@sim @lambadalambda @melonbread @notjeff I think a controlled market generally benefits those who control the market, which is why I am in favour of a democratic state that is acutely aware of its role in opposing the monopolistic tendencies of capitalist free markets - that is, the tendency for large companies to become even larger over time, through mergers, vertical integration, dirty tricks, bribes, market lockout, timed obsolences of vital parts, buyout of competitors, and in the case everything else fails lowering of price below the point of profitability using large cash reserves or loans to force out the competitors who will not be bought out.

Which monopolies in socialist countries are you thinking of in particular? Infrastructure tends to be a natural monopoly, so should be state-owned and controlled generally.