Socialism??
by Gerry Hiles | September 23, 2008
PrintIt is a long while since I contributed, but considering that so many contributors attribute what is going on to "socialism", I wish to correct their error.
Yes sundry financial institutions in the US have been effectively 'nationalized', but that is not "socialism", it is fascism.
Hitler muddied the waters when founding the National Socialist Party (NAZI) - nothing to do with "socialism", but all to do with nationalism and the blending of government, corporate and military interests; as defined by Mussolini.
And that is precisely what has been going on in the US.
In those terms the old USSR (Union of Socialist Republics) was also really fascist and, likewise, current China.
Historically, as a matter of fact, socialists have always stood against the domination of "the state", big business and a military/industrial complex.
From the early 19th Century - where socialism has its roots - the consistent call of socialists was for fairness for all, so that no one could be denied decent education, health care, safety at work, etc.. A VERY far cry from this rescue of corporate USA and lining the pockets of the few, at the expense of the many.
OK such as Stalin and Mao Tse Tung hijacked socialist ideology to create fascist states, but that does not detract from such moderate leaders - in Sweden for instance - who sought, and obtained, a reasonable balance between government intervention and the "free market".
The real rot started, in current times, with the elevation of Milton Friedman, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher - aided by Ayn Rand - neo-clasicism (faux Adam Smith), deregulation, monetarism and "economic rationalism".
If you have little or no understanding about what I am writing about, then try reading J K Galbraith, who enlightened me about economics some forty years ago.
Even by his detractors he was described as "the economists economist".
Meanwhile: what is going on in the USA is NOT "socialism" ... it is fascism ... the bundling together of government, corporate and military interests.
Copyright © 2008 Gerry Hiles
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Gerry Hiles | Gawler, South Australia | Email
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