Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
I am hardly a fundamentalist; especially when as an anarchist I have been arguing for simple socialism, regardless of which socialism it is, in this argument.
What you say about capitalism and complete market capitalism and mixed economy might look like you have a point. Here' I mean to this part:
"We're not using capitalism in the totally unregulated sense, and thus, Jillian's argument: capitalism is only saved by socialism, thus a mixed economy is a bad idea is totally irrelevant."
But I still fail to see why you point out to a society that stops exploitation by limiting capitalism (i.e. mixed economy) as a reason to keep capitalism. What redeeming factor does capitalism have that makes you not want more socialism and less capitalism? Why not bring back things like radical trade unionism which was responsible for the adoption of the eight-hour workday and basic safety standards on the workplace, and whose destruction marked increasingly lower wages from 1919 to 1939, culminating in the depression?
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I was not aware you were arguing only for socialism, regardless, if equating a simple theory on distribution of wealth with amorality isn't an example of fundamentalist thought, I don't know what is. It's kinda like when PETA members tell me that they believe meat is murder but it's okay if I eat meat: It's just neutered fundamentalism.
As I said previously, there are a number of benefits that properly controlled capitalism has for society. Healthy competition encourages exceptionalism and innovation by offering a reward for those who contribute more to society. If everyone recieves the same compensation for their work, regardless of it's quality or impact, there is far less incentive to strive for greatness and more to be content with mediocrity. Capitalism also provides a more organic way of deciding which contributions are more important. Does this always work in theory? No, of course not, as Gothicus already pointed out. That's why finding a healthy balance between capitalist and socialist economic theory is important: too much socialism and freedom and innovation are stifled, too much capitalism and the strong gain enough power to stifle the weak regardless of their work/potential.
As for trade unions, I must confess I am largely ignorant on them, but I find the basic theory to be agreeable to me.