Topic: This is the thread where you discuss free market, americans and libertarianism - page 2. (Read 33901 times)

Profit is an accounting delusion.

In accounting terms 'profit' most likely should be counted as extra costs: it gets tacked onto the reward system (bonus, extra holiday etc.), or added to the safety buffer (to cover seasonal variation etc.), used for company growth, etc.
 
People like profit because of the quick reward. However, profit really means the budgeting was wrong. Somewhere along the line, the costs and gains were miscalculated. Proponents of Capitalism try to entice people by claiming that it's more efficient and profitable compared to other systems, but they always gloss over the social costs -- even total denial of "tragedy of the commons" effects that often enable 'profit' in the first place!

E.g.: Chimneys. They're everywhere. All over the world.
Do all those private enterprises try to calculate the 'costs' of lung cancer rates in their workplace and community from all the toxic materials that get spewed into the air? No. Instead, some Capitalists complain that their taxes are too high, and that they feel oppressed by brutal legislation that forces them to install costly particulate filters that reduce their profit margins. Even though I've never been to China, I heard that their air quality can be quite bad in some places. Maybe their government doesn't care if some of their citizens get slowly poisoned. But what about all the Capitalist companies actually responsible? They don't care either. We were promised that "private security" would fix this sort of thing!

Profit is an accounting delusion.

OK, so, because parents need to teach their children how to communicate in order for those children - once grown - to establish a market, therefore we need a monopoly government. Suuuuure....

Certainly communication is required, but not a State. For instance, take two traders who do not share a language. They can (and have in the past) create a shared language, in order to facilitate trade. No State (or even parents) required.

I am beginning to think AnCap may have long-term eugenic effects, as those who cannot adhere to NAP are slowly weeded out of the gene pool via self-defense.  As to whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, well, don't ask me, I'm just a clever talking monkey.

It seems to me that most who worry about "perverted human nature" are themselves pretty messed up.  I am beginning to think AnCap may have long-term eugenic effects, as those who cannot adhere to NAP are slowly weeded out of the gene pool via self-defense.  As to whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, well, don't ask me, I'm just a clever talking monkey.

And by this logic, after nearly a century of Communist rule, Russians should all have been "fixed," and mutual aid have been the rule, right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Bloc_economies#Black_markets
Oh, maybe not.

So, what "perverted human nature" there? The state enforcing common property?

Human nature was perverted by the state enforcing remote property claims. Mutual Aid is human nature.

Black markets were created that were often supplied by goods stolen from the public sector. A saying in Czechoslovakia was "if you do not steal from the state, you are robbing your own family." This second "parallel economy" flourished throughout the Bloc because of rising unmet state consumer needs. Black and gray markets for foodstuffs, goods, and cash arose. Goods included household goods, medical supplies, clothes, furniture, cosmetics, and toiletries in chronically short supply through official outlets.

So the pilgrimz werent eeevil imperialist proto capitalists?!?!?!?!?

I bet you have a bank account, or pay taxes. Way to pay troll tolls.

So, you want to change human nature, then? Then you're doomed to fail.
We figured that out as early as Plymouth Colony:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rothbard/rothbard130.html
I don't pay trolls to keep trolling me.

Actually, you owe me.

Self interest over total gain- precisely my criticism of the trappings of what amounts to a purely capitalist impulse.

I'm still waiting for my troll toll tip. You had fun, admit it. Pay me!

Self interest over total gain- precisely my criticism of the trappings of what amounts to a purely capitalist impulse.
I'm still waiting for my troll toll tip. You had fun, admit it. Pay me!

Funny... this came up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Funny... this came up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Google "commons" and tell me if you see land or not.