America not Capitalist?

[Manifesto]

Why do some people say that America is not Capitalist but some other form of it? And something to do with Roosevelt?

[Misanthrope]

America is capitalist by definition. There is a market economy, means of production are privatized ect. Granted it is not pure capitalism, it is in a sense capitalism for the poor and "socialism" for the rich. The poor experience the detriments of the market while the rich don't, they only experience the benefits.

[Dimentio]

Those who say it define capitalism in such a way that hardly no capitalist country has ever existed, or will even be able to exist.

[blake 3:17]

With the current economic crisis you may have been hearing bits about Roosevelt's New Deal -- a broad set of social policies to inject cash and credit into the system, build national infrastructure and provide employment for millions of the unemployed. It was result of both crisis management on the top and struggles from below -- the appearance of successful industrial unionism, energized left parties. I'm no expert on the period but as I understand it, most of its economic goals weren't really realized til the US joined the war.

As it was happening some on the left were totally supportive, others warned against as a creeping fascism.

Many on the left today look back on the period with a kind of wistful nostalgia.

[New Tet]

America (specifically the U.S.) is the epicenter of the capitalist earthquake that shook the world.

[gorillafuck]

Those are people that say that anything with any regulation in any way shape or form is not truly capitalist. They don't recognize that "true capitalism" will lead to a more regulated capitalism.

[RedSonRising]

A lot of people think the United States is going "Socialist" because of the fact the government is drawing from tax-funds in order to save the banks and is nationalizing certain industries.

Obviously, the government conspiring with the ruling class to preserve its structure and assets has nothing to do with socialism.

Lots of quasi-libertarians believe that true capitalism does not require regulation, and so dismiss the notion that the current crisis is a result of capitalism.

In truth, it is still capitalism, functioning with the adopted practices of Keynesian economics, which basically outline a set of tools the government should use to help stabilize the market. If you look up Keynesian economics, you'll probably get a good idea of how the bourgeoisie and the bourgeois government manage the economy of the US today.

[cb9's_unity]

This is a result of massive confusion and ignorance on the part of the American media and American public regarding socialism. Some like to believe that socialism and capitalism are actions taken by the government instead of economic systems. Because of this some like to call the american economy a "mixed economy", supposedly the combination of socialism and capitalism together. What these people fail to recognize is that capitalism and socialism are two entirely different economic system, thus no matter how much the government intervenes in capitalism it will always be capitalism. Roosevelt is brought into the mix out that misconception that socialism is only government intervention into the economy.

[dubaba]

America is Corporatist/capitalist. Rightwingers say that that the government controlling GM is socialist but in reality it is just the governments last ditch effort to keep the richest rich so they can continue to keep down the working class.

[Bilan]

Yes, America is capitalist. The thing is, however, that America - like all capitalist states - is not pure capitalism (for, pure capitalism is a purely ideological concept: it can not manifest itself).
Some prefer the term "Market economy". It doesn't really matter. Though, to suggest it isn't capitalist, but is instead, socialist indicates that the person is ignorant of both, as well as how the American economy actually works. So I wouldn't be too worried about such a statement.

[Manifesto]

Not so much that I was worrying about such a thing more like how this could make sense.