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

[Paul Cory <pwcory AT mindspring.com>]

> Right on.  So Paul, in the mix, which is more preferred in your mind?
> Capitalism or Socialism?

The two need to be balanced. Neither capitalism nor socialism, in their 
pure forms, works well. However, a blend of the two, such as exists in 
America, seems to work really well.

Right now, I feel the balance has shifted too far towards the 
capitalism end of the spectrum, with deleterious results for the 
country. We can safely  slide the balance point back towards the 
socialism end of the scale without ruining the economy or crushing 
entrepreneurs.

Obviously, it would be possible to go too far in the direction of 
socialism - in which case I'd be campaigning for moving the balance 
point towards capitalism.

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 1:45 AM
> > To: Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> > Subject: Re: [internetworkers] from the desk of Arianna Huffington
> >
> > > 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
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ---
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