Like when the DOD started work on a way of communications via computer networks that would be reliable in case of attack. I'm pretty sure that wasn't about making money.
There can be no pure form of capitalism or socialism that will work with human beings. However, the lean towards capitalism works better for human beings than socialism because the lean towards socialism only works if the vast majority of the people are homogeneous in culture, thought and ability. In some countries like Finland where the population is virtually homogeneous in most aspects, the lean towards socialism does work, but it assumes that the homogeneous composition will not change over the long run. The core reasons why leaning towards socialism will continue to fail far more than leaning capitalism is because socialism is far less able to handle human faults and less accepting of individual greatness than leaning towards capitalism. As long as capitalism's tendency to move towards oligopoly and monopoly and overlooking of the environment are kept in check, it is a far better match for us imperfect and selfish humans. I compare it to the algorithm in the movie A Beautiful Mind where directed selfishness results in the best allocation of resources and overall benefit to all. Attempts to force equality and government controlled allocation of resources have historically resulted in overall decreased quality of life. When you try to force human beings to be equal, everybody just becomes equally poor.
I'm a firm believer in capitalism, but something has clearly gone wrong in our current system.
The only way capitalism can survive long term is if it creates jobs and opportunities as a byproduct of investors greed and desire to increase their own wealth. Our stock market has become a casino where billions are wagered, won, and lost every day with very little actually being created.
We live in a time when short term gains trump long term growth, even when it's well known that the decisions that create the short term gains will certainly hurt the long term prospects of the company and the country. It's a sickness that seems to have infected every aspect of our society where the only question anyone asks before making a decision is, “can I/we get away with it right now?”
We see it daily from our politicians that support/oppose legislation because it will help/hurt their chances or the other side’s chances to get reelected. Our businesses are run by people who receive quarterly bonuses based on short term performance, even if it means the company is going to be in real trouble 5 quarters later. I don't think we can't go on this way much longer.
Capitalism is a Marxist word? What the f**k are you talking about? Marx borrowed it from Ricardo, and it had been in use for FIVE HUNDRED YEARS before Ricardo wrote about it.
I hate to tell you, but the term "free market" was a deliberate propaganda term introduced mid last century to try to equate market systems with freedom.
That's a pretty interesting analysis, but I don't quite grok your point on homogeneous culture. It shouldn't be necessary for a population to be the same ethnicity or religion to cooperate and share basic values.
He didn't even really offer any solution should could be considered socialism. He basically just pointed out some problems, and said things should be discussed further.
niftygAug 24, 2010Buried
Politics and economics aside, I love the way they animate these.
trevorpaceAug 24, 2010Buried
I would hardly call him a radical sociologist. Seems to me like he was just summing up our current economic system in frank terms.
miffelplixAug 24, 2010Buried
I agree with his definition of the problem, but he offered no solutions.
rentalcanoeAug 24, 2010Buried
Really? You should learn about the history of the Internet.
janineeeAug 24, 2010Buried
You mean liberal economics?
:: waits for conservatives to go ballistic:::
muffcakesAug 24, 2010Buried
These days we call that a 'radical socialist'. (or occasionally a 'radical sociologist')
zaphodbeebAug 24, 2010Buried
Like when the DOD started work on a way of communications via computer networks that would be reliable in case of attack. I'm pretty sure that wasn't about making money.
rentalcanoeAug 24, 2010Buried
Albert Einstein: "Why Socialism?"
http://monthlyreview.org/598einstein.php
sangjmoonAug 24, 2010Buried
There can be no pure form of capitalism or socialism that will work with human beings. However, the lean towards capitalism works better for human beings than socialism because the lean towards socialism only works if the vast majority of the people are homogeneous in culture, thought and ability. In some countries like Finland where the population is virtually homogeneous in most aspects, the lean towards socialism does work, but it assumes that the homogeneous composition will not change over the long run. The core reasons why leaning towards socialism will continue to fail far more than leaning capitalism is because socialism is far less able to handle human faults and less accepting of individual greatness than leaning towards capitalism. As long as capitalism's tendency to move towards oligopoly and monopoly and overlooking of the environment are kept in check, it is a far better match for us imperfect and selfish humans. I compare it to the algorithm in the movie A Beautiful Mind where directed selfishness results in the best allocation of resources and overall benefit to all. Attempts to force equality and government controlled allocation of resources have historically resulted in overall decreased quality of life. When you try to force human beings to be equal, everybody just becomes equally poor.
acknotswAug 24, 2010Buried
I'm a firm believer in capitalism, but something has clearly gone wrong in our current system.
The only way capitalism can survive long term is if it creates jobs and opportunities as a byproduct of investors greed and desire to increase their own wealth. Our stock market has become a casino where billions are wagered, won, and lost every day with very little actually being created.
We live in a time when short term gains trump long term growth, even when it's well known that the decisions that create the short term gains will certainly hurt the long term prospects of the company and the country. It's a sickness that seems to have infected every aspect of our society where the only question anyone asks before making a decision is, “can I/we get away with it right now?”
We see it daily from our politicians that support/oppose legislation because it will help/hurt their chances or the other side’s chances to get reelected. Our businesses are run by people who receive quarterly bonuses based on short term performance, even if it means the company is going to be in real trouble 5 quarters later. I don't think we can't go on this way much longer.
solistusAug 24, 2010Buried
Capitalism is a Marxist word? What the f**k are you talking about? Marx borrowed it from Ricardo, and it had been in use for FIVE HUNDRED YEARS before Ricardo wrote about it.
nygenxerAug 24, 2010Buried
Mirror:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0
quarandoAug 24, 2010Buried
I hate to tell you, but the term "free market" was a deliberate propaganda term introduced mid last century to try to equate market systems with freedom.
jareddennisAug 24, 2010Buried
Hold your fire, officer. Crises is the plural of crisis.
malexAug 24, 2010Buried
That's a pretty interesting analysis, but I don't quite grok your point on homogeneous culture. It shouldn't be necessary for a population to be the same ethnicity or religion to cooperate and share basic values.
treehugger87Aug 24, 2010Buried
http://www.inetdaemon.com/tutorials/internet/history.shtml
"The Internet was begun as a military command and control systems research project..."
vegetablelambAug 24, 2010Buried
if it wasn't for British colonialism, America wouldn't exist. Should we step back and return to our status as a British colony?
herojonAug 24, 2010Buried
Even worse he said the theory is that we've had too much Hayek and need to go back to Keynes. Really? Where was I for Hayekian economics.
evilregisAug 24, 2010Buried
I don't know whether to bury your stupidity or to digg it up to showcase for all to see.
langfordAug 24, 2010Buried
He didn't even really offer any solution should could be considered socialism. He basically just pointed out some problems, and said things should be discussed further.