>Would you be happier if capitalism had never existed?
There you go Anthony, right to the heart of the question again.
If we limit our discussion to the present physical reality I can't say,
because it does exist. I will say this:
* I don't accept a priori that the life of a modern day capitalist on Wall
Street is happier, healthier, or of higher quality in toto than the life of
an aboriginal person isolated from modern technology (if there are still
any).
* I see a great disparity between the theory and practice of capitalism,
and feel any discussion must differentiate between the theory of laissez
faire capitalism (do you know of an example anywhere on the planet) and
capitalism as implemented by human society. To really understand your
position I would need to know whether your concept of laissez faire
capitalism allows:
Government taxes on business?
Government subsidies of business?
Businesses employing people to influence legislation?
Government tariffs on imports or exports?
Businesses conspiring to divide territories and fix prices?
Businesses selling at a loss to drive competitors out of business?
Businesses threating suppliers who do business with competitors?
Unchecked business consumption of irreplacable natural resources?
Unchecked dumping of industrial wastes into water, pits, or the atmosphere?
The rights of workers to organize and bargain as a unit?
Businesses engaging in hazardous activities without regard to, or
responsibility for, the welfare of their employees?
Businesses issuing false advertising or promoting fraud?
Businesses selling products they know to have safety or health risks?
Government bailouts of business?
Corporate buyouts (a la Cannon Industries) that bankrupt pension plans and
leave hundreds of former employees without the benefits they paid for?
* It seems to me no one sat around thinking of ways to regulate business
until businessmen acted so irresponsibly it became evident to society that
allowing business to operate unchecked was not in the best overall
interest--exactly the opposite of what Adam Smith promised.
* Which leads me to my final point: Isn't the primary argument for
capitalism, "everyone will be better off", rooted in altruism? Adam Smith
said "you should all laissez my faire, because things will be better for
everyone", not "you should all laissez my faire, because things will be
better for Adam Smith".
Rob Cozens, CCW
http://www.serendipitysoftware.com/who.html
"And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee."
from "The Triple Foole" by John Donne (1572-1631)
