As usual Paul Krugman is WRONG on economics

[smilingsynic]

Quote from Angrycat:


Only someone who has never been to the Soviet Union or studied Soviet economics could make that claim. The Soviets enslaved the population to produce utter crap. You aren't seriously calling a robust slave labour program an "economic success" are you? I mean, even Soviet economists (and I mean in the Soviet Union, not the apologists over here in the States) argued that the Soviet Union depended very heavily on the slave labour of the Gulags.

When was Russia NOT a slave labor country? It was certainly under the czars, even after Alexander I's decision to end serfdom, and of course under the Soviets, but are you denying that the USSR made remarkable progress between the end of WW1 (during which the country was so messed up that soldiers were embarrassingly underarmed and that the country was under the influence of a faith healer/sex addict) and the start of WW2?

The planned economy was cruel and inhumane, no doubt. Morally bankrupt, the USSR nevertheless transformed itself from a backward state to a world power in less than thirty years.

 

[Capablanca]

Quote from smilingsynic:


The Soviet Union was a great economic success throughout the end of WW2. Compared Russia in 1905--a backward laughingstock of a country that lost to Japan--to the USSR in 1939, and the change is significant. Russia became a world power in a matter of decades--at great human cost, unfortunately.

Smilingsynic, you probably referenced an example most on these boards cannot understand. They do not remember the seriousness with which the US considered the communist threat with its improving economy and scientific achievements like putting a man in space in the 1960s.

Maybe if you bring up Japan with its keiretsu and zaibatsu and France and its policy of dirigisement as examples they might have something they can reference. Then again maybe not.

 

[clacy]

Quote from smilingsynic:

Your opinion means nothing to me, since it is based on no facts. Please point out my errors, and explain how my conclusion that the USSR was "morally bankrupt" makes me a "pro commie". Details, please.

I'll give you one more chance before putting you on ignore. You seem rather ignorant--here's your chance to prove otherwise.

Go back and look at my post. That's why I said "in my opinion". That's what it is and I stand by it. It's not that I think you would like to see a Soviet style communist goverment in place here in the US, it's that I believe you would like to see an "improved" version of communisim.

I do find it pretty funny that you "threatened" to put me on ignore, as if being ignored on an anonymous message board is something to be feared.

Fucking laughable.

 

[college_trad3r]

Quote from stock_trad3r:

It worked out very well as evidenced by the strong GDP gains between 2002-2008, and is proof you can inflate your way to prosperity and still end up ahead even if a so called 'bubble' forms.

I think somebody needs an economy lesson...