Not long ago someone told me that capitalism could have never done so well without communism's help, then further mentioned that without slavery our Industrial Revolution could have never occurred.
Interesting assertion, but let's discuss this for a moment shall we? Now then, as a studier of Ayn Rand's novels, Karl Marx; Das Capital and the works of Adam Smith, Milton Friedman and such, I see the mixing of all the various forms of economic situations in human civilization.
Also, having played in the game as an entrepreneur, I realize that "true free-enterprise" does not exist in reality, has never existed and probably cannot exist considering the primate politics of this present upright walking carbon-based biped.
In full disclosure, I guess I might add that I am a member of the Ayn Rand Institute, but certainly not opposed to well-thought out diverse opinions that contradict the underlining principles of free markets.
And Fredrick "Winslow" Taylor is in my family tree also, so on the debate about unions and organized labor, perhaps I fall on a different side of the equation than most when discussing this topic.
Could Capitalism exist without communism? Certainly, just like communism can exist without capitalism.
But, in pure definitions, neither is pure and both use similar strategies, although no one really wants to discuss this, as one either has adopted the one or the other as their pure belief system.
Could the industrial revolution have occurred without slavery? Well, I think Eli Whitney, might differ with that opinion on the Industrial Revolution and African Slave Trade, which was totally unfortunate.
Incidentally, I toured the George Mason's museum on Mason's Neck in VA and walked away saying; "Wow, that guy was a total gentleman and a hypocrite.
" And yes, I too understand that real slavery or economic slavery is only different in name, philosophically speaking.
The abuses of the builders of the Continental Railroad using Chinese to dynamite in tunnels and the terrible conditions of workers Irish workers and such is well-noted.
Anyway, I see those asserting such a position that the Industrial Revolution was much about slavery - are using points in history to sum up a specific view of it, not necessarily the reality or even the truth.
Realize too, that such a view is the conclusion that you believe in and many might side with you on.
So, that's all good, sounds interesting, but does not make it so.
There is an interesting book on this subject by AB Crane and yes, it is probably a good read, like Dilorenzo's "How Capitalism Saved America" on the other side of the debate? Before adopting such a position on this debate, those on both side need to prepare better arguments.
And well, I just think there is more to it than that is all, but I am sure both sides can rally their troops and have plenty of sources for their conclusion.
Still, in the end I believe the entire theory that: "Capitalism Couldn't Exist Without Communism & The Industrial Revolution Needed Slavery to Survive" is pure poppycock.