Date: Thu, 23 Jan 97 2:30:47 EST From: boddhisatva <kbevans-AT-panix.com> Subject: Re: M-I: Market Socialism Mr. Henwood, In fact, commodity prices DO reflect economic fundamentals - LOCAL fundamentals. If Quaker Oats needs a massive shipment of corn twom months >from now, it makes sense to buy like hell if a the few counties in Iowa that will be producing a large amount of the corn scheduled to harvested two months hence get hit by drought. It makes sense for those drought stricken farmers to hedge against a poor crop. It makes sense for a cattle rancher to hedge against an anticipated hedge, and so forth. They do these things because they CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE. Unless you can figure out how those workers who depend on the above-mentioned capitals can afford to sit on their hands, why they should take that risk, or why they SHOUDN'T be the ones to make the decision and take the risk as they see fit, you can't justify a planned economy. Hindsight is no justification for a system of government. peace --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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