Experiments in Socialism: Bailout Package

There's an interesting read in the Daily Telegraph today titled: "We're All Socialist Now, Comrade."
Financial Crisis: We're all socialist now, Comrade

While it's an opinion piece it's also along the lines of my very thoughts regarding so many country's governments bailing out their financial institutions. Just this morning George Bush and his posse notified the media that they're considering buying up stakes in U.S. banks to "help" them recover from financial turmoil.

Our country has never wanted this much government involvement in private or publicly traded businesses, yet due to the reckless actions of many CEOs government action seems unavoidable. As a matter of fact, a move along these lines is so UN-American that it's almost as if we're witnessing one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the United States of America.

I have mixed emotions about this. I studied Economics and I know that in theory Socialism is a much better economic model than Capitalism. However, when in history has a Socialist structure/Country ever turned out for the better? I know that right now China is thriving, but it hasn't always been that way and China politically is still a very unstable country.

I guess the upside to all of this is that if the banks want to buy the shares back from the government they can, essentially removing them from the equation. However, I can't help but wonder if the government, after buying a stake in these companies, will prance their holier than thou "gurus" into the Board Room and expect their voices to be louder and their opinions to be final.

"Viva Mother America!"