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Gerald Rogan's avatar

The difference between capitalism and communism is who owns the means of production- individuals vs. everyone collectively via government ownership of the means of production. Socialism describes redistribution of wealth through taxation and government benefits, through programs including social security, Medicare, Medicaid, low income tax credit, SNAP, public schools, etc.

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Victor Kamendrowsky's avatar

Communism and Socialism are words that stand for concepts that try to approximate reality. Reality is a lot more complex and much messier. The sociologist Max Weber defined capitalism as the rational pursuit of gain as an end in itself. He had 16th century Netherlands in mind. Is it still true today?

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Jan 12, 2024
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Gerald Rogan's avatar

My response is to clarify the various "isms". Respectfully, Paul, I do not agree with your remarks about "bigness" because the devil in the details. Bigness is to vague a term to be helpful to figure out solutions. When I Republican says "we have too much regulation" I cannot follow the logic. The best book I have read on regulations is "regulatory craft" by Malcolm Sparrow. Physicians sell their practices for a variety of reasons. Market forces, the cost of the EMR, insurance complexities, life-style choices, etc. are driving medical care delivery into organized delivery systems. Some physicians are unionizing in order to secure reasonable life-styes.

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