Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Actual left/right wing discussion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: koan who wrote (9068)	12/15/2010 9:59:45 PM
From: Jacques Chitte	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10087

I cannot contradict a thing that you say, and I am not inclined to do so. I am aware that corruption is a way of life at the top. However, the smart parasites leave no actionable traces. That's why I ask about making and breaking laws. There's a paper trail. THAT's something I can discuss without being overwhelmed by the shadowy vagueness of it all. <edit> But is that any call to be calling me mixed up andor a babe in the woods? Even if it's correct, it's rude. I request and recommend more civility between you and me.

To: koan who wrote (9068)	12/16/2010 12:31:07 AM
From: Oeconomicus	3 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10087

You terribly miscomprehend your preferred political-economic system if you think the corporate/political deal-making, favoritism, and outright corruption you are so worked up over now would be less under so-called democratic socialism. It would almost certainly be more. Socialism of any stripe calls for centralized direction of the economy, differing only in degree of intervention and the political authority over it. Whether party apparatchiks, government technocrats, or elected representatives are making the decisions, favoritism and corruption will win out. It's the nature of power, especially economic power. The more concentrated and centralized is the economic power and decision-making, the greater the favoritism and corrpution. And where is there greater centralization and concentration of economic power than in a socialist system? Business (or at least big business) and government are one. Business combined with the coercive power of government. Political power perpetuating and strengthening itself by directing economic activity. Do you really not realize that the things you fear from private enterprise, as described in the post to which I am replying, are many times worse in the kind of system you want? The only economic system compatible with individual liberty is the market system, where economic decision-making is decentralized. Where it is in the hands of the consumers and the producing firms, subject only to the rule of law, and to regulations and interventions limited to enforcing the law and addressing legitimate market failures. Where exchange between buyer and seller is purely voluntary. Where neither party holds coercive power over the other. If you fear concentrated economic power, my misguided friend, then the system you want is the market, not any kind of socialism. Oh, and BTW, you didn't answer the question. You were asked to cite "a single illiberal law passed at the behest of the oil companies". You didn't do that. You simply launched a tirade against big, greedy, evil oil companies and banks. No debate points for you.