Nationalization, What Does It Lead To?

[Paradox]

So what are your opinions on nationalization? Is it good or bad? I read that nationalization is NOT good, and that it does nothing to help bring about Socialism/Communism. Nationalization does nothing other than put a nation's industries into the hands of that nation's whole capitalist class, through the state, at least that's what I read. Also, I read that nationalization does nothing to help improve the living or working conditions of the people. So what do you guys say to this? I was also curious to know how nationalization has worked in Cuba. What has it done for the people of Cuba (and Venezuela, for that matter)? It's not like Castro is rich, living lavishly off profits from the nationalized industries, so what's the deal?

[novemba]

Nationalism = Impearilism (essentially)

[Non-Sectarian Bastard!]

That was not what Paradox asked. He talks about nationalisation and not nationalism.

Nationalisation is often better for a country's economy and working conditions. Nationalised companies don't pay taxes, aren't judged strictly, get lots of fundings. This way they are able to hire vast ammounts of workers thus combatting unemployment and beat their foreign concurrents.

[ComradeRed]

Nationalization is merely state capitalism. Let the workers run the businesses, let there be collectivization.

[Roses in the Hospital]

Nationalization is simply a tool, so it's effectiveness depends upon what it is used for. If the aim is to give workers a better deal then it can only help the development of socialism. If however it's used as a more efficient way of exploiting the workers (as it easily can be) then it's clearly not good. Personally I'd like to see more nationalized industries, the problem is some governments just can't cope with the added work load of managing them efficiently, meaning it's easier to simply give them to someone else to do...

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

While nationalized industries are preferable in that the state is more subject to democratic control than, say, corporations are, ideally, I believe control of the means of production DIRECTLY by the working class is the key to socialism. The state, historically, has been best suited for defending a particular sort of primitive national capitalism, and I don't see why that will change if we drape some red flags over it.