Elite Troops Get Expanded Role on Intelligence

[xoxoxoBruce]

No, Communism has been tried many, many times. It can't be perfected, it doesn't work.

[Undertoad]

But here's the thing about Capitalism PH: it can only be "imperialistic" if all sides agree to it.

You can't sell me something I don't want. In order for a sale to go through both parties agree that not only is it fair, it improves the condition for both buyer and seller.

Planned economies say that they locate massive problem conditions and solve them systematically. But they don't, and the reason they don't is that they cannot possibly be aware of all conditions everywhere. An economy is a highly complex system, so complex that each individual in it is performing work for it all the time. As I drive down the street choosing what burger to get, I am unconsciously improving the system. The choice informs the system what is needed/desired at what price. Information about what I'm choosing is so valuable that many retailers are willing to give up their entire profit just to find out what it is. (see supermarket "club cards")

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

No, Communism has been tried many, many times. It can't be perfected, it doesn't work.

There are have been many versions of communism that have been tried. I personally don't think communism will ever work though.

The theory has good ideas, just that it hasn’t been formed in a useable way.

Originally Posted by Undertoad

But here's the thing about Capitalism PH: it can only be "imperialistic" if all sides agree to it.

The ones usually agreeing are usually the ones in power which will naturally pick capitalism. The people sometimes think differently.

You are right though, Venezuela is fighting imperialism right now because the ones in power don't want it.

Planned economies say that they locate massive problem conditions and solve them systematically. But they don't, and the reason they don't is that they cannot possibly be aware of all conditions everywhere. An economy is a highly complex system, so complex that each individual in it is performing work for it all the time. As I drive down the street choosing what burger to get, I am unconsciously improving the system. The choice informs the system what is needed/desired at what price. Information about what I'm choosing is so valuable that many retailers are willing to give up their entire profit just to find out what it is. (see supermarket "club cards")

This is true and is probably one of the left's biggest weaknesses. Leftist economies tend to have different goals then right economies though so it will sometimes be compromised. Though I will admit I don’t know everything about socialist theory and economics so I can’t give very strong answers in that area.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Versions of communism? There is a basic flaw to communism that working harder gains you nothing... unless you more equal than others.

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

The ones usually agreeing are usually the ones in power which will naturally pick capitalism. The people sometimes think differently.

The ones in power tend to pick whatever retains their power, which tends to not be capitalism. Big companies favor protectionist government policies that lock in their advantages.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Versions of communism?

Stalinism and Maoism, they are not true communist examples but spin-offs. Either way I don't think it matters because a right-winged society could never turn into a left-winged society by revolution, the mindsets needed to succeed are so different that it would tear the left-winged societies apart, like it has.

Left-winged societies need a mentality of community instead of the individual and that could attribute to some of the laziness that comes with a true far left society. I don’t believe there has to be a hierarchy of some kind but it can be much different from the ones in our society.

Originally Posted by Undertoad

The ones in power tend to pick whatever retains their power, which tends to not be capitalism. Big companies favor protectionist government policies that lock in their advantages.

It is usually foolish for a leader to pick a non-capitalistic economy though. The US and Europe will work against you and may even establish a coup to take you down if they don't like you enough. It is not worth it to many rulers. Plus, the rulers can get richer with capitalism which will give them more power.

[Ibby]

Communism fails because people just plain suck.

"Oh yeah, I'm gonna take power here, absolute power, but just for a little while! Yeah, just long enough to get this place nice and communized! ...Actually I think I like this dictator business, nevermind on that other bit."

[Urbane Guerrilla]

"Communism: interesting idea. Wrong species." -- Edmund O. Wilson

Pierce, even you, naive college-age boy that you are, and perfectly in that inexperienced demographic that the collectivist activists try and recruit in -- campus socialists tried it with me at your age, but didn't know I was too smart for them -- should simply jettison any ideas that communism is valid for any species not "designed for it by evolution" to quote Heinlein yet again (like unto the voice of God).

[piercehawkeye45]

Do you read my posts? I said I don't think communism will ever work.

Pure equality won't get anything done, you need some hierarchy but it still can be in ways that are we are not used too now. You don't need to make doctor's to be paid 6 digits before people will becoming doctors instead of labor workers, you can use other methods.

Saying that, I still think doctor's and labor worker's pay should be different if I ever had an opinion in a left-winged society.