At 11:55 PM 17/07/2001 -0700, Lee Corbin wrote:
>This "rule" is a misnomer to the extent that companies offer people
>free choices whether to buy their products or not.
Have seen the movie "Rollerball", Lee?
How likely is it that a few mega-corporations will offer anybody free
choice when they can carve up the world into non-competing groups? We are
already racing headlong toward that arrangement now. Already when several
companies dominate a field they often don't really compete -- they politely
agree upon what they think they can get and fix the prices. How much less
likely do you think it will be when governments can no longer break up
monopolies or unhealthy concentrations of power? Do you think the simple
system of a free market offers any solution to consolidation of power into
fewer and fewer hands?
Capitalism is great as far as it goes, but it has that same failing that
most other systems have: all the power ends up in a few hands. Those hands
can be benevolent or malevolent. If anybody can tell me a way out of that I
am all ears.
>the more [societies] are under centralized control---the worse they are.
Yes, this is exactly my point.
I will repeat my standard disclaimer: I am not anti-capitalist. I am just
against the use of it as a replacement religion. Religions of any color are
unhealthy.
I actually might desist from chatting on this thread much anymore. It makes
me look like a pessimist. In actual fact, I really do think we will find a
solution (I have a feeling it is in the open-source movement somehow). Also
I feel like it is a bit like arguing with religious believers, with my
point being continually missed. It is really not that big a point that I
should take up this much time... all I wanted to do was just to sound a
note of caution.
And I have got no work done. :-(
I have to work so I can realise my own capitalist aims. :-)
Cheers,
- Miriam
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Q. What is the similarity between an elephant and a grape?
A. They are both purple... except for the elephant.
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http://werple.net.au/~miriam
http://members.optushome.com.au/miriame
Virtual Reality Association http://www.vr.org.au
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