Thread: Capitalism, Mixed Economy, or Socialism?

Originally Posted by Absolute

Actually, socialism is a transitioning step after capitalism prior to evolving into a communism-based society. But yes, I should have been more accurate since there is a modernized definition of socialism that people now commonly apply, so I apologize. Socialism today is not used in a way of removing buying and selling, but having direct government involvement in the trade of the free market as well as any other ownership and regulatory procedures.

That is a Stalianist interpretation of Marxism [ Capitalism - Socialism - Communism ] and if there is government involvement in the market, in any fashion then it ceases to be 'free' in fact I would argue it ceases to be capitalism according to the very definition proposed by Marx himself.

Marx himself stated that the period after the revolution against capitalism is known as 'crude communism' according to his 1844 manuscripts. It can also be referred to by the 'dictatorship of the proletariat.' Applying this definition to countries such as the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, etc. means that these countries achieved a lesser form of communism. Crude communism. Full communism can not be achieved due to the fact it involves a post-scarcity super abundance which is common for utopian thinkers such as Marx.

Originally Posted by Absolute

Actually, socialism is a transitioning step after capitalism prior to evolving into a communism-based society. But yes, I should have been more accurate since there is a modernized definition of socialism that people now commonly apply, so I apologize. Socialism today is not used in a way of removing buying and selling, but having direct government involvement in the trade of the free market as well as any other ownership and regulatory procedures.

Actually, it was Lenin who distorted the original meaning of socialism calling it state capitalism run in the interests of the whole people. IN the 19th century socialism and communism were widely regarded as synonyms standing for a moneyeless wageless stateless commonwealth in which individuals gave acccording to their ability and took according to their self determined needs.