Communism v. Socialism v. Capitalism v. Feudalism

[TheCalliton]

I myself would like to think ANARCHY would work, but it wouldnt

though anarchy isn;t an option, it has my heart and sould (just not in practice)

[Fifoo]

I myself would like to think ANARCHY would work, but it wouldnt

though anarchy isn;t an option, it has my heart and sould (just not in practice)

... such as a Mercantilism system? :rolleyes:

[Aurielius]

I myself would like to think ANARCHY would work, but it wouldnt

though anarchy isn;t an option, it has my heart and sould (just not in practice)

I'm going to save Maxwell the trouble...economic systems only. Oh and as an aside I renew my vote for Mercantilism, self interest is usually a sound basis for a viable economic system to flourish.

[Maxwell the Fool]

Okay... Explanation of Mercantilism? Research is shady...

 

And also, thank you Aurielius for your help :)

[Aurielius]

Definition of terms: Mercantilism.

 

Mercantilism was initially popular during the 17th century. It held that money was wealth, accumulation of gold and silver was the key to prosperity, and one nation's gain was another's loss. Supported by economists such as Malynes, Misselden, and Mun in the UK, Colbert in France ,and Serra in Italy, it urged governments to maintain surplus of exports over imports through tariffs and other such measures. In more recent times, the mercantilism theory was revived by the UK economist John Maynard Keynes when he stated that a surplus in balance-of-trade stimulates demand, thus increasing the national wealth. When corporations, politicians, and unions demand control over imports through higher-duties to protect local jobs and industries, they are resorting to mercantilism. There is no such thing as free trade in an absolute form, all current capitalist systems use Mercantilism at one strength level or another.

 

Will that suffice Maxwell?

[Maxwell the Fool]

So then Mercantilism is a shade which can be applied to any system? I suppose that it would be adequate when applied as part of an "alternative" system....

 

Or am I not understanding?

[Aurielius]

So then Mercantilism is a shade which can be applied to any system? I suppose that it would be adequate when applied as part of an "alternative" system....

Or am I not understanding?

Since the post feudal version doesn't exist in any form then yes it could be applied to any economic system that is not a closed system., but more properly it is a form of capitalism more than any other.

[Maxwell the Fool]

But at the same time it has been exploited by the Chinese through Communism.

[Aurielius]

But at the same time it has been exploited by the Chinese through Communism.

I couldn't say no to that statement but divorced from it's political system how would you define the Chinese economic system that is currently in force?

[grannywils]

Ok, I guess I misunderstood the issue in my earlier post. I thought we were discussing governmental structures rather than simply economic ones. For me, somehow they seem to require some sort of relationship. But anyway, as usual I think Aurielius did a masterful job of describing Mercantilism (as it is the forerunner of capitalism), and it sounds workable to me. Although it smacks a little bit more of isolationism than I think is good for us. I still feel it would have to depend upon the government under which the economic system was being used. I don't see how an economic system can stand alone. Governments, i.e. Nations are comprised of people, and they need to be considered in the equation, in my opinion regardless of the prosperity or accumulation of wealth, etc.