[MD] Where have all the values gone?

[David M]

Hi Platt

> I think your premise that there's only so much of basic commodities to go
> around can be challenged. History proves that the zero sum game concept is
> a
> fallacy. Our economy continues to grow as it has for the past 200 years,
> raising the standard of living for everyone.


DM: Yes it is a world of plenty. Yes productive powers will still grow,
but I suspect we have been through the big push and things will
be slower to evolve from now on. History is not always a good teacher
because there is DQ as well as SQ in its workings. And most things
have their day, they start, have a high point, then a plateau or end point.
If I am right then we may need to solve our social problems by more 
equality,
probably not total equality.

> Profits are needed to invest in improvements, pay for government programs,
> and save for a rainy day.

DM:  No, if we had not for profit companies the full salary could be paid
to individuals and they could then choose how to invest it for even more
DQ. Tax is for Govn stuff not profits. We should admit how much we tax
staff by not pretending some of their work is profits which are then taxed.

> Freedom to do with your money as you see fit is entirely moral in my
> opinion
> as compared to the alternative of somebody else deciding how to spend your
> money for you.

DM: When you die you can no longer own money. Why should your children
have it. Maybe you should have to spend it all before you die instead. Else
it is just burnt with your body.

>
> I think it's more moral to permit people to spend their time as they
> desire
>  rather than making them do what they may not want to do. So long as you
> are  free to pursue what you think best there's no moral reason not to
> extend that same freedom to others.

DM: That's what I am saying! We only have to work so much because stuff
costs so much because someone is adding unnecessary profits to the price!


>
> Finally, I can think of no other economic system that has provided as much
> leisure time to the citizenery than free market capitalism.
>

DM: True, yet we could have more now if we ditch profits!


> We all have ideas about how to make the world a better place. The question
> we have to answer is "At what cost?" Morally, the loss of individual
> freedom
> is the least desirable of all costs.

DM: I believe that too above all else, I could not desire freedom more
if I tried, but I see benefits and no cost to my ideas.