central planing is not about what consumers should consume, its about what producers should produce... the current system is dictating consumers what to consume.
Producers produce what they think (and try to find out) what consumers want to consume.
The incentive to produce what consumers would desire is so large, that there's a continuous battle for the attention of consumers. No central planning, who couldn't care less about the consumer's desires, can cope with the incentive of producers wanting to satisfy consumers in a new market.
The rule is not authoritarian if you dont make it so, people could vote on priorities
The problem with voting is that it doesn't cost you much. You might vote that you want the moon, and eat it too.
The "put your money where your mouth is" is a much more secure way of voting.
I am not groupie of central planning I just see it as an eventuality... Unless and only unless we break through a new frontier and transcend the limits of earth.
The main problem I see with central planning is that it will always be corrupt, and claim to work for the general good, while serving the interests of the central planners, or their cousins.