[Frondo]

And, heh, I've seen it argued persuasively that the U.S. now operates with the same degree of inefficiency (i.e. resources allocated less than optimally, not responsive to market conditions, etc.) of a centrally planned economy, just due to the concentration of money now. Sort of a de-facto central planning, even though it certainly isn't one in name.

I tried to find the links where I saw this, couldn't. I'll keep looking.

[jqm]

It stands to reason. Centralized bureaucracy is centralized bureaucracy.

What was it said about the Soviet Union? That they pretended to pay people and the people pretended to work? Well.....