| Regarding Jeff Hodgson's assertions that "socialism belongs on the ash heap of history" and the "best way forward is a strong democracy, fuelled by capitalism.…" Does Mr. Hodgson not know that capitalism has been thrown to the ash heap of history? We could only be so lucky as to have capitalism – strong local businesses supporting the communities they live in. Globalization and corporatism try to define themselves as a part of capitalism, but anyone knows that when small businesses are forced out because of an unlevel playing field, then monopolies can move in, and they are no longer part of the term capitalism.
This is corporatism. Corporations that can defer income taxes or, because they're American, transfer pre-tax profit down south (under the free trade agreement) have an unfair advantage and no longer qualify as players in a capitalism that is based on fair market forces.
This is another important reason why Klein's privatization of health care should never happen – U.S. corporations are eager to get in, knowing they could avoid Canadian taxes because of the free trade agreement. We would be well served to read up on the state of U.S. health care to see what we would be in for.
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