A Threat Worse Than Socialism?

[Chris]

Another confusing look at corporatism. For all the negatives of fascism, one wasn't corporatism. Fascism was anti-capitalist and as such sought to make capital serve the people. It did this by putting various interest groups from industry, agriculture, military, etc, both management and workers, in charge of economic decisions. At least that was the idea. Somehow that always gets distorted as the modern day collusion of state and business aimed at serving the economy. Somehow the general welfare became solely an economic interest.

And why the contrast with socialism when socialism, at least the Marxian version, is just a variation on capitalism?

A Threat Worse Than Socialism?

Over the past ten years, several polling outfits have indicated an uptick in the number of Americans who say they are disillusioned with capitalism and willing to consider socialism as an alternative. This, however, isn’t the most immediate threat to American capitalism.

Yes, the U.S. government controls a far larger chunk of GDP than it should, state institutions regularly intervene in every economic sector, and entitlement programs constitute the bulk of government spending. But another set of ideas that has helped inflict considerable damage on the American economy is reemerging. It is best labeled “corporatism.”

As a modern political program, corporatism (derived from corpus, Latin for “body”) first surfaced in the 19th century. Shaped by thinkers such as the German Jesuit theologian Heinrich Pesch and the French sociologist Émile Durkheim, the following ideas featured in different expressions of corporatist thought....

...But whatever the form, corporatism creates serious political and economic problems. Even soft versions of corporatism provide established companies with political mechanisms to advance their interests over those of consumers, taxpayers, and new entrepreneurs, who aren’t hardwired into policy-influencing structures. In these conditions, success depends less on innovation and competitiveness and much more on political connections.

...Section One of the 1933 National Industrial Recovery Act states that Congress’s policy is “to provide for the general welfare by promoting the organization of industry for the purpose of cooperative action among trade groups, to induce and maintain united action of labor and management under adequate governmental sanctions and supervision.”...

[Carl Young]

Another confusing look at corporatism. For all the negatives of fascism, one wasn't corporatism. Fascism was anti-capitalist and as such sought to make capital serve the people. It did this by putting various interest groups from industry, agriculture, military, etc, both management and workers, in charge of economic decisions. At least that was the idea. Somehow that always gets distorted as the modern day collusion of state and business aimed at serving the economy. Somehow the general welfare became solely an economic interest.

And why the contrast with socialism when socialism, at least the Marxian version, is just a variation on capitalism?

A Threat Worse Than Socialism?

Corporativism became entrenched during the 'Covid Crisis', now proving to be a scam, when they were allowed to stay open while smaller businesses were closed. Making downtowns and malls more dangerous also effected shopping patterns making internet shopping safer and easier and people could stay at home, a voluntary 'lockdown', away from the riots and lack of policing.

However none of this would be possible without the entrenchment of a powerful bureaucracy, or 'Deep State'. The two working in unison with each other represents the real long term threat to any free society.

[RMNIXON]

...But whatever the form, corporatism creates serious political and economic problems. Even soft versions of corporatism provide established companies with political mechanisms to advance their interests over those of consumers, taxpayers, and new entrepreneurs, who aren’t hardwired into policy-influencing structures. In these conditions, success depends less on innovation and competitiveness and much more on political connections.

This kind of ever growing Government/Business partnership is what Ayn Rand warned about over half a century ago. Call it Corporatism or Crony Capitalism, it is not free market based. It relies on political pull and far too many Government contracts and protections.

This push for a Green Economy is the latest incarnation that will destroy our energy production.

[carolina73]

Employees already enjoy the fruits of their labor. We call it a paycheck.
We also have our people on a profit gain sharing plan.

Employees don't want to be part of the business. They don't want the risk, they don't want to put money up, they don't want to experience no pay periods, then don't want to loan the company money when cash flow is bad.

Employees only want to share in the good times. Otherwise they would be business owners themselves.

Cash Flow is difficult right now because we have to inventory such high levels of raw materials.
What will be the answer I get if I ask my employees to go without checks for a few weeks?

[Chris]

Corporativism became entrenched during the 'Covid Crisis', now proving to be a scam, when they were allowed to stay open while smaller businesses were closed. Making downtowns and malls more dangerous also effected shopping patterns making internet shopping safer and easier and people could stay at home, a voluntary 'lockdown', away from the riots and lack of policing.

However none of this would be possible without the entrenchment of a powerful bureaucracy, or 'Deep State'. The two working in unison with each other represents the real long term threat to any free society.

There's definitely collusion between big banks, big tech, big media, big business and big government.

[Chris]

The threat though is serving the economy as commodities instead of the economy serving us.

[Carl Young]

The threat though is serving the economy as commodities instead of the economy serving us.

Well said!