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  #31  
Old 08-03-2020, 10:53 PM
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It worth recalling this story as 45's minions rush to cancel all the regulations they can.
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  #32  
Old 08-28-2020, 12:01 PM
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People with too much unchecked power always use it corruptly. This means they act selfishly, and pay no heed if their actions are destructive to others. This applies to capitalists, who wield tremendous and generally decisive power in our society. Capitalists control government through their power to invest or to not invest, to open or close workplaces, to expand economic activity or contract it. They in general get the laws they want and veto the ones they don't. It takes exceptional public pressure or necessity to overcome the structural power of capitalists. You weren't taught this in civics class, were you?

The problem is that other institutions with too much unchecked power likewise tend to behave badly. The police are a current example but government in general can go this route. The historic problem has been that a government with enough power to break the grip of the capitalists has become totalitarian and oppressive itself. The need is to balance the powers so each can check the other, so none becomes corrupt.
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Last edited by donquixote99; 08-28-2020 at 12:05 PM.
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  #33  
Old 08-28-2020, 12:41 PM
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What you're basically describing has been part of the human condition since the beginning.
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  #34  
Old 08-28-2020, 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by nailer View Post
What you're basically describing has been part of the human condition since the beginning.
In a sense. But 'the human condition' in practice hasn't been all one thing. Some conditions have been a lot better than others. So it's useful to try to figure out what can better the lot of the most people.
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  #35  
Old 08-28-2020, 01:49 PM
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Liberal Western Democracy has generated our best condition to date and capitalism is a prime component.
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  #36  
Old 08-28-2020, 03:57 PM
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Liberal Western Democracy has generated our best condition to date and capitalism is a prime component.
Would never say different. Recall that I am arguing for checks on capitalism, not for its abolition.* but I'd say you are again using a big abstract term to paper over the real issues. "Liberal Western democracy" varies lot at different places and times. These days the US is coming in about last among the liberal Western democracies, in a lot of measures. I think our system needs a major refurb and repair job.

* this, BTW, means I'm not a soci alist.
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  #37  
Old 08-28-2020, 04:55 PM
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About last: saw a thing today rating countries on some combination of things adding up to 'best place to raise a kid.' US came in at #34.
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