Capitalist xenophobes: a contradiction

[thedr9wningman]

From what I learned from classical (myopic, simplistic, Smithian) economics, the whole point of capitalism is that it makes the three attributes of building wealth fungible (tradeable).  This doesn't mean everything is equal, but if you need something, you should be able to get it.  What it doesn't consider is non-economic factors, such as human

Comments

[dog_on_the_moon]

I think you are spot on here in identifying some of the irksome features of US capitalism

[thedr9wningman]

I would like to advocate a form of guided economy, meaning more government supervision in banking, manufacturing and new technology, but I have difficulty deciding who would be responsible for such supervision. I would have no confidence in such things being left to politicians.

Agreed on both accounts. Governance is a difficult thing. Today I was at a community meeting and I was talking with people involved in politics. I learned that our representatives are paid about 20,000$ in this state. That creates a system whereby you have to be independently wealthy in order to be a representative, because that is not a living wage. That's poverty. There's practically no point. So, we have a system geared to a monarchic plutocracy. It is maddening.

So, no wonder the politicians chase dollars and use power to do so. If they lived off of what they were paid, they'd starve.

[winterr]

Politicians in this state also only meet something like twice a year? Right?

If I recall correctly, most usually have a real job somewhere, so that the $20,000 isn't what they live off (I'm referring to State of Oregon politicians, not federal).

[thedr9wningman]

Yes, it is a part time job. But getting re-elected is costly, much more so than the 20k$. So it creates a system whereby money must come from non-state income sources.

[winterr]

Several things actually