Re: My Conservative Platform
In my feeble mind, there are only two systems of economic organization. There is public control of the means of production (socialism) and private control of the means of production (capitalism). Any concept of a system that somehow mixes both is inherently contradictory, and exists in a perpetual struggle between the two extremes. The United States, for example, has been leaning progressively towards socialism since at least the late 18th century. In truth, it has been on the path since its inception, yet the anti-capitalistic mentality grew incredibly stronger with the advent of labor unions.
Fascism, on the other hand, is a political ideology. Political ideologies can exist independent of their economic ideologies, yet no matter how they arrive at their conclusions, the result is invariably the same: A totalitarian government that assumes command of the production and distribution of resources. Therefore, any permutation of statism is socialist by default, no matter how small its beginnings or how limited its role. Government, after all, is what Robert LeFevre coined a law factory, it's sole purpose is the authoring, passing, and enforcing of laws. With the enactment of each new law, the state increases its size, power, and even revenue (in the form of tax, tariff, fine, and fee) exponentially.
The State is a parasite on the productive forces of society, and socialism is the philosophy of parasitism. Like an infectious disease, it will thrive off the trade and the wealth created by others. The State can not, by itself, generate wealth; it has no profit-or-loss mechanism, it does not produce anything, it can only destroy. Once it has infected every sector of economic activity, only then will the house of cards collapse in on itself. This is why every government, and every empire in history, has eventually come to a conclusion. If you think it won't happen anymore, think again. I'm sure the Romans never thought they'd see a day when they did not rule all of the known world. Even Britannia was forced to make concessions by the close of World War II. It exists today only because of these reforms, yet eventually it will be no more. Just as one day, there will be no more United States of America.
It won't happen in our lifetimes, it won't happen in our childrens' lifetimes, it may not even happen in our grandchildrens' lifetimes. Rome lasted for over a thousand years, cycling through various stages which served only to increase its oppression, before it finally came to an end; the details of which are far beyond the scope of this summary. Regardless, the lesson is clear: Government has failed.