I stated earlier that I would respond to the person who goes by the name "clarification" about why I do not agree with Tony Cliff or Max Shachtman in their theories that characterize the deformed workers states as state capitalism.

I have just made two posts that do so:

The Negative And Positive Lessons Of October 1917
santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/index.php

On North Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam
santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/13243/index.php

"On North Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam" goes into some detail about the advantages of the planned economy over capitalism.

"The Negative And Positive Lessons Of October 1917" discusses the negative impact of the socialist government (and thus the socialist economy) not being under the democratic control of the working class.