Trump and capitalism

morning all,

well, this is different - and, for me - it's very interesting and, should be a big shock for America, where capitalism has gone to the very unhealthy extreme.

I have no idea how this will pan out - and, for those who think I am anti Trump on this - I am not - I am on the fence - I just see it as a very interesting little experiment. (philosophically I am against it - but, I am of the view that if you have to live with something (or someone) that you at least try and find the value there - and, in this case, I think the value is in experimentation).


It's a very odd way to do things ---

it certainly throws capitalism out the window - but, it's not socialist by any means -- it's just ????? Trumpist for want of a better word.

It's difficult to know why Trump picks what he picks -- I assume it's a mates or influence thing - I doubt if it's corruption - but, that's only my opinion

The whole concept smells sort of like socialist thinking - but, it's not from that philosophy - it also smells like cronyism - but, although that could be argued - it's not individual positional choice - it's industrial choice, so falls outside the cronyism definition - and, as I said, IMO - probably without corruption - at least, that's my thought.

One thing I would say on if it's a 'good' thing or a 'bad' thing - ie. will it work or not? - is that - our experience of picking winners and losers is dreadful - we have been dismal at it - and, my suspicion is that America would be even worse - but, that's to be seen - IMO - it's more interesting how it might shake up the 'capitalist extreme' thinking.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...944de66d9e7_story.html?utm_term=.5ccf377c5753

Breaking from GOP orthodoxy, Trump increasingly deciding winners and losers in the economy




mce-anchor
Flames, steam and exhaust rise from the Suncoke Jewell plant in Oakwood, Va., where coal is burned to make coke, which is used to manufacture steel. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)
by Steven Mufson and David J. Lynch June 1 at 7:37 PM Email the author
President Trump is increasingly intervening in the economy, making decisions about corporate winners and losers in ways that Republicans for decades have insisted should be left to free markets — not the government.
The shift amounts to a major change in the GOP’s approach to the management of the economy, and it promises to shape the success of everything from American agriculture and manufacturing to the companies that produce the nation’s electricity.
On Friday, citing national security, Trump ordered the Energy Department to compel power-grid operators to buy from ailing coal and nuclear plants that otherwise would be forced to shut down because of competition from cheaper sources.
The order came one day after the president imposed historic metals tariffs on some of the country’s strongest allies and trading partners. Now the Commerce Department is further picking winners and losers as it weighs thousands of requests from companies for waivers from the import taxes.
“It replaces the invisible hand with the government hand,” said Mary Lovely, a Syracuse University economist. “You’re replacing the market with government fiat.”...................