File spoon-archives/marxism-intro.archive/marxism-intro_1997/marxism-intro.9706, message 14


From: Shaggy-AT-pseud.pseud
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 1997 23:38:00 +0000
Subject: M-INTRO: (Fwd) Freedom, baby--Yeah!  --Austin Powers




"Whenever the legislature attempts to regulate the differences 
between the masters and their workmen, its counsellors are always the 
masters."  --Adam Smith, 1776


So much is made of the exploitative nature of capitalism in its drive 
for increased efficiency and production.  Please do not get me wrong, 
I think it stinks that my employer is able to skim the cream from the 
value I produce at my job.  Competition makes for winners and losers, 
but as, for example  in the case of the NBA finals, there's often 
another chance to succeed (thank heavens, go Jazz!)  There is a lot 
to be criticized about capitalism as I am seeing you all enjoy 
yourselves doing immensely.  Much of the criticisms are true and 
accurate.  I will just insert here that it is 
precisely the freedom you scorn that allows you to speak so freely of 
the country's ills.    As the token pro-capitalist in this 
class, however, I will make my final, though most likely fruitless 
plea for some of you to consider the horriffic potential of entrusting 
your lives to the likes of politicians i.e., "central planners."  As 
I stated above, one of the hallmarks of capitalism is the drive 
within it to produce, innovate, and move towards efficiency.  I would 
like to present to you, however the way in which capitalism is 
extremely inefficient.  Our leaders.  Think of all of the time, 
money,  and labour-power used in campaigns, debates, communication
between leaders and constituents, etc.  (again, I wish to qualify 
this statement by saying that campaigns are truly out of control)  
Think of the trouble it takes to train and re-train politicians as 
they move in and out of offices.  These inefficient measures are 
taken to protect the citizens of our great country ( gasp, what an extreme 
statement!)  Despite these gratuitously repetitive precautions, we still often get stuck with 
too many liars, cheats, and all-around dispicable characters.  Who 
thinks that were we to change the system to one that is more 
egalitarian, fair, paternalistic,... all those nice things, that 
somehow politicians will no longer be rats?  They will be!  Whats 
more, they will have far more power than they have now!  Why, they 
get to decide when, what, and for whom to produce and how to divide 
it.  I realize that there are hybrid plans to check central planners, 
and slants on socialism that allow market forces in to some degree, 
but risking my family's freedom and future on the off chance that 
"men will be angels"  is not a risk I will ever be willing to take.

"Fundamentally, there are only two ways of coordinating the economic 
activities of millions.  One is central direction involving the use of 
coercion--the technique of the army and of the modern totalitarian 
state.  The other is voluntary cooperation of individuals--the 
technique of the market place. . . Exchange can bring about 
coordination without coercion."  --Milton Friedman

Shaggy



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