Topic: No, this is not a Chinese Tourist Attraction....
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Omega, again, I would not say that socialism means authoritarianism, the same way I would not lump authoritarianism and Communism. Authoritarianism (aka Fascism) should not distinguish between political stripes. Though I would agree that the majority of communist governments had some form of authoritarianism. Heck, by even reading that article you will see that Mao mentioned that the best way for his Communists to remain in power is by the pen and the gun.
First, according to my a friend who studied politics in University, his prof mentioned that an Authoritarian Capitalist state is possible, though it has not happened yet. Whereas in an Authoritarian Socialist state requires massive control by the government, an Authoritarian Capitalist state requires state control from big Business with the government practially non-existant. Private companies owning everything and making their own laws to keep in power, private companies who own everything from our water supply to our jails, from our police to the court system. And yes, including our military.
Point being, Authoritarianism does not look at who is in power, but how much power he/she/it/whatever has.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
Great site for the Olympics. One has to wonder. Let us suppose that China picks up 7 medals at the Olympics. How many will the Chinese people read they won? 7? 17? 57?
"Ownership of the press by the state is the root of totalitarianism." - Heinlein (paraphrased)
-------------------- 'One man's theology is another man's belly laugh.' - Lazarus Long
posted
I'm still waiting for the announcement that the 2012 Olympics will be held in Iraq.
Tahna: The only Authoritarian Capitalist States I've ever even heard about fictionally were out of the "Alien" movies and the FASA "Shadowrun" games.
[ July 27, 2001: Message edited by: First of Two ]
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
Registered: Mar 1999
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Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Apparently, the bit about Authoritarian Capitalist states were made in this Eco prof's dissertation. Which was made in 1982.
But look, just because it was in a fictional movie does not mean that it is not possible.
May I add that another form of Authoritarian Capitalist state is one where the government exists, but are basically puppets of the Big Business. This one is a lot more difficult to detect.
One can say that this is what those anti-globalization protestors are afraid of. Too bad they cannot do anything about it constructively.
2012 Olympics in Iraq? Toronto is trying again for hold it in that year, looks like we'll get hit by Lightning Thrice.
Seems that we'll have to wait until Baghdad, Tehran, Kabul, and Havana gets the Olympics before we EVER get the nod.
Of course, by that time, we'll lose to Buffalo.
As for Beijing, hopefully this will chip away at their Iron Clad armor that is the authoritarianism of the Communist party.
[ July 28, 2001: Message edited by: Tahna Los ]
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
Registered: Mar 1999
| IP: Logged
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