At 9:23 AM -0700 on 7/14/99, Rob Cozens wrote:
>I was going to wait for the new list; but got a thought in my head that
>wants to get out:
>
>>>The village had supported itself for centuries by fishing and trading.
>>
>>Sounds sort of like capitalism (or was it true laissez-faire?).
>
>I don't think much capital is involved in such economies: it's more labor
>intensive. It could have been closer to the latter; but see below
Capital can be fishing poles. But I'd agree it was probably a small
economy. (BTW: by laissez-faire I meant laissez-faire capitalism)
>
>>>Here, fellow Americans, is your tax dollar at work...and the dark side of
>>>altruism.
>>
>>Hmmm... which side are you on?
>
>I try to see the +s and -s in both; but underlying everything else I would
>say human beings predate (and created) concepts of wealth & capitalism and
>thus individuals and societies should not be subservient to wealth &
>capitalism.
>
>Back to our happy campers on Guam (or wherever):
>
>Suppose that instead of government aid our villagers were receiving monthly
>royalty checks from Exxon for offshore drilling rights.
>
>Would it make a difference that the $ came from capitalism instead of
>socialism?
Yes, had it been done right. Idealy, some one owned the oil fields and
either rents or sells them to Exxon. You would not have an entire island on
welfare.
The problem was the socialism on their side, caused by the socialism on our
side. Since a government gave the money, it naturally went to their
government. Which then went to socialism -- where else could it go? (OK, to
a dictator's army, but...)
>
>If the villagers were laissez-faire capitalists they would have invested
>their $ in a new enterprise. Since they didn't, I suspect (a) their
>culture did not stress economic goals or the role of capital in an economy,
>or (b) a TV set, refrigerator, and monthly check (whether provided by
>capitalism or socialism) are all some people need to be happy.
Or they decided to all become welfare-dependant, much like welfare
victi--recipients do here.
I assert that had the property been leased or sold, it would of (at worst)
made a few rich islanders, largely uneffecting the others or at best the
rich islanders would of created industry.
