"I'd rather be ruled by a bunch of capitalists than a bunch of bureaucrats" Discuss

[????]

Many moons ago in the bourgoeis radicalism of my student common room I remember my contemperaries and I discussing the virtues of socialism when, Mark, the son of a plumber from Woking, came out with this. Struck me then, still does nowadays. I'm more scared of big states than big business by miles.

[Huguenot]

I don't really understand the differentiation?

A successful big business in its prime is indistinguishable from a totalitarian state - with centralised economic control, personality cults, workforce regimentation, control of media and so on.

A big business past its prime is indistinguishable from a bureaucracy - with factionalisation, productivity issues, poor internal communication and all the rest that goes with it.

Most states function on a dynamic equilibrium between the social and corporate elements.

It's notable that in some contexts if the social safety net of the 'state' is taken away, effective companies may take on the role of providing a conducive working environment - for example at Cadbury's, Bourneville, pensions, education and healthcare came part and parcel with the corporate offering.

This seems more likely to take place in companies that have a long term vision - executives with short term objectives are more likely to asset strip today's infrastructure to generate immediate cash returns at the cost of long term growth.

It wasn't democratic though, it was more of a Platonic construct.

I guess there isn't any particular evidence that Democracies are the most effective form of government.