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

[Paul Cory <pwcory AT mindspring.com>]

> 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.
Several folks have already proffered examples of such nations.
> 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

No, I said we are mixed economy. There is a land between pure socialism 
and pure capitalism, and you're living in it.

And that was not a rant, at least not as I understand the term. :-)

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 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
> > > >
> > > > ---
> > > > Come and play at the InterNetWorkers Web site!
> > > > http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
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