ABSTRACT
Milton Friedman, in his Capitalism and Freedom, makes explicit his assumption that the economic system of capitalism tends to produce a perfect political democracy. The class basis of the capitalist state and some of its political feedback mechanisms have been examined; it is necessary to examine those feedbacks of the political system that affect the economic structure. The overwhelming majority of all capitalist countries are political dictatorships. Official Marxists argue as if the capitalist class directly runs the government of capitalist countries. Marx emphasized in his writings a long list of means by which capitalists exercise control. These means are mostly indirect and mostly accomplished by peaceful propaganda and economic means. The economic exceptions, which allow conservative governments to practice a great deal of active intervention, are all based on “remedying liberal mistakes,” for example, reducing the taxes of the rich, ending welfare, giving more money to police and military.
