Re: Bugs in free markets.

From: QueeneMUSE@aol.com
Date: Sun Sep 03 2000 - 20:15:16 MDT


In a message dated 9/3/2000 5:34:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
weidai@eskimo.com writes:

> Is it evil to take
> advantage of other people, even though they would prefer that you did?

To be honest, sometimes, yes. Although evil is a big word, and highly
subjective.

I would instead suggest the term "opportunistic." Like an infection that
wouldn't occur if the host was not weakened. If I go to you out desperation
and you use that as leverage, you can take advantage of me. This can be my
fault but it can also be can be manipulated in advance, by you, if you have
enough force, or power, so desperation is a manufactured tool used by large
powers against pre-weakened constituencies.

This is the meaning of the old union song "I owe my soul to the company
store".

Use the example of a drug addict who's dealer begins with free samples, then
keeps raising the fix price but gives him credit (if he will steal or pimp
for him). Eventually he "owns" the addict.

Or if I can isolate a person so that I pay his wages and I also control the
price of his living costs, I can always keep him just a little bit behind, so
he can't leave. I can extend credit to him. He would "prefer that I did". Me
too. Otherwise what happenes? His family starves. This of course presupposes
that I am able to hog the market. In olden days small mining towns, for
example, I can make my goods the only goods available by burning down his
buildings or whatever.
Suppose today I'd just need billions of dollars and a politician's ear.

Even simpler, if I just plain say I'll break your legs if you don't let me
take advantage of you, you might say "OK, I'd prefer you to".



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