[MD] Capitalism (redux ad nauseum)

[Robert Robinson]

Stella and Everyone:
   
  I, too don't have time to get bogged down in a foolish debate on a broad subject like this one.
   
  Given a choice of two alternatives, I usually look for a Third as well.
   
  I suppose Capitalism is incompatible with an environmentally sustainable planet.
  When everything is hooked into stockholder happiness and the bottom-line, then important values get trampled.  Has anyone heard of the "tragedy of the commons".
   
  The middle class is disappearing in the USA and CEO's earn 10,000 Times what an average workers earns. A generation ago it was perhaps only a 1000 times or less.  The equity and ethics of this declining situation escapes me.
   
  A dozen or more years ago a man named Paul HAWKEN (Stanford Univ?),  I Believe?? wrote a book: THE ECOLOGY OF COMMERCE on this generally subject; centered on the issue of environmental sustainability and the dismal future we all face if todays hyper capitalism isn't restrained or adjusted somewhat.
   
  Anyone really interested in this subject can check out dozens of good books on the general subject area. The one suggested above is one of the best. But I haven't read it in years and wouldn't have even remembered the title without the aid of the WWW.  But the books Chapters presents manifold very detailed arguments. 
   
  There was even a B Movie, whose title escapes now, released one or two years ago (this September) centered on the subject of... Evils of unaccountable American Corporations, who generally are shielded from any serious liability problems by our system of "Justice". (The producer of the Film Fahrenheit 9-11 was somehow involved with this project as well).
   
  (If Platt ever decides to read this book, I may even agree to enter a short discussion on this subject...if the spirit moves me at the time).
   
  I don't really have much interest in pursuing this subject besides adding this 2 and a half cents worth.
  Robbie

Stella Lindblom <scurvy_elephant at bluebottle.com> wrote:
  Platt is inviting me to clarify my position. But I don't know if it will 
be a dialogue or a duel. I have seen the latter too much in this list, so 
I am reluctant to add anything to start an arguement. What I would be 
interested in, is to deepen the analysis and together with witted minds 
examine this field.

There are several reasons for my reluctance. I will have to debate in a 
foreign language, and I haven't dealt with these questions in English 
before. I don't have all words for it. And if the invitation concerns a 
duel, and not a dialogue, I will surely lose either if I have something of 
value to add or not. Between the lines of the invitation, I find a smirk 
and the anticipation of a showing off of being right. But as I said, 
English isn't my native language, and I may read the signs all wrong.

So, before setting out to give any examples or telling about any 
differences, I would like to know if the interest in my opinion is due to 
sincere intersest in uncovering some deeper insights into the society we 
live in, or if this is just a way to give me the opportunity to dig my own 
grave because I don't happen to agree on capitalism being the best we can 
do.

To foil any attempts of any of you to retort that commie and/or planned 
economies are worse, I will simply say that, "yes, they are". I wouldn't 
like to see that, but in my world there is never just two options. If I 
have to chose from two alternatives, I usually look for a third one.

Sincerely,
Stella

Den 2006-10-20 14:47:21 skrev 
:
> Please give examples of long term risks that the free market "cannot 
> handle."
> I know many free market companies that have been profitable for a hundred
> years or more. Also, please tell us the difference between capitalism 
> and the
> free market. To raise money by issuing stocks and bonds seems a function
> of a free market. But, I could be wrong.
>
> Thanks,
> Platt

My initial opinion:
>> I agree on the free market as being the most morally known way to handle
>> goods, but I wouldn't stretch that so far as to equal free market with
>> capitalism. Either way, both systems have one problem that is highly
>> visible in our world today. They cannot handle long term risks. The only
>> risk they may handle is short term monetary risks, if even that.
>

-- 
Stella Lindblom
Ransby 126
686 97 LYSVIK
0565-803 88 / 070-692 14 82


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