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I don't have any problem with a market economy, per se, but I do have a BIG problem with capitalism.

In my preferred version of state socialism, there is no accumulation of capital, and thus no capitalism. All large industries and large-scale services are socialized, owned by the people and managed by the state (or by worker cooperatives, where practical).

In my version of a market economy, people can own and run small companies, hire employees, set prices, make a profit... that's all fine. But they can't buy their competitors and either take them over or put them out of business. They can't open franchises, where they sell (or rent) the right to operate a different company with the same name. They're not allowed to buy their suppliers and create a conglomerate. They aren't permitted to grow so large that the market no longer operates fairly. And every business owner's wealth will be capped with a highly progressive tax structure (which is the price of using the commons to turn a profit).

So, the marketplace as such is not the problem. The problem is capitalism.

@breadandcircuses One would have to wonder how the production of such technologically complex things as f.e. microprocessors, motor vehicles, etc., could (if ever...) function in such a small business model. Specifically, things that require billions of dollars to design and produce.

@miklo

Most new stuff is invented and thought up by state-owned institutions. The lie of capitalism is the suggestion that big corporations are soooo innovative and great. Big corporations take ideas that have been previously researched at universities etc. (which are usually financed by the state) and market them by exploiting everyone along the manufacturing line.
Of course, they have their in-house development too. But more often than not, those development teams only improve existing technology.

Also, he did mention that bigger companies will be socialized. A society can discuss and decide what they want to focus on, if all resources belong to them. They cannot do so, if everything is in private hands.

@breadandcircuses

cloudyc

@TobiWanKenobi @miklo @breadandcircuses Both thought up and fully developed in a lot of cases. Things like the internet and early wireless communications network AlohaNet come readily to mind, but there are an insane number of other examples. The multitouch touchscreen, robotics, barcodes, Google Earth and even Google Search were initially developed using grants from government entities. The CIA even has a "venture capital" firm called In-Q-Tel that draws federal money. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-Q-Tel

en.wikipedia.orgIn-Q-Tel - Wikipedia
Oct 06, 2023, 20:55 · · · Web · 0 · 1