Are you a statist?

[Valmy]

I am not answering because I am not sure what he means.

[viper37]

Bueller, I am going to need a full explanation.

Ah, well.  I thought I found one, but Wikipedia gives a definition that goes from US style economy with Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac to full blown communist countries.

Economic statism

Economic statism promotes the view that the state has a major and legitimate role in directing the economy, either directly through state-owned enterprises and other types of machinery of government, or indirectly through economic planning.[17]

The french Wiki page is better than the english one (a rare occurence), which is way too politically aligned toward the Tea Party.

So by this definition, no, I do not believe tha the state has a major and legitimate role in directing the economy.  Political decisions are often aimed at short term interests to please specific lobbies that will swing public opinion toward the party for the next election.  A prime example in Quebec and Canada is the shower of money right before an election, where a  government will announce lots of grants or public projects of dubious economic value, or the infamous "pork barrel" of the United States.

We, unfortunately, need a State.  Just like we water.  However, too much water is good.  Hence, too much state is not good.

[Grinning_Colossus]

Wow, English Wiki's definition is bizarre

the belief that a government should control either economic or social policy

Wouldn't a government be in control of its economic and social policy by default?

[MadImmortalMan]

I guess they mean if it's not statist, there would be no policy?

[Sheilbh]

Lord, no

[Razgovory]

Great poll Derspeiss, nobody is certain what you were getting at.

[CountDeMoney]

Yes, I am a sadist.

[derspiess]

Sorry for thinking you guys were familiar with the term.

Never mind then, the sheesh...

[Ed Anger]

Yes, I am a sadist.

Yes, I'm a satanist. A fan of Miroslav Satan.

[Razgovory]

Sorry for thinking you guys were familiar with the term.

Never mind then, the sheesh...

It's kinda vague.  I just it's some dichotomy that libertarians go on about.

[sbr]

I'm pretty good internet friends with a Finnish statistician.

[DGuller]

Sorry for thinking you guys were familiar with the term.

Never mind then, the sheesh...

Problem is that it's not a term, it's an insult whose definition adapts to the person you're disagreeing with.

[Sheilbh]

However you define it yourself.

For me it's further than France, approaching Eastern Bloc level state involvement.

[dps]

That wiki article says it's the opposite of anarchist, so I guess by that definition we're all statists.  Nobody here AFAIK is such an extreme libertarian that they approach anarchism.  I guess the closest we've had to that was KAP, and even he didn't go quite that far, nor has he posted on Languish for what, 4 years or more?

[Neil]

However you define it yourself.

For me it's further than France, approaching Eastern Bloc level state involvement.

I don't think that it's a precise term.  Statism is a broad term that supports government intervention.   Statism is civilization as opposed to anarchy or feudalism.