Reply #16: Clarification

[Hawkowl]

I agree that competition is a good thing when possible and I was in no way advocating a command economy. The point I was trying to make was that the LACK of competition was a common fault, although much worse in the USSR, with both economic systems. Yes, the USSR's version was worse compared to our system in terms of consumer goods--but then again we import most of our consumer goods.

The remedy to improve both types of economies is the same, shatter monopolies and encourage small business, entrepreneurship and innovation. Break up the monopoly of capital, the government in the command economy and the half dozen banks in ours, and get money to the innovators. (The Chinese have had great success with introducing competition and free enterprise, although their economy is still in transition.) Local and small is always better than large and centralized, regardless if the centralized is through a politburo or Bank of America.

Few people realize that competition is a process that must be continually renewed. Otherwise we simply compete until there is only one company, one winner, one remaining monopoly stifling all innovation.