Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970119074146.00843320@ilhawaii.net> Date: Sun, 19 Jan 1997 07:41:48 -1000 From: Jay Hanson <mailto:jhanson@ILHAWAII.NET> Subject: Re: Capitalism: Personal Conclusion To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
At 09:57 AM 1/19/97 +0000, Reinaldo Vicini wrote:>3. Theorists do not make an economic system. Adam Smith and David
>Ricardo DID NOT invent Capitalism, they just studied it. Massive
>behaviours of individuals define a system. Then, isn't what we have
>the result of a natural behaviour of most individuals? It is correct
>that it needs lots of regulation because some people tend to disgrace
>others. Period
You are absolutely correct.
In order to survive we must convert from a competitive system under freedom, to a cooperative system under worldwide authority. Freedom and cooperation are not compatible because any one member of a cooperating group of bipeds can force the necessity for power on the rest of the group -- that is the lesson of the Parable of the Tribes:
"The new human freedom made striving for expansion and power possible. Such freedom, when multiplied, creates anarchy. The anarchy among civilized societies meant that the play of power in the system was uncontrollable. In an anarchic situation like that, no one can choose that the struggle for power shall cease. But there is one more element in the picture: no one is free to choose peace, but anyone can impose upon all the necessity for power. This is the lesson of the parable of the tribes." [p. 21, Schmookler, 1995]
It follows that a cooperative (non-exploitive) community can only be sustained under authoritarian government. Thus, the inevitable shift to authoritarian government that will occur not long after global oil production peaks, will be our first and last chance to create a humane worldwide civilization.
Jay