But the state didn't control them?

I'm just asking the question. You are the first person to bring up that they dictated wages. Yes. That certainly limits spending. That the question I asked.

Good or evil is a totally different question.

What about that battleship we need? Do you dictate the cost of steel as well as labor?

Why not buy two? Wouldn't you rather make 10 marks an hour building a ship instead of 1 mark an hour as a cashier?