Comments on: The Command Economy

By: Big Brother is Watching… | ErikCaineOlson.com

Big Brother is Watching… | ErikCaineOlson.com — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:31:10 +0000

[...] to a free economy—according to economist and author of The Dollar Meltdown Charles Goyette in an article for Whiskey & Gunpowder, “A command economy is a top-down, state-controlled eocnomy directed by planners and [...]

By: Politically viable solutions for peak oil and global climate change – Guy McPherson's blog

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:53:20 +0000

[...] I seriously doubt we can switch to totalitarian socialism in time to save lives in this country. We’re already too deep into fascism to switch horses. At this point, the sheeple probably would go along, but the corporations would not. Ours is a command economy, and the commands come from the corporations: If they tell legislators to vote for an initial $700 billion bailout package, you can bet how it will turn out: “in no time the taxpayers ended up with more than eighteen times that, $12.8 trillion in loans, sp… [...]

By: Gun Totin' Wacko

Gun Totin' Wacko — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:55:25 +0000

“In a free economy goods and services are bought and sold by consent; business transactions are based on agreement; contracts depend upon a meeting of the minds of the parties involved. In a command economy government sets prices, controls and directs resources, and oversees production and consumption. ”
As far as I can make out, we live in a society commanded by banks, credit agencies, insurance companies, etc. Woe betide those trying to find a job, housing, insurance or healthcare without a credit report., for example. (And woe betide those even more who try to correct mistakes in their report).

Stop blowing smoke about our free economy–we have not had one in decades. If you are asmall business rather than a leviathan, you already know this.

By: William Jorgensen

William Jorgensen — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:18:51 +0000

“Free economies produce prosperity; command economies produce poverty.” There’s a laugh here!

Looking at how America’s “free economy” has bankrupted not just America but fair portion of the world, I would say a lets give a command economy a try for a while, maybe there won’t be so many people without jobs, shelter, health care and food as there are now after a decade of very bad decisions made by “the free market”.

By: A. Smith

A. Smith — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:16:15 +0000

While there is certainly some truth in this article, I believe that an essential point is missed. The basic character of the US as a command economy has been in place for quite a while. In recent decades global economic activity has been so dominated by a small number of huge corporations that for practical purposes it has already functioned as a “planned economy”. A true market economy, with all the virtues that people like to attribute to it, relies on competition between a multiplicity of small enterprises, not a handful of massive players that dominate their sector of the economy and have grossly disproportionate access to political power. The line between corporate power and political power has already been blurred — its just becoming more blatant now.

I get frustrated with people on the right and left who are so quick to blame the government — which at least for now has a vital role in society — but fail to miss the point that corporate capitalism and true democracy are incompatible. The kind of superficial critiques that are incessantly repeated on so called “conservative” talk radio, TV, etc… leave the “corpocracy” unscathed. I encourage people who really believe in a market economy to think not just of how to disempower government, but how to disentangle corporate power and government. (see for example, David Korten’s “When Corporations Rule the World”, and the “Post-Corporate World”)

Finally, don’t get me wrong — the government is out of control, and the current payoffs to the banks and finance industry are disgusting.

By: john

john — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:55:31 +0000

seems to me, even in a free market economy ,we are propagandized to at such a level that we ‘freely’ choose to buy exactly what “they” tell us to.
for example: texting
if texting came befor the telephone, who in their right mind would choose to text when they could speak directly to the person they wanted to contact…an activity that is product driven
or the marble countertop
a central feature in all the home ‘upgrade’ shows…which is actually quite unsanitary because the pores collect bacteria…now a must to sell your home…’my house is worth what?’…lets figure out how much my house is worth so i can pull every last penny of equity out
what you need is what they are sellin…..(rage against the machine)

By: The Command Economy « Agora University

The Command Economy « Agora University — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 04:08:28 +0000

[...] 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment From Whiskey and Gunpowder: The Command Economy Dec 23rd, 2009 | By Charles Goyette [...]

By: CanadaNorth

CanadaNorth — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 06:27:09 +0000

Linda, I am always amused at how much we think alike in so many ways. For instance I live quite comfortably on a $1000.00 per month. My friends and associates all think I am a bit daft for doing so. I really enjoy this, it is not much of a challenge really. Make do with what we have is the secret. My younger employees throw away good things quickly. For instance a pair of work gloves that have only been worn once and have a few smudges on them end up in the garbage can. Of course they do not have to pay for them either, I do. When found, I promptly dust them off and use them for myself, except how many pairs of gloves can a man use anyway? Is this the problem with our society today? Go get new ones, somebody else, the company or the gov’mint will take care of it. Anyway, Charles and you, and me also, do not have to play this game. Keep up with taking care of yourself, the guv’mint won’t be able to sometime in the future. Best Regards, CanadaNorth

By: Linda Brady Traynham

Linda Brady Traynham — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:00:05 +0000

One problem with a command economy is commanding others to produce. Many of them do not cooperate. Your essay reinforced my determination to become ever more self-sufficient and disengaged from ordinary commerce. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Purchase used items privately for those carry no sales taxes and do not trigger new production, but they do reduce demand. Dispense with every possible “convenience” in the modern world that carries monthly taxes as well as fees. A different sort of scorched earth policy, where instead of destroying we refuse to consume. In a world where our overlords FORCE us to buy insurance against medical expenses, will they then compel us to purchase cell ‘phones and services? Why not? How can we be kept “safe” if we are not able to call for help every moment of our lives?

By: Week in review « Craig W. Wright

Week in review « Craig W. Wright — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:51:45 +0000

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