[moderation_is_not_a_bad_thing]

It's not capitalism, and it's not communism -- it's a mix of half of each. And as the tax rates rise, the mix becomes more and more communism and less and less capitalism.

You're right about that, but I'm not sure a mixture of the two is a bad thing. While we know that pure socialism is not workable, I'd say that pure capitalism is just as flawed. Marx wasn't totally wrong when he predicted massive uprisings against the capitalist robber barons that existed in his time. We almost saw a socialist revolution in this country in the early part of the last century. It was only because the gov't stepped in on the side of labor by legitimizing unions and setting up anti-trust legislation that we didn't end up with a revolution here. Now we're mostly capitalist with some concessions to social activism and gov't oversight of business. Since our economy is doing so well, I'd say we have a decent balance although continued tweaking is always a good thing.

[mc5cents]

While we know that pure socialism is not workable, I'd say that pure capitalism is just as flawed.

Oh my.

Start reading here. Then get back to us.

[Republican Wildcat]

I would agree to a point. However, government should only be involved to a very, very limited degree. Our government is well past that point.

[Alan Chapman]

While we know that pure socialism is not workable, I'd say that pure capitalism is just as flawed.

You see socialism and capitalism as equally flawed?

It was only because the gov't stepped in on the side of labor by legitimizing unions and setting up anti-trust legislation that we didn't end up with a revolution here.

Labor unions can organize and be effective without interference from government. I'm not sure what government "legitimizing" unions has to do with anything.

In a true free-market, capitalist system it is not possible for a monopoly to endure because there is nothing stopping competition from entering the market. In a socialist system the government can stifle competition with force. It can enact cumbersome regulations and barriers to entry into the market and enforce them with fines, confiscation, and imprisonment.

Incidentally the longest monopoly in the history of the US is the Post Office, which is financed with taxpayers' money and protected from competition by the government.

Since our economy is doing so well...

Doing so well according to whom?