Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Tony Spencer" <tony AT tonyspencer.com>]

"Therefore, capitalism does not naturally  concentrate wealth and power into
the hands of the few."

What?!  You are crazy.  My premise is simple.  Name me one nation that has a
greater percentage of its population living better than the US.

After your rant you conclude "your second premise, that America is a
capitalist economy, is not true."
So we are a socialistic economy?  I'd better close shop tomorrow.  :o


T O N Y  S P E N C E R
Notsleepy LLC
6512 Six Forks Rd.
Suite 502-B 
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919.848.0691
Mobile: 415.637.6481
tony AT tonyspencer.com 

  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org 
> [mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf 
> Of Paul Cory
> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 1:23 AM
> To: Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> Subject: Re: [internetworkers] from the desk of Arianna Huffington
> 
> 
> > My argument is not at all flawed.  I very simply state that 
> we are a 
> > capitalistic society and we have a greater percentage of 
> our society 
> > living outside of the realm of poverty.
> 
> Not exactly. You stated that in an attempt to discredit the 
> statement that "Capitalism, by it's very nature, concentrates 
> wealth and power into the hands of a very few, and those few 
> are loathe to give it up."
> 
> Your argument then, was:
> 
> America has a great percentage of its population living 
> comfortably; America is capitalist economy; Therefore, 
> capitalism does not naturally  concentrate wealth and power 
> into the hands of the few.
> 
> And, in reply, I pointed out we don't live in a purely 
> capitalistic economy. Our society, through government, 
> actively works to ameliorate capitalism's tendency to 
> concentrate wealth and power. This produces a mixed economy.
> 
> Thus, you cannot use America's general prosperity to undercut 
> the statement that capitalism concentrates wealth and power 
> because your second premise, that America is a capitalist 
> economy, is not true.
> 
> Which brings me back to: your argument is flawed.
> 
> Unless, of course, you meant to imply a different argument. :-)
> 
> Paul
> 
> >
> >
> >
> > T O N Y  S P E N C E R
> > Notsleepy LLC
> > 6512 Six Forks Rd.
> > Suite 502-B
> > Raleigh, NC 27615
> > Phone: 919.848.0691
> > Mobile: 415.637.6481
> > tony AT tonyspencer.com
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
> >> [mailto:internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On 
> Behalf Of Paul 
> >> Cory
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 12:52 AM
> >> To: Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> >> Subject: Re: [internetworkers] from the desk of Arianna Huffington
> >>
> >>>> "Capitalism, by it's very nature, concentrates wealth and
> >> power into
> >>>> the hands of a very few, and those few are loathe to give it up."
> >>>>
> >>> I'm dumbfounded by this statement.  Name one nation in this
> >> world that
> >>> has a greater percentage of its population >living< more
> >> comfortably
> >>> than American's do.
> >>
> >> Your argument is flawed, because America doesn't practice "pure"
> >> capitalism. In this country, capitalism's tendency to concentrate 
> >> wealth and power has been reigned in by government action: 
> labor laws 
> >> (minimum wage, overtime pay, collective bargaining 
> rights), antitrust 
> >> laws, regulation of monopolies (such as power companies), estate 
> >> taxes, and a progressive tax code that, combined with a welfare 
> >> system for the poor and elderly, redistributes wealth from 
> the rich 
> >> to the less fortunate.
> >>
> >> Please also note that over the past 24 years, as the 
> Republicans have 
> >> gained ascendancy, they have greatly weakened government 
> efforts in 
> >> all the above areas.
> >> Predictably, over the same period of time, wealth in this 
> country has 
> >> become more greatly concentrated.
> >>
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> ---
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> >>
> >>
> >
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