As a counter-point to Billy's explanation of the center, let me present the
*other* extreme, using negative numbers. We can call it the "Green" viewpoint,
though I confess I'm not really an expert in that area, and I fear we don't
have any sympathizers to keep me honest.
On Nov 29, 2011, at 4:50 PM, Dr. Ernie Prabhakar wrote:
> 1. Market failures are natural and self-correcting. Governance failures are
> artificial and structural because they stem from government being too big.
-1. Governance failures in a democracy are natural and self-limiting. Market
failures are destructive to society because there's no accountability.
> Corollary: Market inefficiency is minor and tolerable. Government
> inefficiency is massive and intolerable.
Corollary 2: Most market failures are due to distortion by the
government (new)
Corollary -2: Most governance failures are due to distortion by corprorations
> 2. Governance at the state level operates on a completely different set of
> rules than corporations and civil society, because i) membership is
> involuntary, and ii) the state has a monopoly on legitimate physical coercion
-2. Large corporations operate on different set of rules than local businesses,
because they are concerned with pure profit rather than human relationships.
> 3. All the societal problems that were historically solved by government
> intervention (e.g., slavery, child labor, elder poverty, racial segregation)
> were either i) caused by government intervention in the first place, or ii)
> would have eventually been solved by market forces anyway.
-3. Corporations inherently act in their own short-term self interest, and
never produce societal value unless forced to by outsiders
> 4. When the market gives us crap, it is our fault. When the government gives
> us crap, it is because of design flaws.
-4. When the market gives us crap, it is because of corporate conspiracy. When
the government gives us crap, it is because we weren't taking responsibility.
> 5. Governments which support a strong volunteer military for defensive
> purposes, and strong legal protection of property rights and contracts, but
> few others services, are inherently stable.
-5. Governments that place on premium on ensuring a stable and equitable civil
society will have the most sustainable economic progress.
> 6. Enlightened businesses want no public investment in any "commons" so as to
> maximize the scope for private enterprise.
-6. Enlightened governments should regulate businesses to ensure they always
act in the public good
> 7. The collapse of our present social structures would be a good thing,
> because the principle of spontaneous order ensures that a superior society
> would soon replace it.
-7. The collapse of our profit-driven capitalist economy would be a good thing,
as it would force people to produce goods locally in a more sustainable manner
> 8. The U.S. Constitution reflects a Libertarian view of the role of
> government, because the Federalists largely shared most key Libertarian
> beliefs.
-8. The U.S. Constitution was inspired by the Founders belief that a strong
federal government is essential for protecting citizens' rights.
> 9. There is abundant evidence supporting the Libertarian viewpoint. There
> is virtually no evidence contradicting it.
-9. There is abundant evidence supporting the Green viewpoint. There is
virtually no evidence contradicting it.
>
> 10. Human beings can be trusted to act rationally when incentives are not
> distorted by government intervention.
-10. Human beings can be trusted to act rationally when incentives are not
distorted by manipulative markets.
> My hope is that if we can at least agree about where we disagree, we might
> actually make some forward progress.
Apart from the amusement value, most arguments I've seen defend one set of
beliefs by claiming they are more sensible than the other extreme. Personally,
I think both have a some truth, but are largely BS.
-- Ernie P.
--
Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community
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