Is Progressive social change, i.e. Big Government Liberalism, compatible with Free-Market Capitalism?

[Charley]

I think it is. You can not have unfettered markets running in America. We have had this policy since Reagan and we are living in 1920s era like Depression. There are a lot attacks on liberals here on Y!A but is Progressive social reform, i.e. derisively known as 'Big Government Liberalism,' perfectly compatible with a free market capitalist society?

[AverageJoe]

Most Democrats mean well, and believe that the dominance of Government is the surest path to a "just" society.

They are wrong, of course. Government is at best a necessary evil and once given supremacy it inevitably becomes a cruel master.

[Tweek]

not even close.

[Mr. Wolf]

Neither is the U.S. Constitution.

[scrawnyjail358]

Free market capitalism comes from progressive social change unto itself. Read up on the Enlightenment.

[Mountaineer Maniac]

I still don't see how progressivism is big government. I don't think having laws to protect consumers, that keep Corporations from influencing politics and government and keeping their practices honest is big government. So dictating morality isn't big government? Conservatives?

[john]

There can be a perfect hybrid between the two, we just have to find it.

[whoyeah]

Free-Market Capitalism is code words for finishing what Reagan started. They want to starve government until it is shrinks into ineffectiveness. Then they really will have their dream of an unfettered plunder upon the population. What they don't understand is when the middle class become the poor who will buy their products? What they will have is Cannibalistic-Capitalism!

[R]

It is compatible with REGULATED Capitalism. Unregulated, "free-market" Capitalism (due to the nature of human greed) is totally incompatible with civil society, itself...

[Noah H]

Nobody has ever suggested 'Big Government'. Big Government is a buzz word made up by the right wing radio dummies in their roll as the Ministry of Propaganda for what has become the GOP/Tea/Fox/Jesus party. This party in turn is a wholly owned subsidy of an ever smaller number of ever wealthier trans national corporations who do not want ANY regulations or taxes or rules laws or directives that are not in their interest. Given that these trans national corporation own, control, influence or have co-opted every country in the world they are in fact nations unto themselves. It's a wonder they don't demand a seat in the United Nations. At this point, with world production at 100% there's no need to build any more production facilities. Given the advances in automation there's no need to hire more workers. In a world with an ever growing population there's no need to raise hourly wages more than a minimum amount. Of course all of this has to be explained....people want to know why the American working class...those that work for hourly wages...is stuck on empty. Someone has to be a fault! The GOP/Tea/Fox/Jesus party has this one figured out. The fault is with the 'far left liberals'...the socialists...the commies...the greenies..the unions! This bull #$%^ actually works for some reason even in the face of the fact that the trans national corporations that the party of 'no' pimps for owns 95% of the wealth producing facilities on this planet...not a commie in a carload. Here's a clue.....the American middle class hasn't had a real raise in decades....it takes two pay checks to do what one used to...more people are doing without medical insurance because they flat can't afford it....college tuition? Don't make me laugh! Yeah..there really is a 1% and there really is a 99%. If you currently have it made...like me....don't count on it for your kids. If you don't have it made....don't kid yourself that this system is going to be your friend up the ladder of success. Free market Capitalism isn't 'free', it isn't a real 'market' and it isn't capitalism...many producers in competition? Yeah...right!