G'day Max, > I'm not an expert, but I would summarize Smith's theory as the > good social effect resulting from narrow, self-seeking activity. > I defy anyone to find support for that among the old populists > or in Nader's movement.
I agree with the thrust of this, Max. You have to be pretty pure and very lonely to be a proper lefty by some lights. But, I'd argue that Smith reckoned the good social effects would only come if the self-seeking business fraternity were very closely watched by state agencies, else they'd nefariously combine towards bad social effects. I have heard such sentiments from Nader in the past. Now he's saying the state agencies are nefariously combining with the self-seeking businessmen, isn't he? That pretty well matches Jim Devine's recent musings on the state, as I recall. And Jim's plenty left for me. Cheers, Rob.
