So what? I was making a point on economic philosophies.

Both of those nations are currently struggling with a long climb out of totalitarianism and collectivist economics. Adopting a philosophy that progress is not made by funneling a nation's productivity to the State can only help. The end of this story hasn't been written yet, and both countries are still a long way from being free capitalist nations.

I imagine that telling someone in 1946 that Japan would someday be an economic powerhouse would have gotten a skeptical response.

If you want a more valid example, study the history of taxation and government interference with the economy in Hong Kong (pre-China).