Unlike many of the members of this list, I am inclined to agree with Paul.
There's too many instances of monopoly power in the history of
commerce/capitalism, to believe that the thing would be all roses if we just
left it to it's own devices. Monopoly power is the commercial equivalent of
feudal overlord domination (bwa ha ha!).
I'm still interested in dynamism as a concept, I just think the free market
is not the optimal dynamic system to choose, especially if you are
interested in the welfare of the individual. I've talked previously (and
rather naively, but hey) about an alternative system of participartory
democracy "on steroids", using that to replace the normal concept of
exclusive ownership, to which I would attribute most of the really bad
points about capitalism.
I'm really interested to hear what other people can come up with by way of
dynamical social systems which are not free-market based, or at least don't
rely on the free market as their major mechanism. Paul, I invite you to
start. You're not so hot on uber-capitalism, so what's your alternative?
Emlyn
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Hughes" <paul@planetp.cc>
To: "Extropians Mailing List" <extropians@extropy.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 8:37 AM
Subject: Bugs in Anarchy was: Bugs in Free-Markets.
> I challenge anyone on this list to demonstrate how
> free-markets can exist without a feudalist tyranny
> resulting. Demonstrate how such a system will not favor
> the rich over poor when it comes to basic civil rights and
> justice. If you can't, then you should stop complaining
> when people call you fascists or at best platocracists.
> Sure companies are there to meet the demands of the consumer
> and stockholders, but that just goes to show you that he
> with the most money - rich consumer, rich stockholder makes
> all the rules. Who is there to protect the little guy? If
> you don't give a damn about the little guy, then I rest my
> case.
>
>
> Paul Hughes
> http://planetp.cc/
>
>
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