re: William Mandel on Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela and socialism v. capitalism?

[Mike Friedman <mikedf@xxxxxxxx>]

George, you're right. For someone who is allegedly careful with his facts,
Mandel makes an AWFULLY fuzzy and tendentious comment when he alleges that
"[...] the economic record shows that a market economy, for all its ups and
downs and unfairness and cruelty, brings a higher living standard to a
larger proportion of the people than does Marxist socialism. " A higher
standard to a larger proportion of WHICH people? The world's population?
People in socialist countries before and after their revolutions? The
latter is the ONLY valid comparison, and in that case his argument is
patently false. One could also question his definition of "Marxist socialism."

Mike

At 07:47 PM 12/29/2002 -0500, you wrote:
> Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 13:13:35 -0500
> From: "George Snedeker" <snedeker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: socialism v. capitalism?
>
> Bill Mandel remarks, " And the economic record shows
> that a market economy, for all its ups and downs and
> unfairness and cruelty, brings a higher living standard to a
> larger proportion of the people than does Marxist socialism. " now, on the
> surface this seems to be a valid statement. but what is the basis for
> comparison? the advanced capitalist societies do pretty well in providing
> goods and services to most people. but what about the rest of the capitalist
> world? well, there the story is not so clear. many people throughout Asia,
> Africa and Latin America do not live very well under market economies. why
> was it necessary for Mandel to throw out the baby with the bath water
> because the Soviet centrally planned economies failed. is this the God that
> failed all over again? and just how can anyone know that a better form of
> society is not possible?


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