Ron Paul’s Texas Straight Talk 4/26/10: Socialism vs Corporatism
http://house.gov/paul
http://CampaignForLiberty.com
Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist.
Socialism is a system where the government directly owns and manages businesses. Corporatism is a system where businesses are nominally in private hands, but are in fact controlled by the government. In a corporatist state, government officials often act in collusion with their favored business interests to design polices that give those interests a monopoly position, to the detriment of both competitors and consumers.
A careful examination of the policies pursued by the Obama administration and his allies in Congress shows that their agenda is corporatist. For example, the health care bill that recently passed does not establish a Canadian-style government-run single payer health care system. Instead, it relies on mandates forcing every American to purchase private health insurance or pay a fine. It also includes subsidies for low-income Americans and government-run health care exchanges. Contrary to the claims of the proponents of the health care bill, large insurance and pharmaceutical companies were enthusiastic supporters of many provisions of this legislation because they knew in the end their bottom lines would be enriched by Obamacare.
Similarly, Obama’s cap-and-trade legislation provides subsidies and specials privileges to large businesses that engage in carbon trading. This is why large corporations, such as General Electric support cap-and-trade.
To call the President a corporatist is not to soft-pedal criticism of his administration. It is merely a more accurate description of the Presidents agenda.
When he is a called a socialist, the President and his defenders can easily deflect that charge by pointing out that the historical meaning of socialism is government ownership of industry; under the Presidents policies, industry remains in nominally private hands. Using the more accurate term corporatism – forces the President to defend his policies that increase government control of private industries and expand de facto subsidies to big businesses. This also promotes the understanding that though the current system may not be pure socialism, neither is it free-market since government controls the private sector through taxes, regulations, and subsidies, and has done so for decades.
Using precise terms can prevent future statists from successfully blaming the inevitable failure of their programs on the remnants of the free market that are still allowed to exist. We must not allow the disastrous results of corporatism to be ascribed incorrectly to free market capitalism or used as a justification for more government expansion. Most importantly, we must learn what freedom really is and educate others on how infringements on our economic liberties caused our economic woes in the first place. Government is the problem; it cannot be the solution.
Duration : 0:4:1
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@skipmendler Does …
@skipmendler Does it matter weather the “lady” propositions the “john” or the “john” the “lady…Someones getting screwed. lol
Capitalist and …
Capitalist and communist are a two headed snake death to both
I agree with Paul, …
I agree with Paul, it helps to know exactly what you are fighting.
@werebear1 I …
@werebear1 I haven’t done enough research yet but I can pretty sure that something gets pushed thru the media majority of these solar and other alternative sources of energy are corporate (i.e. government) controlled. Liberal fascism is here and they will deal with us eventually. People in the US are not used to tyranny nor the uprising. Military will have an easy job dealing with a few off men.
Ron Paul 2012!
Ron Paul 2012!
@TheEbonicslover @ …
@TheEbonicslover @TheEbonicslover You are right, I have to agree. The government will allow solar energy and other sources when they can put a meter on it.
Socialist, …
Socialist, corporatist, statist.. it’s wrong and we need to make sure he is a OTP and that “spenders” in both parties are thrown out in the next 2 elections!
This is very good …
This is very good stuff.
Quite Accurate, Thank you Dr. Paul
@halcyon0830 Just …
@halcyon0830 Just to let you know, everyone has greed. When you hear these divine wanting to regulate human behavior, what they are saying is that they want to put their values over others. And instead of this mutual decision making, worker wanting maximum wage, employer wanting least amount of a wage, max amount of cost on his products, and customer least amount of cost and best quality, this works out in the market from each person’s greed. The State puts barriers, favoring one party.
@beancube2010 Ron …
@beancube2010 Ron Paul is an Austrian (School of Thought), you can’t get any more reform than that.
@st4ticblu3 and to …
@st4ticblu3 and to add to this there are so many more ways to generate energy more efficiently than just solar. Knowing all that it is simple, they want us dependent and enslaved and dead as long as the masses stay retarded they will carry out their plan.
@halcyon0830 and I …
@halcyon0830 and I love it. Let’s watch Jerry Springer ti will all work itself out
It’s the COMPLETE …
It’s the COMPLETE CORPORATE CONTROL OF GOVERNMENT. Government NOW ONLY WORKS FOR CORPORATIONS, WAR INDUSTRY, OIL INDUSTRY, WALL-STREET, BANKS, FEDERAL-RESERVE CARTEL, CASH, GREED, GLOBALISTS, CFR, ISRAEL, AIPAC/PNAC AND LOBBYISTS.
Is “corporatism” a …
Is “corporatism” a matter of indirect government control of corporations – or is it a matter of CORPORATE control of GOVERNMENT? -
it took me awhile …
it took me awhile to line my way of thinking with Ron but i am there now
@halcyon0830 Our …
@halcyon0830 Our military also sells a lot of the weapons they spend money making. That’s what a military industial complex does. Make war a business. It’s a lot cheaper to make weapons and vehicles in large mass. Then sell it to you current allies as well as supply yourself. Than just manufacture it for your nation alone.
With the money we spend on the war, the US could equip every home in the nation with solar panels in months. Making us all independent from fossil fuels for electricity.
@halcyon0830 Pretty …
@halcyon0830 Pretty simple, because the US government likes to spend money. Also US military is highly structured for invasion of other countries with the largest army. Not to mention many bases all over the world, and extremely expensive platforms such as the B-2, F-22, F-35, etc. In addition, the US military uses a lot of guided munitions. Basically the US military is what a fat cat’s military would look like.
Too bad both Ron …
Too bad both Ron Paul and Barak Obama aren’t real reformers. In the next election, people must find real reformers and send them to Washington, especially to replace those corporatist under-covered in Senate house. In order for those real reformers get elected, people must protest more often and starting them with those most obvious evil financial policies first.
@halcyon0830 The US …
@halcyon0830 The US is being Lampooned.
Can anyone explain …
Can anyone explain why USA spends MORE ON THE MILITARY & WEAPONS than the NEXT 16 Most Powerful Countries COMBINED
guardian. co. uk/news/datablog/2010/apr/01/information-is-beautiful-military-spending
globalissues. org/article/75/world-military-spending
en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Military_ budget_ of_the_ United_States
costofwar. com
Anyone against Dr. Ron Paul’s foreign policy are Ignorant Neocons, they are Corporate-whores who ignore reality & want ALL Money to be taken by Israel & Pentagon.
America SPENDS 1.8 …
America SPENDS 1.8 TRILLION DOLLARS ON WARS, SPYING, SECRET PROJECTS & PENTAGON EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
And The Corporate-Brainwashed Fucks-News-Puppet Tea Party Zombie Cult NEVER MENTIONS THAT, WHEN THEY TELL GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE SPENDING.
America has 800 Military Bases Worldwide and America has given more than 3 TRILLION dollars to Israel since the 50s but the Corporate-Neocon-Zionist Tools Tea Party Stays Quiet.
All Tea-Partiers are supposed to be Anti-War Anti-Corruption Pro-3rd-Party Members.
USA was NEVER …
USA was NEVER supposed to be a Fascist or Totalitarian nation, a Corptocracy, a Communist nation or a Runaway Capitalism where Greed & Deception Rules above all. USA’s a Constitutional Republic, a Social Democratic Republic, our Reps were chosen to WORK FOR us (their Constituents) NOT the lobbyists, neocons, zionists, israel, military industrial complex, nwo, federal reserve, corporations & special interests that want to put millions in politician’s bank accounts.
Solution= Nader/Paul/Kucinich
Go Ron Paul!!
Go Ron Paul!!
Everyone in …
Everyone in Washington, all politicians in Congress and Everyone in Whitehouse INCLUDING OBAMA are ALL Neocons, AIPAC Zionists & Corporate Lobbyists. Obama HAS NO Socialist tendencies, he’s a COMPLETE BUSH-CLONE IN EVERY WAY, Politicians like Obama are only Corporatists and Neocons. THERE ARE NO LIBERALS OR CONSERVATIVES. Wolves in Sheeps clothing calling themselves Democrats or Republicans, BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE ALL NEOCONS AND LOBBYISTS and their ONLY GOD IS GREED, MORE POWER AND MORE MONEY.
Fascist!
Fascist!