblance of happily ever after. I really don't care that some want to go chase a dollar, as long as their foot isn't on our necks to do it, it's just not my personal style.

It would be interesting to know what was discussed in that economic talk that Barack held after he clenched the candidacy. Did they help to get this out before the election, on Bush's and McCain's watch? Things that make you go hmmm...

[RagAss]

19. yes...talk hard and talk all day long !

[Doremus]

8. I can haz some communizm? I luvs pink.

[anonymous171]

13. American Corporatism = Corporate Communism

A government for the corporations, held up by the people.


(repost, I know.)

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

17. Boom! 100% correct.

Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. The best sound byte ever.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

16. Lenin was right about this much:

"The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

Hang 'em high, sez me. Worked in the case of Mussolini.

[RagAss]

18. The French had a pretty good system.......

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

20. Simple, effective and final. Repatriate every dime they have stolen.

Who will be our Robespierre? Obama and Biden are too nice, and for good reason. Citizens' Committees, maybe?