[MD] socialism

[Platt Holden]

On Sat, Jun 5, 2010 at 11:15 AM, Mary <marysonthego at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Platt,
>
>
> > [Platt previously}
> > > One of the best of Pirsig's metaphors is the "Giant" who represents
> > the
> > > "system" that treats individuals like fodder for its own purposes. No
> > need
> > > to
> > > elaborate here since the nature of the Giant is fully described in
> > Lila.
> > > But,
> > > it's out-of-anyone's-control presence stands as a constant threat to
> > all
> > > who
> > > value individual liberty. On that, I think we agree.
> >
> [Mary Replies]
> Democracy protects individual liberty, but what protects Democracy from
> itself?  Without protection, Democracy rapidly devolves into a state
> controlled by those with the most money to influence it.  This is
> effectively equivalent to a "corporate dictatorship".  How different is
> that
> from a "communist dictatorship"?
>

Hi Mary,

Surely you see the difference between the power of corporations to
influence
a government and the power of a government to murder those who oppose it.

>
> Hardly anyone builds a huge corporation by being thoughtful of others, and
> none are elected to hold their wealth by democratic vote.  Yet today, the
> amount of power wielded by corporate interests over our own government is
> turning our nation into a corporate rights state at the expense of the
> individual.
>
> Hardly anyone can build a huge corporation without providing products or
services people want by voting in the marketplace. A corporation's "wealth"
is usually held by stockholders who risk their savings in the hopes of
individual gain.


> I do not believe we fought a war of independence to ensure corporate rights
> or oppressive governmental control.  One is just as bad as the other, and
> are only different sides of the same tarnished coin.  Corporations and
> governments are not people.  Only people can or should be granted rights,
> and no entity should be granted unfair advantage by virtue of wealth.  To
> believe otherwise is to tread on shaky ground.  Freedom of religion sets
> the
> precedent and the principle should not stop there.
>

Corporations are far from being as "bad" as governments since they
do not have the legal power to attain their ends by force. I thank God every
day
for corporations who furnish me and my family with a quality of life only
dreamed
of in most countries. Just look at your surroundings as you read this and
count
the benefits you enjoy provided by corporations, including your computer on
which these words appear.


> The "Giant" is a two-headed hydra.
>
>
The "Giant" has as many tentacles as there special interest groups,.
each seeking government favors. The fundamental power of the Giant is
drawn from the power of government to coerce behavior at the point of a gun.


>
>
Best,
Platt