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Capitalism: Forward and backwards
  • Competition becomes transformed into monopoly. The result is immense progress in the socialisation of production. In particular, the process of technical invention and improvement becomes socialised.

    This is something quite different from the old free competition between manufacturers, scattered and out of touch with one another, and producing for an unknown market. Concentration has reached the point at which it is possible to make an approximate estimate of all sources of raw materials (for example, the iron ore deposits) of a country and even, as we shall see, of several countries, or of the whole world. Not only are such estimates made, but these sources are captured by gigantic monopolist associations. An approximate estimate of the capacity of markets is also made, and the associations “divide” them up amongst themselves by agreement. Skilled labour is monopolised, the best engineers are engaged; the means of transport are captured—railways in America, shipping companies in Europe and America. Capitalism in its imperialist stage leads directly to the most comprehensive socialisation of production; it, so to speak, drags the capitalists, against their will and consciousness, into some sort of a new social order, a transitional one from complete free competition to complete socialisation.

    Production becomes social, but appropriation remains private. The social means of production remain the private property of a few. The general framework of formally recognised free competition remains, and the yoke of a few monopolists on the rest of the population becomes a hundred times heavier, more burdensome and intolerable.

    Lenin. Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.

    As it is extremely clear there is only one way in imperialism (where we all live now) - forward to socialism. With globalization and due to spreading to new areas capitalism can buy some more time, yes. But outcome is still the same.

    Idea of Austrian economics school to go back in time by breaking all economic laws is just profanation.

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  • Today checked Jack Ma interview where he proposes to go backwards and implement lots of inefficient small businesses in developing countries and forget about big corporations, they are bad :-).

    Why he is telling this bullshit? Because it is in his interests, as he is owner of big structure. Small business can't today compete in production, can't compete in advanced services, all it can is to fill small niches.