sandorski
No Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
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Granted, but have we ever seen one arise in a location that wasn't already impoverished, already stuck in widespread misery and suffering?
I don't disagree, my point is not that they are good, my point is that they work and they can work well. The Five Year Programs industrialized Russia at a tremendous speed - far faster than even a lot of richer nations. That is what so often irritates me about this discussion is that people are either ignorant of or feel they must lie about what happened to oppose command economy instead of opposing it on legitimate grounds such as that an unaccountable state telling everyone what to do, no exceptions, is an affront to liberty. That alone should be enough to oppose it even though works.
Just to add to your points.
Japan and South Korea used a lighter version of the 5 year programs to develop their economies. A well instituted Government is capable of accomplishing great and beneficial things.
Some seem to think that the US FF were Anarcho-Capitalist-Libertarians. This is far from the truth. They knew the importance of Government, that it was essential. However, they also knew that it could be very dangerous if its' power was not limited in certain ways.