Posted on 04/27/2010 8:45:46 AM PDT by Comrade Brother Abu Bubba
Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist.
Socialism is a system where the government directly owns and manages businesses. Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corporatist state, government officials often act in collusion with their favored business interests to design polices that give those interests a monopoly position, to the detriment of both competitors and consumers.
A careful examination of the policies pursued by the Obama administration and his allies in Congress shows that their agenda is corporatist.
Obama's “cap-and-trade” legislation provides subsidies and specials privileges to large businesses that engage in “carbon trading.” This is why large corporations, such as General Electric support cap-and-trade.
Using precise terms can prevent future statists from successfully blaming the inevitable failure of their programs on the remnants of the free market that are still allowed to exist. We must not allow the disastrous results of corporatism to be ascribed incorrectly to free market capitalism or used as a justification for more government expansion. Most importantly, we must learn what freedom really is and educate others on how infringements on our economic liberties caused our economic woes in the first place. Government is the problem; it cannot be the solution.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailycrux.com ...
"A careful examination of the policies pursued by the Obama administration and his allies in Congress shows that their agenda is corporatist. For example, the health care bill that recently passed does not establish a Canadian-style government-run single-payer health care system. Instead, it relies on mandates forcing every American to purchase private health insurance or pay a fine. It also includes subsidies for low-income Americans and government-run health care “exchanges.” Contrary to the claims of the proponents of the health care bill, large insurance and pharmaceutical companies were enthusiastic supporters of many provisions of this legislation because they knew in the end their bottom lines would be enriched by Obamacare."
Communist,Communist,Communist....
Posted the same thing three times in a row. You must have that virus called windows.
I think he’s an Obamist... a hybrid/mixture of a Socialist and a Fascist. he is nationalizing industries, taking control of the free market economy, expanding government and Unions, threatening any Press who do not curry favor, while decrying and scapegoating those who would dare question him.
HIT THE BUTTON.... ONCE..... TY
Moreover, name-calling doesn’t work.
Attack Obama on the issues. He’s never won a battle yet on the field of ideas, he just resorts to thuggery.
Sticks and stones.
“Socialism is a system where the government directly owns and manages businesses. Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corporatist state, government officials often act in collusion with their favored business interests to design polices that give those interests a monopoly position, to the detriment of both competitors and consumers.”
The correct term is fascist.
I've heard this same set up referred to as "Fascist" as well.
Sorry, but he lost me at “much like the previous administration”. Credibility shot.
Can we call him a communist?
I’ll call him any damn thing I please, thank you very much.
The public has anathema to Socialism when it is identified as such.
I am sick of defeating a particular piece of legislation rather than the ideology behind it.
Marxist!
The left hates Obama being called socialist and that in itself is reason enough to use the term. The “let’s define” it so he isn’t is typical of marxists. He is one. The flavor—fascist socialist, international socialist, classical socialist—doesn’t matter.
“I think he’s an Obamist... a hybrid/mixture of a Socialist and a Fascist. he is nationalizing industries, taking control of the free market economy, expanding government and Unions, threatening any Press who do not curry favor, while decrying and scapegoating those who would dare question him.”
Well said! That about covers it!
Socialism and fascism are like brother and sister ideologies that throughout history have morphed from one to the other. Obama is a leftist socialist fascist progressive democrat and Ron Paul is a low-life blame-America apologizer for terrorists and a complete moron when it comes to National Security.
Nationalizing industry + socialist medicine = National Socialist.....
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