The Philosophy of Capitalism > Likes and Comments
Cathal wrote: "Hi Guys,My friends and I from the Financial Times have just finished a pretty tough challenge: The Philosophy of Capitalism.
We gave it our best shot so I hope you like it. It was written by go..."
Cathal,
Quite an accomplishment! A combination of Monbiot, Varoufakis and Piketty with more pronounced shades of apocalypse. I, too, have been an FT reader for many years and composed in my sleep many of those "Mr. Wolf" responses. For many years before 2008 his graphs pointed to the pile of surplus accumulating in Chinese and German banks and to the over-extension of the Global Minotaur's base, but he never drew the conclusion that this really couldn't continue. But what is the conclusion? Yes, collapse seems to be the end toward which global capitalism is heading, but alas, this was Marx's view over 100 years ago and the heart of the beast still keeps thumping. The world's people keep bartering, trucking and trading.
My thoughts on the subject are accumulated here. I will look forward to a more careful reading of your book. Sorry I saw it only today. Thanks for posting the pdf here.
Cheers,
Randal
Randal wrote: "Quite an accomplishment! A combination of Monbiot, Varoufakis and Piketty with more pronounced shades of apocalypse. ..."Cathal,
Having read more of your book, I see that Monbiot and Varoufakis make no appearance at all and that the ideas of Piketty only show up to be derided. I think the bits under your attribution are much more coherent than those of most of your anonymous "FT readers". In a future edition, I would think that their contributions would have to be better organized and that they, themselves, would need to come out of the shadows, lest your book find itself resting in those shadows. I hope that can be done because there is much in the text that is of interest.
Regards,
Randal
Thanks Randal,I still receive submissions. And you're welcome to improve it. I was tempted to write the entire book but I chose not to be egoistic. The book is a very careful dance around the problems of the individual mind. In addition, it is a synthesis so all ideological viewpoints are aired, I tried to keep it well balanced and fair. Some contributions may seem arbitrary but they all highlight at least one feature of the system.
Write me at haughian@hushmail.com
Regards,
Cathal
Cathal wrote: "Thanks Randal,I still receive submissions. And you're welcome to improve it. ..."
Cathal,
I will "have a think on it!"
Cheers,
Randal
I recently read a book that I think a lot of people in this group would enjoy so I'm giving a quick recommendation. Mervyn King's book "The End of Alchemy" is about the financial crisis and what must be done to improve banking and economic policy. It has been getting a lot of praise for it's unique take on reform and would probably be enjoyed by many in this group who feel critical towards some of the attitudes within capitalism. I have literally been stopped on the train coming home from work by people in finance wanting to talk to me about this book so I'm happy its getting an audience. I'm attaching a review by Paul Krugman, who while being somewhat critical, does a really good job of capturing so much of what makes this book a fun and interesting read. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/...
Engels (Frederick) has some very fun observations to make about the concept of 'family' as we obtain it from the Greeks. You may already be very familiar with his notions; (to some extent we very likely all are) but reading them in his own words is refreshing.See here, his "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State"
link: http://www.readingfromtheleft.com/PDF...
start at page 68
I place this post here in this thread because his assertions are related to flaws in the capitalist model.
I have posted a review of Paul Mason's terrific book, Postcapitalism A Guide to our Future on Goodreads and on my blog. Comments welcome. The blog post has more figures and text!
Randal wrote: "I have posted a review of Paul Mason's terrific book, Postcapitalism A Guide to our Future on Goodreads and on my blog. Comments welcome. The blog post has more figures and text!"It is sometimes said that the most important thing is to ask the right questions. (Someone famous might have said this, but I don't know who.) It seems to me that you are asking the right questions. Congratulations on an excellent analysis (which I read on your blog). You might compare your analysis (and that of Mason and Marx) with chapters 22-24 of Robert Reich's Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few.
Alan wrote: "You might compare your analysis (and that of Mason and Marx) with chapters 22-24 of Robert Reich's Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few. "Thanks for the suggestion, Alan. I have other of Reich's books, but the title turned me off! I will try to get over my "System 1" thinking here (Daniel Kahneman's phrase) and give it a try.
Cheers,
Randal
I've just read Democracy in Chains (Nancy McLean)Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America And must say, I couldn't put the book down and breezed through it in a day and a half. Although I was quite aware that our nation stands at a cross-roads, I didn't have all the players and historical context at how things got so screwed up - this book was extremely helpful in putting our current malaise into context.
I would highly recommend it to those who wish to know the brutal truth of the alt-right and their rise to power - perhaps the daylight may help cure us of the this terrible disease!
pl.
Phillip wrote: "I've just read Democracy in Chains (Nancy McLean)Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America And must say, I couldn't put the book down a..."
Agreed. I reviewed it here.
I've now looked at all the reviews, funny how the truth gets either 1 star or 5 stars depending upon the.... What's of importance to me is that if "educated" people really knew their Plato, then Thraysmachus's rebirth in Koch would be obvious.... Cheers Alan, hope you enjoy my TallyHo!
Phillip wrote: "I've now looked at all the reviews, funny how the truth gets either 1 star or 5 stars depending upon the.... What's of importance to me is that if "educated" people really knew their Plato, then Th..."Thanks, Phillip. I'll get to your book after I finish my Electoral College book.
I have said from the get-go that a certain president is the exact antithesis of Plato's philosopher-king. Surprisingly, some "Straussians" in the southwestern US supported him in the election and perhaps still do. It's unfortunate that Leo Strauss (d. 1973) isn't around today to contradict them. He thought Churchill was a great political leader and considered his book on Marlborough to be the best work of history of the twentieth century. Churchill was that rare politician who was both a great mind and a great leader. Of course, he had his faults--his commitment to the British empire etc.
Could probably post this in 'philosophy in fictional works' ...but if we were playing the corny old psychoanalyst's couch game of 'word association', 'capitalism' always triggers in me, two movie memories: 'Citizen Kane' (1941) and 'Network' (1974). Probably two of only a small handful of movies ever made about the combined political and economic system of the US|. Taken together, they're a watershed which sum up our country's entire past and present (as far as I'm concerned). I could name easily a dozen other fine classic movies about American business life but none (I believe) with such all-encompassing scope; none which treat the national fiscal predicament as a whole. Even an epic like 'The Grapes of Wrath' could be said to be tied to a specific historic episode, and thus not very extensible down to our day. But 'Kane' still seems educational and 'Network' only grows more relevant. The monologue of the ominous, self-made man, the supra-ethical, smooth-talking plutocrat Arthur Jensen is still towering.
What else. Oh I just picked up a thin, glossy little paperback in a book drop (aka, free) called The Death of the Banker: The Decline and Fall of the Great Financial Dynasties and the Triumph of the Small Investor and I hate it. Not so much for the content as for the writing style. Much too breezy, self-flattering, and glib. It's like too many of the typical pop-history titles out there, like 'The Natural History of a Slice of Wonder Bread' or 'The Natural History of Tinned Salmon'. Not robust-looking academia. In fact, as I flip through it I get the sense that the author is relying on the www too much for his representation of the facts. It's got that chatty, internet style garrulousness which to me is inappropriate in a published book.
Some of this sounds like conspiracy stuff. I get skeptical when ever I hear things like "master plan of the right to take over". One man's master plan is not enough to make it so. Truth be told, Conservative thought taken a serpentine path through American history and didn't really exist as an ideology before Goldwater. It has always consisted of diverse elements that defy a consensus, which makes it difficult to adopt a unified master plan to do anything. In the 1950s and 1960s, these elements were Libertarian, anti-communist, and traditionalist.
As for the Alt-right, I read a survey that indicated 4% strong support and 6% weaker support among the public. The case can certainly be made that a 10% faction supporting anything is at the fringe. For example, 7% of Americans do not believe we went to the moon.
There have been other small percentage factions in the history of the US like the alt-right. I would cite the KKK and Communist Party as examples. They made a lot of noise but accomplished little. That is not to say the Alt-right should not be resisted. They are a stain on our democracy and remind us of Germany in the 1930s.
Michael wrote: "Some of this sounds like conspiracy stuff. I get skeptical when ever I hear things like "master plan of the right to take over". One man's master plan is not enough to make it so. Truth be told, ..."
I gather that you are referring to the title of Nancy MacLean's book Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America. Admittedly, the title is a bit inflammatory and off-putting. But the book itself is a scholarly production that is very well documented. See my review here.
MacLean is not talking about the alt-right, which is a relatively new phenomenon. She is talking about the libertarian right (which has nothing in common with the likes of Steve Bannon or Donald Trump), and she traces this history through several decades. Her main anti-heroes are James Buchanan and the Koch brothers, though Milton Friedman and Murray Rothbard, among many others, also get (dis)honorable mention. I suggest that you read the book and then give us your thoughts. MacLean deals mostly in facts, not opinions. She develops her argument through a very careful array of well-corroborated factual history. Although she might have gotten a fact wrong, here or there, as libertarian economists have nit-picked, the quantity of well-documented facts is rather overwhelming.
A couple of points: When above somebody notes that one man's madness isn't enough to change the world - Well, what if that one man is like Hitler or Lenin and has followers.... particularly very, very rich $$ followers.Speaking of which, point 2: a very little known individual and a very very very rich man, Robert Mercer-- is the main $$ behind Trump
(with some help from his minions like Bannon and others)>>
SEE the NYer article (March 27, 2017) for a very in-depth article on "Trump's Money Man, How Robert Mercer, a reclusive hedge-fund tycoon, exploited America's populist insurgency" >>
equally spell-binding reading to the Demos in Chains book!
(note: He's a multi-BILLION -aire... which doesn't mean that he's a not a crackpot!...)
I'd never heard of this amazing episode. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General...
So it's like, capitalism is so imperative that in the 1800s, you didn't have to choice to recuse yourself from it. If we wanted to trade in your market, you either opened your doors or else we would barge right in and kick down the door. Dang.
p.s. thank goodness the 'buying' season is over. I'm tellin' ya. It gets unnerving. Ever notice? Not just that everyone I happen to chat with seems only able to talk about current products they've recently purchased, or are contemplating purchasing, or products they habitually purchase, or maybe are going to purchase for someone else...in addition to all that blather, there's the signs, banners, posters, blinking lights, all around one at all times.
For example, myself on my way to work in the morning. Advertisements posters plastered on the sides of buses and on top of taxicab roofs as they pass. Inside the taxicab on the seatback. Inside the bus, a strip of posters along the ceiling. On the outsides of trains and on the insides of trains. On the back of my train ticket. Every storefront. At every cash register. Billboards along the highway and on top of buildings. Sidewalks under my feet have logos. At every transit station, posters on the walls.
If there's any kind of lit display (map, train times, etc) it periodically reverts to a flashing graphic. Even at a soda machine where I'm putting my $2 in the slot to pay for a soda, the menu is flashing me an advert as I do so.
The paper wrapping my sandwich has news of further discounts and even my receipt for my lunch has some kind of promotion. The graphic menu display above any deli counter, occasionally stops showing me my menu choices to tell me about some sale. TV screens everywhere, in fact. Sight and sound. If I walk into a corner convenience store, the speakers overhead chatter commercials. Any type of store, or store-window. On any carpet or doormat.
And its always about something upcoming or happening-at-the-moment. Advertising never advertises things which are traditional, or natural, or simple, or abundant. What I mean is, it has no sense of history.
What that reminds me of is actually a hallmark trait of Stalinism--under Stalinm, Russian culture was only 'now' or 'imminent'; 'on the way' or 'our glorious future' --and people's past, people's history was obliterated, erased, censored, made untrustworthy. That's what this uber-capitalism feels like.
Wearying, that's all I'm saying. Exhausting. Its like all people ever want to talk about is some new product. The brand name and the make and model and version and accessory and format, is always on the tips of their tongue. Do you have one of these? How about one of those?
Feliks wrote: "p.s. thank goodness the 'buying' season is over. I'm tellin' ya. It gets unnerving. Ever notice? Not just that everyone I happen to chat with seems only able to talk about current products they'v..."
Welcome to America, Felix. More specifically, welcome to NYC, which is probably the capitalist capital of the universe. Virtually all capitalist creations emanate from NYC, and it has been that way for a very long time.
As you age (I speak from experience), you may learn to ignore these things and focus instead on the things you appreciate. Surely, in NYC, which is also arguably the intellectual and cultural capital of the world (I already hear objections from group members in Paris, London, and other places), there are some worthwhile pursuits for those of a more refined mind. Of course, I've never lived there, though I've visited a few times. I long ago decided I'd rather visit than live there--too much hurry, bustle, noise, traffic, etc. for a boy like me who grew up in a small, quiet Midwestern town. But as a professor (from Brooklyn) once advised me more than fifty years ago, "The world won't change. You change." I'm still not sure exactly what he meant by that, but there it is.
I've got to get back to preparing the bibliography for my Electoral College book--a very tedious task. So far, I have 89 entries (discrete primary and secondary sources, all cited in the book), and I'm only about half-way through all the endnotes. I hope to finish it by sometime tomorrow, and then all I'll have left is the index.
Reassuring words Alan. Thanks for lending a sympathetic ear!Meanwhile, I'm very pleased to hear your new book is in the final stages. Wow! Quite a feather in your cap. All over save the grunt-work eh? Crossing the T's and dotting the I's. Bravo!
p.s. what software did you use to compose in? There's a wide variety of really incredible programs these days to assist authors with research, publishing, book construction, and especially with proofreading, spellchecking, and grammar checking. Some are positively wizard with the handling of bibliography, TOC, and indexes.I also just saw a new one this weekend, which specializes in heavily-based 'timeline' narratives.
If this topic interests anyone, feel free to contact me. Topic I know fairly well.
Feliks wrote: "p.s. what software did you use to compose in? There's a wide variety of really incredible programs these days to assist authors with research, publishing, book construction, and especially with pro..."Over the decades, I've become expert in the use of Microsoft Word--both at work and in my own writing. I composed the entirety of my Roger Williams book on Word, and it worked just fine. I have been a writer and/or editor in one capacity or another all my life, including professionally. I have relatives and friends who have offered to edit the book, but I have learned, through decades of experience, that people who think they can revise my work just make it worse. I rely solely on my wife (Mimi), who has a fine sense of literary style and who can (and does) tell me when my prose is not very readable.
I will publish again through Amazon's independent publishing system, though they have changed it somewhat since I published my Roger Williams book, and I have to figure out the best of alternative ways to do it on their platform. They now have various templates that I will explore and, if appropriate, utilize for the final product. One advantage of going this route is that the paperback books never go out of print, because it is print on demand (they print each copy separately when they receive a customer order). And, of course, the Kindle e-books also never go out of print. After I finish the bibliography and index, it will probably take me at least a week to figure out how to use their new system and send the final product to them.
Meanwhile, I already have plans for my next book project, provisionally entitled Reason and Human Ethics. During the last few months, I've been acquiring many books on this topic, especially books on neuroscience, neuroethics, and free will. And, of course, I will go back and restudy Aristotle and the other heavy hitters on ethical issues.
Just saw a new phrase tonight'satisfaction agencies'
new business sector
in case you're wondering, what a 'satisfaction agency' does: they help struggling businesses regain sales by selling them falsified pedigree and bogus reputations, made up out of thin air. There are bundles of 'fabricated user reviews of their products' and packages of 'authentic-sounding customer praise'. Maybe not a very trenchant topic to plumb, but certainly ironical in an ethical sense.
Feliks wrote: "in case you're wondering, what a 'satisfaction agency' does: they help struggling businesses regain sales by selling them falsified pedigree and bogus reputations, made up out of thin air. There ar..."Perhaps that is how Trump University got started.
I'm not quite sure what thread this next item should go under--it could nestle comfortably in the 'Totalitarianism' thread or the 'US Government' thread. To wit: most of us are probably aware of the long history of accusations that the US harbors inherent economic and social stratification. The consolidation of industries; media conglomerates, corporations in bed with politicians--this is not news.
'The 400' was a phrase and concept coined by Ward McAllister in 1892
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Mc...
... and reinforced by books like 'America's 60 Families' (Ferdinand Lundberg, 1937)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...
But I for one, although always supposing that there was some vague multi-celled organism of plutocrats like this, secretly pulling strings in the US, (an oligarchy in body if not in name) still never imagined that they would have a title for themselves, a campground, clubhouses, or hold jamborees. For all so much just like a bunch of Boy Scouts.
But apparently, its so. Just look at this nonsense.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemia...
Am I the last person in the land, to be apprised of this grotesquerie?
Feliks, This looks like a scene in House of Cards - wealthy men and politicians on a retreat in the woods - and Frank Underwood, of course. This suggests there are many "multi-celled organism(s) of plutocrats".
In the old days they were called "gentlemen's clubs" - many still exist (I suppose) under various names and categories.
Not so sure what is "totalitarian" about any of it.
Ah! From that wiki entry:Bohemian Grove is the inspiration for "Elysian Fields" in season 5 of House of Cards.
Felix - it appears that you haven't yet read "Democracy in Chains" by MacClean, or if you did, that you had better reread again, of course this is nothing new -- only more grotesque due to the unimaginable wealth that accumulates in moDarn times.Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America
p.s. unrelated musing:Anytime I speak to someone who ardently believes in the free-market and the 'invisible hand' and 'small government' and all that..the question always seems to come down to, "how well do the economic policies of socialist countries work?"
Does anyone have any historical/contextual info on this? I only know a few small leads to follow to explore this topic. Chomsky speaks eloquently with the counter that mere economic efficiency is not an excuse for a grossly unfair, exploitative system. But I didn't encounter this in a book, it is in one of his campus circuit lectures.
Fellix - there are any number of "socialist" countries (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, etc) that PROVE rather conclusively that when the Wealth of a nation is more evenly divided and health and education are provided free of charge (even through the University level!!) - well, everyone is happier. Moreover, being super-rich doesnt at all lead to happiness!! - How can one even doubt what's so obvious >> well, obviously because one has been brain-washed by the likes of greedy, self-satisfied fools..... just my opinion.
re #33 yes Phillip, thanks--I myself believe this and I have always been convinced of it through everything I've read and seen in my travels. But how do distill this down into facts and figures to someone who is unread and untraveled?
Well, it's certainly not easy to do despite that it seems so obvious to those who have seen the world. I studied in Freiburg & Bochum W. Germany.... for free! Philosophy, a dead domain on this side of the Atlantic... The facts and figures are right there as is so much -- but people only see what they want to see. I'm afraid that there will a great deal of blood shed - however much I dislike having to state this: the human race progresses through tragedies, assuming that it will be able to progress at all....?
Well ...okay how about settling on just one country. Sweden seems to be the most hotly-debated nation when it comes to assessing the success of a socialist experiment. Is Sweden a success or a failure? Do you think I could find some good evidence one way or the other for that question?
Feliks wrote: "Well ...okay how about settling on just one country. Sweden seems to be the most hotly-debated nation when it comes to assessing the success of a socialist experiment. Is Sweden a success or a fail..."Feliks: Not Sweden, but you might like The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia, which is not philosophical or poli-sci, but more like a long magazine article. (which is not to denigrate it, I hope)
The thing about "Swedish socialism" which Americans don't realize, I think, is that Sweden has been down the road of massive government involvement in every aspect of their citizens' lives, and more or less reversed direction in the 1990s because the cradle-to-grave welfare state was facing insolvency.
So that the trends in 'democratic socialism' in the most 'advanced' democratic socialist countries (Canada did this too) have been toward liberalization- cutting the upper tax brackets (which were 90 percent), raising the retirement age..
Now, it is wonderful when a country remains free enough to reverse course, although socialism does not have a track record of allowing course corrections until after a lot of bloodshed, as Philip says (although I'm not sure he and I are making the same point exactly).
This is not the best article, just the first thing that popped up in a Google search:
https://www.thelocal.se/20120324/39864
re #37, Thanks C!Maybe the problem is that capitalists I encounter, dismiss all the quality-of-life issues off the table and instead just rank 'prosperity there vs prosperity here'.
I scouted around for this kind of info on the domestic level where its clearer. Texas of course, always turns in horrible ratings in every area. But I simply dont usually have time to follow the course of progress in various socialist governments around the globe.
Anyway useful links, thanks--eager for more!
The other thing about Scandinavian Socialism that is neglected sometimes is the sheer continuity with the 19th C. The oppressed working classes (or demagogues in the name of the working class) did not rise up and overthrow the aristocrats, but the Scandinavians all have a 'don't rock the boat' 'don't stick your neck out' view of themselves and their neighbors which depends on a lot of racial and religious homogeneity.Also, trade unions and 'management' have gotten along since the 19th C. and there is an 'ethic' even among people who work for the government that they do not 'featherbead' or 'make work,' but are there to do their jobs efficiently.. Inconceivable in the U.S.- although maybe some place like Minnesota comes close.
Christopher wrote: "The other thing about Scandinavian Socialism that is neglected sometimes is the sheer continuity with the 19th C. The oppressed working classes (or demagogues in the name of the working class) did ..."As I was born and raised in Minnesota and my paternal grandparents were Swedes who immigrated to the U.S., I can testify that the Swedes have (or at least had) a somewhat different culture. Minnesota politics has been influenced by it (and by other Scandinavian influences such as the Norwegians and Danes) for well over a century. Perhaps only in Minnesota could Hubert Humphrey (son of a Norwegian immigrant) have been so politically successful and for so long. The Swedes, at least those of my grandparents' generation, did not consider "socialism" a dirty word. Today, it is probably different (I haven't lived in Minnesota for many decades).
I don't know enough about Swedish socialism (or social democracy) to speak to its merits or demerits. I am somewhat aware that cultural homogeneity in Sweden has been upset by recent immigration into the country from refugees and the like. Indeed, I have seen news reports of far right anti-immigrant politicians and/or political parties having become stronger as a result of the immigration.
Alan wrote: " Indeed, I have seen news reports of far right anti-immigrant politicians ......having become stronger as a result of the immigration. ..."I have heard this last item too. Frequently and recently. But I feel that (too often) the immigration is falsely linked to some 'economic downturn' and therefore some flaw inherent to the system itself. Its not recognized enough that immigration is not necessarily tied to economic misfortune ...nor that any of this justifies a Right-Wing party to then take power in order to address it. The 'fait accompli' of what's happening in America is being extended to all nation struggling with any kind of problem with 'lax' immigration laws.
But it seems unlikely to me that the exact set of problems in both these areas (migration and economy) applies in precisely the same way to Sweden and Denmark, and any other country.
Its being used as a criticism across the board towards economic systems as a whole; and (to my ears) reeks of anti-semitic policies of Germany in the 30s. In other words, its always some group of citizens who are at fault for economic woes, so let's just get them out of the country in order to restore our market.
People forget that the Roman Inquisition, the Portugese Inquisition, and the Spanish Inquisition (though religious in motivation) were all based on anti-semitism. Europe has had a long history of moving Jews and gypsies around; never solving or improving anything. And people also forget that the Soviet Union too, had a long history of exporting its jewry. It didn't save the Soviet economy.
"The thing about "Swedish socialism" which Americans don't realize, I think, is that Sweden has been down the road of massive government involvement in every aspect of their citizens' lives, and more or less reversed direction..."/i>This is very interesting. I noted in that article that the Swedes are outsourcing and privatizing several of their government services. Would you say that Sweden is now a country with a 'small footprint' government? What about other socialist nations?
Christopher wrote: "Feliks wrote: "you might like The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia, which is not philosophical or poli-sci, but more like a long magazine article. (which is not to denigrate it, I hope)"Thanks, Chris, for this reference. It looks interesting, and I've put it on my "to read" list.
Feliks, there are probably many books and articles on the Scandinavian political systems and associated cultures. Although I have never researched this, I have always hoped to find time to do so (it won't happen soon). If you decide to research these matters in some depth, please share your findings with us. The book recommended by Chris (which I have not yet read) appears to be a good start, but there are probably more scholarly books and articles out there that rely on more than anecdotal evidence (assuming that the Booth book is based solely on anecdotal evidence).
Will do. I'm dubious about what I might possibly turn up, however--seeing as how my reconnoitering will likely only be confined to the www (no time to do any serious reading--I'm writing six screenplays at once lately).
And what I see so far on the www is dismaying, at first glance. When you search on this topic, no shock that it turns up a long list of conservative 'mouthpieces and pundits' declaiming and shouting-down the notion that there's anything good in Sweden at all.
I did turn up one interesting factoid: a total of 77 countries (77 of 195 nations total) have had or still have socialist parties or socialist governments. Gee, so just under half of the world's countries, somehow still surviving, somehow haven't been wiped off the face of the Earth even though saddled with this menacing, diabolical, near-Biblical evil. Sheesh.
Feliks,You should consider how many socialist countries have 'liberal' parties.
Christopher wrote: "Feliks,You should consider how many socialist countries have 'liberal' parties."
Do you mean "liberal" in the American sense (i.e., progressive) or in the European sense (i.e., classical liberal, "neoliberal," or economically libertarian)? As I have previously mentioned, the term "liberal" means almost the opposite in the United States from what it means elsewhere.
Yes, I meant liberalism as opposed to socialism, not liberalism, the pale imitation of socialism.ETA: Neither one is generally allowed 'freedom of expression' in, say, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela.. i.e., socialist countries.
:*|Hmm, its still unclear to me what you mean!
You mean to say that many socialist countries also have a party which that practices frugal and conservative economics?
My friends and I from the Financial Times have just finished a pretty tough challenge: The Philosophy of Capitalism.
We gave it our best shot so I hope you like it. It was written by government officers and senior capitalists from the US/UK/Germany/France/Russia/China.
You may wonder how I got so many competitors/enemies to cooperate. Well, I wrote the first edition, and my thesis was that the present system framework was leading us to World War or Revolutions.
They were convinced and agreed to work as a team. 13 editions later we have a final draft. I hope you enjoy it. And I have a free PDF available. By all means get in touch:
http://beforethecollapse.com/2015/11/...
This book reveals the underlying nature of capitalism and capitalistic society. And how the Capitalistic system relates to other systems that shape the human life world: Imperialism and Mother Nature. The book explores the relationship between Globalized Capitalism and God, Power, War, Religion, the Ecological System, Culture, Knowledge, the Nation State and Man. It concludes with a proposal to alter the framework of Capitalism which would permit Mankind to build down population size and ecological footprint.
Yours Truly,
Cathal Haughian