I feel compelled to comment on the Hans & David show:
David Johnston:
>> You keep saying that, but how does it work? Start with the basic building
>> blocks, show me how they hang together and why it works fundamentally
>> differently from a garden variety capitalist society.
>Are you beginning to see the difference? In a market economy a government
>entity external to the marketplace provides the framework of principles
>which govern the nature of interactions in the marketplace. In a feudal
>technocracy these principles will be provided by the feudal agreements.
After reading much of your post, I think I am finally coming
understand your point of view -- not necessarily agree with it, but at
least understand it. The question arises: what is the difference
between your view of "feudal technocracy" and laissez-faire
capitalism, or libertarianism? If the government concerns itself
merely with external defense and preventing violent crime, and leaves
economic interactions to "market forces", how does that differ from
your picture of a "feudal technocracy"?
>Now let's talk about economic might. The entire Mexican economy
>is about 5% of the US economy. Where would Mexican industry be in
>the face of US industry if there were not an external government
>entity (the Mexican government) trying to protect it and another
>external government entity (the US government) making some effort to
>see that US industry respect the will of the Mexican government?
Probably in much better shape. Mexico's "formerly" socialist
habits of nationalizing industries and "protecting" the hell out of
them with tariffs, etc. guaranteed inefficient, ineffective national
industries unable to compete against an efficient free-market economy.
With the opening up of Mexico, we are seeing more efficient,
competitive Mexican companies going into partnership with U.S.
companies and/or competing with them.
>The entire European Union economy is about 120% of the US economy
>but it is highly fractured when compared to US industry. The only
>thing protecting European industry from being diced up and swallowed
>by US industry is the intervention once again of external government
>entities on both sides of the Atlantic (this is, in fact, a major
>motivation behind the whole idea of the European Union) and these
>powers enjoy roughly the same level of technological capability.
I hate to burst your soap bubble, but the main thing keeping the
EU economy from dominating the world is the "intervention once again
of external government entities on both sides of the Atlantic". The
socialist, interventionist policies of most European nations has
hobbled and crippled their economies to the point where most of these
economies are on the edge of collapse from spiraling budget deficits
and skyrocketing unemployment, all directly traceable to socialist
"tax the producers until they can't produce anymore and throw revenues
down a fiscal black hole" policies.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the best way to make an
economy boom, and improve the standard of living for all is to provide
the basic legal foundations for entrepreneurship to flourish (i.e.,
establish and respect property rights), and then get the government
the hell out of the way! Government intervention beyond protecting
property rights just gums up the works. The U.S. is productive IN
SPITE of the U.S. Government; German corporations are productive in
spite of the German government, and in spite of the European Union.
Excuse me for getting up on the soapbox, but I can't stand to see
outright misinformation spread about without some attempt at
correction.
From: "Glenn M. Goffin" [email removed]
>Having advanced from feudalism to capitalism, can we have a feudal
>structure again?
It would be difficult at high-population levels, because feudalism
depends on the responsibilties of each individual to each other
individual, going up and down the ladder. OTOH, many idealists have
postulated that in an enlightened society, the only "government" would
be that of each individual willingly carrying out his/her/its
responsiblities and obligations to other individuals above and below
him, a la feudalism. I expect that a true Libertarian society would
appear feudal with class mobility.
As for the concept that societies inevitably go from tribalism ->
feudalism -> capitalism -> communism, (if that's what you're referring
to) hasn't Marx been discredited yet?!? :-)