1. Try this on for size...
2. When the state owns 80% of an industry, how can you justify calling it capitalism?
Exactly what do you think the position of "Car Czar" would be?
Our government owns 80% of AIG and has total control of the company... You call that Capitalism?
Our government has partial ownership and total control of the banking system in America... You call that Capitalism?
Our government will soon have partial ownership and, with the advent of the "Car Czar", total control of the auto industry... You call that Capitalism?
If the term Socialism is only applicable when 100% of ownership and control is in the hands of the state, then by the same narrow standards the term Capitalism is only applicable when 100% of ownership and control resides in the hands of private interests.
Lets go over this again since you are still confused on what qualifies as being a welfare state:
Welfare State: the concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.
As you can plainly see, having "most" of the public on welfare isn't a requirement to being a welfare state. Do we, or do we not, provide for "those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions" in America?
Yes we do... We don't need "most", doesn't have to be "all", we only have to let the state provide for some to meet the qualification as being designated a welfare state.
Now are, or are we not, according to the definition of a welfare state, a welfare state? Please don't bother with once again comparing us to other nations who are bigger welfare states, thats just posturing and equivocation to avoid admitting that we are, by definition, a welfare state.
A question for both PLC and Bunz:
As a nation, which direction are heading?
A. Towards Capitalism (Expanding private ownership and control)
B. Towards Socialism (Expanding state ownership and control)
A question for Bunz:
As a nation, we are looking to:
A. Expand the Welfare state
B. Reduce the Welfare state
And a question for anyone:
We are said to be a "mixed economy"... What, if not Socialism (state ownership and control), have we "Mixed" into Capitalism (private ownership and control) to create such an economic dynamic?
