phonon
Posts: 396
Joined: Nov. 2006
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| Quote ("Rev Dr" Lenny Flank @ May 25 2007,18:21) | Seriously, though, the Soviet economy didn't collapse because it failed -- it collapsed because it succeeded. It's sole and only focus, throughout its history, was to industrialize as rapidly as possible, since that alone would allow the state to build up sufficient economic (and military) resources to prevent its economy from once again being dominated by foreign economic interests.
Once that industrialization process was completed, there was no longer any useful economic purpose served by the Leninist state, and its demise was inevitable. |
Sorry, but this is just not true.
Just read a brief history of 5 year plans and how they really worked well at first, and then, not so much.
Also, the people you say you care about so much, the poor, had to stand in line to get toilet paper and bread, etc.
I know a guy who used to live in one of the Eastern Bloc states and he can remember when all there was on the shelves at the store was vinegar.
But, hey, there was a great depression here too. Some people argue that it was the creation of the Federal Reserve and its ability to artificially grow or shrink the money supply that led to it.
| Quote ("Rev Dr" Lenny Flank @ May 27 2007,15:40) | | Quote (phonon @ May 27 2007,12:25) | | and since the fall of the soviet union, and the institution of more "capitalistic" economic systems, has the standard of living in russia increased or decreased? |
For who . . . . ?
By the way, Bangledesh, Haiti, and Chad are capitalist economies, all.
How's their, uh, standard of living . . . . ? |
There's more to a thriving economy than what economic system is in place. These places usually have poor political systems, especially Haiti and Chad. I don't think our country had such a great economy during the civil war either.
Haiti is pretty close to Cuba. How's that going?
So you see, there is no magic system. Whether a country and its people are prosperous has much more to do with natural resources, culture, and human relations. But the best way to ensure that the most people have a good life is for them to be able to freely buy and sell and to run their affairs as they see fit.
| Quote ("Rev Dr" Lenny Flank @ May 27 2007,15:44) | | Quote (Stephen Elliott @ May 27 2007,12:26) | Lenny,
What would it take to bring about the changes to society that you would like? |
Depends on how hard the corporados fight against it.
If the corporados give up their power without a fight, it will take ballots.
If the corporados don't give up their power without a fight, it will take guns.
I don't expect them to give up their power without a fight. |
Viva La Revolución!!
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With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another. - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
To do just the opposite is also a form of imitation. - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
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