from Politico today, Douglas Holtz-Eakin:
“If the bright-line definition of socialism is owning the means of production, then yeah, [the president is] there,”
Truer words were never spoken. Holtz-Eakin is head of American Action Forum, formerly director of the CBO, formerly professor at Syracuse University.
Documentation, here.
Fannie and Freddie were taken into federal conservatorship under Shrub. TARP? Under Shrub.
The CARES, Consolidated Appropriations and American Rescue Plan Acts of 2021? Under the felon-in-chief during his first maladministration.
I’m not saying that any of these actions was good or bad, only that they involve government interference in markets and, in some cases, government ownership and control of the means of production.
The difference between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to interference in markets is that Republicans nearly always favor the investor class, while Democrats only favor the investor class most of the time. Citizens United, don’t ya know.
Oh, and Republicans declare their opposition to goverent interference, accuse Democrats, and then Democrats get all flustered and say “Nuh Uh!” Same with wars and military spending. Great job, guys.
The GOP opposition to government interference is only about government interfering in the sociopathic exploitations of individuals by predatory capitalism. Look at things like patent protection and other monopoly preservation efforts through laws or tax incentives. The GOP have always had just one political goal; make the rich richer and distract the masses.
What’s funny about this current government intrusion into the marketplace, is that it also fits the definition of fascism as conceived by Mussolini: “Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.” It actively “rejects democracy, pacifism, and individual freedom in favor of national power.”
• Total Power: The state holds total control over public and private life.
• No Democracy: Voting, free speech, and political opposition are banned.
• Strong Nation: Extreme national pride and military might are the highest goals.
• One Leader: A single dictator holds absolute power.
• State Economy: Capitalism stays, but the government controls business and labor through corporate bodies to serve the nation.
What we have now is an ever increasing corporatocracy, where the State is being privatized and controlled by a select few corporate entities. In any case, Mussolini would be proud. Marx and Engels, less so.
Wait, I thought you were describing China. I guess China is Fascist Communist… a new branch of the old brand.
bruce, you should be more concerned about the communism sitting in the White House that trying to distract to oversees examples. get your own house in order first.
Wait, I thought you were describing China. I guess China is Fascist Communist… a new branch of the old brand.
• Total Power: The state holds total control over public and private life. ✅
• No Democracy: Voting, free speech, and political opposition are banned. ✅
• Strong Nation: Extreme national pride and military might are the highest goals. ✅
• One Leader: A single dictator holds absolute power. ✅
• State Economy: Capitalism stays, but the government controls business and labor through corporate bodies to serve the nation. ✅
https://www.theglobalist.com/china-fascism-security-xi-jinping-autocracy/
Brucey, Brucey, Brucey… I don’t vote in China. I assume that you don’t vote in China. Neither you nor I live in China. Whether China is facist or socialist or Afro-Marxist is interesting, but of less importance than whether the U.S. continues to become kleptocratic mockery of its former self.
Your team is led by a serially bankrupt rapist, a felon, a corrupt, greedy old warmonger, any you’re trying to change the subject by bringing up China. Same old Brucey.
McDuck, you didn’t disappoint me. Always good for a laugh. Looks like there is no place to escape fascism these days, eh? US, China, Israel, Iran, Russia…. Looks as if self-interest is coming back in style.
Wait!
Are you engaging in the favorite old Soviet propaganda tool known as “whataboutism”?:
We’re talking about the USA; You bring up China: responding to an accusation with a counter-accusation instead of offering an explanation or defense against the original accusation. ‘✅
You discuss nothing about the growing governmental over public and private life in the USA through arbitrary detentions and lack of due process. ✅
And to be accurate: a single PARTY controls China, not a single person.
You should be more worried about the rampant food borne illness that corporations are allowing to happen through deregulation and loss of oversight by federal enforcers of regulation.
LaLa, it’s all relative with regard to “fascism”… or self-interest. As for “government control over public and private life”, I don’t see much difference between Obama (Obamacare mandates and expansion of war in Afghanistan), Trump (Fauci & Co. mandates 1st term; tariffs and war in Iran 2nd), Biden’s maismssive government spending and expansion of federal government (inflation driver) and lawfare against conservatives. It is what it is.
But my point on China is simple: even the far left and its “egalitarian society” BS is just as fascist, but it’s only deemed a problem in America because… Trump. Your “whataboutism” is a strawman. Comparisons are not “whataboutisms”, they are simply what they are. Arguing “whataboutism” is a lazy tactic to avoid reality and to insinuate what happens in America with leaders who place America’s interests first (as they should) and are willing to use America’s strength (which is realistic), is unique and therefore “deplorable”.
“Fascism” is just a derogatory term for self-interest first.