The government that has modeled itself after the NAZIs is our very own beloved PAP.
Here's a description of how Hitler operated. The similarities are frightening.... state owned enterprises, control over unions etc.
Under Nazi Germany, the approach to industry was more nuanced than outright nationalization. Here's how it worked:
- State Control without Full Ownership: The Nazis did not engage in widespread nationalization in the traditional sense where the state takes over ownership of industries. Instead, they implemented a system where the state exerted significant control over the economy while allowing private ownership to continue. This was part of what's often referred to as "corporatism" or "state capitalism."
- Four-Year Plan: Initiated in 1936 by Hermann Göring, this plan aimed at making Germany self-sufficient and preparing for war. It involved heavy state intervention in the economy, directing resources and production, but companies remained privately owned. The state would set production goals, control prices, and could dictate what industries should produce, especially in relation to military needs.
- Autarky and Rearmament: The drive for autarky (economic self-sufficiency) and rearmament meant that industries crucial to these objectives, like steel, coal, and armaments, were heavily regulated. Companies were given state contracts, often at fixed prices, and faced stringent regulations on how they operated.
- Hermann Göring Works: This was one of the few instances where the Nazis established state-owned companies, but it was more for strategic purposes related to production for war efforts rather than a systematic nationalization of all industries.
- Privatization: Paradoxically, the Nazis also privatized some previously state-owned enterprises. This was done to raise funds, improve efficiency, and align with the ideological stance of supporting private enterprise against socialism, though under tight state control.
- Control Over Labor: The German Labor Front (DAF) replaced trade unions, giving the state control over labor conditions, wages, and employment policies, which indirectly controlled how businesses operated.
In summary, while the Nazis did not nationalize industry in the conventional sense, they created a tightly controlled economic environment where private companies operated under the heavy hand of the state's directives. This allowed for economic mobilization for war while maintaining the facade of private enterprise. However, this control was so pervasive that it blurred the lines between private and state ownership in practical terms.
