We Need Militant Nationalism

[David Horn]

(07-20-2017, 09:57 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote: I guess one might have to ask what is good and what is bad about capitalism.  A semi free market where prices are mostly determined by supply and demand might be a feature.  Looking at planned communist economies and western attempts at wage price controls doesn’t want me to let go of that.

At the same time, we have a huge division of wealth.  A tendency towards hierarchical pyramids and economy of scale during the Industrial Era is considered problematic by many.  Too few grab the bulk of the wealth and power.  This might not be considered problematic by those who identify with the rich and practice tribal morality, but it is considered a problem by many.  If improved communications and programmed manufacturing can overcome hierarchies and economy of scale, there might possibly be some sort of shift.  If the government tweaks stuff, say, to give advantage to ma and pop owned stores rather than a franchise, one might produce a balanced inclusive economy.

That’s just a beginning.  Developing an inclusive economy in an a stretch of time when automation is reducing the number of jobs is going to take a lot of changes, and a bunch of wealth and power is in the hands of those who profit from the Industrial Age pattern.

We have a very effective way to limit the exploitation of labor/consumers/contractors by powerful economic actors: confiscatory taxation.  Note how unlikely it is that this will be deployed by politicians beholden to the donations provided by the people and corporations they would be taxing so heavily.  The GOP actually wants to make things worse by cutting taxes on the rich and corporations, so this will only be tried in response to a calamity or epic proportions ... a true 4T event. 

I don't see that as the long term solution, but it would change the dialogue away from the one we seem stuck in today.  FWIW, I have yet to see any solution that addresses the rapid economic changes we're facing, but one will have to be found or chaos will eventually ensue.