"Private capitalism makes a steam engine;
State capitalism makes pyramids."
by:
Frank Chodorov
(1887-1966) American author, publisher
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Monuments vs. Utility...interesting.
 -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Both equally instrumental to the advancements of the civilizations that produced them, and the similarities don't end there; in both cases war and slavery provided the resources for their production.
     -- L. Hanson, Edmonton, Canada     
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    obsolete technology which was highly polluting versus one of the 7 man made wonders of the world... mostly just a meaningless quote, especially in the light that today in the US the leading example of state capitalism is the corporate socialism which is going on where by large corporations use the state to rape the middle and lower class.
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA, US     
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    Good old Commie Reston dissapoints, always the same socialist non-sense.
     -- jim k, Austin,Tx     
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    I wish to invite Reston to move into either Detroit or Flint, MI in order to fully embrace in the results of State Capitalism.
     -- Mary - MI     
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    Mary; the conditions of Detroit and Flint MI were not the result of state capitalism. It was the result of unbridaled corporate greed that saw a single minded need to destroy organized labour as the core of their mission. The destruciton of the communities were just colateral damage to them.
     -- L. Hanson, Edmonton, Canada     
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    "State" capitalism...is Communism. And communiusm destroys everything it touches...just as Mary so astutely points out.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Excellent. By Reston's logic a crater the size of America from a nuclear bomb would be one of greatest man made wonders of the world, too. Pyramids were built by legions of slaves -- the Pharaohs ruled for thousands of years this way. What Chodorov is speaking about is centralization of power and control. This is not about pollution, Reston. Stop driving your car, turn off your electricity, and don't burn any wood for heat -- hypocrite. The word capitalism BTW was brought into common usage by the communists to create a boogey-man for the prols to destroy. Honestly, Reston, you would have been among them -- would you have been happy with the result? Is communist Russia and China really the compassionate government model you wish to replicate?
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Private capitalism enables a man to be all he can be, and to be a man, free to pursue liberty and happiness. To work hard and be proud of what he has accomplished, to KNOW he has made a difference, and changed the world for the better, and helped many, and gained the respect of his fellow man. Small buss, the backbone of America
     -- Kimo, USA     
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    State capitalism: Man On The Moon, Hoover Dam. Panama Canal, Discovery of the New World By Spain. Private Capitalism: The Hula Hoop, Plaster Doggie Poop etcetera.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    I'm not sure how to rate this, there is no such thing as State capitalism. Ahh, well maybe there is, I haven't checked today's Progressive redefinition of words yet. L Hanson, what ? ? ? It was (as we're using the term here) State capitalism (rules, taxes, limitations, lack of inalienable rights, etc.), with its henchmen - organized labor, uncaring about its collateral damage, that brought down the community and did all the damage. Waffler, what ? ? ? You started in the middle of the story and added a newly imagined beginning.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    And Waffler's meds still don't work.
     -- J Carlton, Calgary     
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    Mike pure capitalism does what ever it wants to do with its money. State capitalism is a mix of pure capitalism with its money power with community power. In pure capitalism cities, towns, states and governments would have no say or power. Again Mike pure free capitalism can and does make fake doggie poop, the US Government or community of people but a Man on The Moon.
     -- Waffler, Smith     
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    Waffler...How much better is your life because a man walked on the moon? The Hoover Dam was built by a private company who through capitalism proved themselves to be the best entity to build it at the most reasonable price. The Panama Canal was done much the same way, by private companies for private interest. The Discovery of the New World was done by men who saw the opportunity to profit from the adventure. They proposed the idea to government. They sold the idea like capitalist. Pure capitalism is credited with: the assembly line, interchangable parts, the printing press, the radio, television, computer, telephone (cell phone and smart phone included), laser, automobiles, airplanes, microwave oven, the battery, and even electricity. State capitalism has given us more debt than we can ever pay.
     -- Publius     
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    Publius, well said. Waffler, spoken like a pure, died in the wool Stalin / Lenin style socialist. By the way, pure capitalism is a laissez faire (A doctrine of unrestricted freedom - noncriminal, usually attributable to commerce, upholding private interests autonomous, aloof from government interference or otherwise intervention) atmosphere where a free individual (individually or in concert) can expend excess capital in any non-criminal manner he desires. Even when capitalism is severely shackled and put under extreme restraints, it creates prosperity and products such as Publius's list above. One of the greatest attributes and, beautifully positive qualities of pure capitalism is, cities, towns, states and other socialist governments would have no say or power to kill the economy, creativity, or the human spirit of freedom. The man on the moon was put there by pure capitalism's technology, used by government, financing the endeavor by thievery and other criminal activities. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the people that contributed to putting a man on the moon didn't use fake doggie poop as a joke on the job - just a little more capitalism in the work place ;-)
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    The problem with Detroit was not corporate greed, it was union greed. They demanded more and more pay for less and less work. The retirement packages for auto workers are better than the POTUS gets. Also, state and federal taxes were killing the car companies. It's no wonder they left such a poisonous environment. Unions have been the cause of most of this country's problems, especially the government unions and teacher's unions. Why is it that whenever you hear of workers getting high on their lunch breaks, it always involves union workers? Our president is in the pocket of the unions and has prostituted himself to them at the expense of our grandchildren's and greatgrandchildren's future to make a decent living for themselves without being a slave to some union. State capitalism does not create wealth, it creates make-work (pyramids) and dependency. Private capitalism creates jobs and economic independence.
     -- GunnyCee, Durham     
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    No substance here. The idea of capitalism is just ridiculous for an educated individual or populous. Your carefully plan your economic system in a situation where  everyone receives carefully distributed items they need and every individual is invested in the distribution process. Life is quite simple with educated beings.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, your childish religion does not / can not exceed nature's fiscal law (and in fact, antithetical thereto). Because you like to define things contrary to reality and established meanings, please illuminate us with your vision / definition of capitalism. AND by "educated" do you mean those that are thoroughly indoctrinated into Sillik religious dogma. Each and every, any and all socialistic attempts to own and control people — along with distribution of goods and services has failed miserably ! ! !  (such lunacy is the illness of the simple minded (educated beings)).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Waffler — "State capitalism" is an oxymoron. Pure capitalism is a fiscal extension of individual sentient beings. Capitalism is in toto aloof from any system of debt (like, funny money). Capitalism is a financial scenario that deals with tangibilities (such as gold and silver coin) and the excess gained through personal labor. Capitalism describes the right and liberty of the sentient being to spend the excess representation of his labors any way he desires. Actions that use terms such as "profit" - misdirect, misuse and steal under similar nomenclature (crony capitalism, by example).
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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