Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Capitalism v Socialism 9-26-24

Capitalism has been the dominant system for operating an Economy for Centuries. The price of goods was controlled by supply and demand. If goods were plentiful, lower prices could be negotiated. If goods were scares, prices were higher until goods became plentiful again. Droughts and floods create food shortages. 

Socialist and Communist Economic Systems have not been very successful to date. Both communism and socialism advocate public control of the means of production, although socialism allows for the continued existence of capitalism in some parts of the economy. Socialism was introduced by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in 1848. Communism was tried with the Soviet Union that began in 1922. The Russian Czar was murdered in 1918 and a brutal civil war broke out. The Communists won and millions of decenters were murdered and sent to concentration camps in the 1930s. After 1945, the USSR controlled around seven satellite countries in Eastern Europe, including Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, which were heavily influenced by the Soviet Union politically and militarily; these countries were often referred to as the "Eastern Bloc" during the Cold War. Government Overspending in the USSR forced the release of these countries.

They failed to know the history of the Roman Empire that went broke because of overexpansion.

The USSR was dissolved in 1991. The Communist Party was outlawed and the Russian Republic was formed.  From 1991 to 2008, Russia rebuilt their economy with oil production, but remained a “One-Party System. Re-expansion began in 2008.

The August 2008 Russo-Georgian War, also known as the Russian invasion of Georgia, was a war waged against Georgia by the Russian Federation and the Russian-backed separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The fighting took place in the strategically important South Caucasus region.

In February and March 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula, part of Ukraine, and then annexed it. This took place in the relative power vacuum immediately following the Revolution of Dignity. A pro-Russian government was installed and a referendum on Crimea's status was held under occupation. According to the Russian-installed authorities, the result was in favor of joining Russia. It annexed Crimea on 18 March 2014, re-organizing it as a Russian republic and turning Sevastopol into a Russian federal city.

In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The US and EU countries are backing Ukraine with Military aid and NATO is avoiding direct involvement.

Poland is concerned that if Russia takes over Ukraine, they will be the next takeover target. From 1795 to 1918, Poland was split between Prussia, the Habsburg monarchy, and Russia and had no independent existence. In 1795 the third and the last of the three 18th-century partitions of Poland ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1918 Poland became its own country. Poland was established as a state under the Piast dynasty, which ruled the country between the 10th and 14th centuries. Historical records referring to the Polish state begin with the rule of Duke Mieszko I, whose reign commenced sometime before 963 and continued until his death in 992.

China established a Communist Government in 1949 and remained a poor, undeveloped country.  Trade between the United States and China resumed in 1973, and the National Council for United States-China Trade (NCUSCT) was established to promote it: 

By 1985 Chinese imports to the US totaled $3.6B. In 2000 Chinese imports to the US reached $100B. By 2023 Chinese imports to the US reached $427B. China remains a Communist Country, but their low wages and low environmental regulations allowed them to attract US investment. US companies have established manufacturing plants in China. US companies established global supply chains to import foreign-produced goods. All Chinese Companies are owned by the Chinese Government.

China had Hong Kong returned to Chinese control in 1997.The handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China was at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the former colony, which began in 1841.

China has announced its plan to take over Taiwan, but the US is backing Taiwan with Military aid.

Communist Countries use force to control their populations.  N Korea is the poster-child for control.  A Communist takeover is accomplished by force and doesn’t allow descent.  Revolution followed by imprisoning or killing opponents is common. Venezuela became Communist by promising “free stuff”. 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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