- Capitalism and Alternatives -

That's fine in theory not reality though

Posted by: Lark on September 27, 1999 at 01:45:27:

In Reply to: I do not think it is the job of the state to regulate buisness posted by DonS on July 23, 1999 at 12:17:00:

: Don: The type of state I prefer is a republic where the power is strictly limited by a Constitution.

Or better still a republic where individual power, whether it is Machavellian profiteers or politicians, is regulated by activist democracy and popular politics.

: Don: Capitalism isn't a "state". It's an economic system. In capitalism, you do have a say, because you are a consumer. Further, since each company that produces is relatively small, it poses little threat to us.

That's fine in theory not reality though.

If the powers of business dont differ at all from the powers of state how are they any different? If I have a blackshirted "public servant" policing me one minute and a blueshirted "private agency" policing me the next I'm still policed. Economics is rationalism, unfortunately human drives etc. aren't necessarily rational.

: Don: It's not a state. Further, it is not controlled by corporate leaders, but by the collective mass of consumers. It is democratic way beyond what socialism could ever be . . .

How isnt it a state? I cant recall the last time I voted in my work place can you? I'm not just a frustrated consumer I'm a frustrated producer too.

:
: : It beats me that people think you can do away with an elected state and yet leave the global corporate world untouched; and that large corporations will somehow start behaving ethically in the absence of regulation. I'm not greatly fond of the state; but I'm far less fond of the corporate state...

: Don: I'm not convinced we should eliminate the state. I believe in a republican state of limited power. I do not think it is the job of the state to regulate buisness, except for things like interstate commerce, and even this regulation should be minimal. The true regulation of buisness should be the market, which consists of all of us making our decisions as consumers.




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