Capitalism = Big Government

[Morpheus]

This is for those capitalists who think your'e against "big government." Capitalism is founded on state power, anyone who supports capitalism supports statism.

The Iron Fist Behind the Invisible Hand (http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html)
Corporate Capitalism as a State-Guaranteed System of Privilege
by Kevin A. Carson
http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/.../iron_fist.html (http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html)

[Hoppe]

Quite a good article. Luckily he also mentioned Rothbard who wrote about government monopoly on money and patents from another perspective.

[Saint-Just]

Surely capitalists know that capitalism requires a big state. They only say that state influence should be more limited than in socialism, this is true in capitalism. The state does still have many important functions in capitalism as an arbiter of the free market and to keep law and order.

[DEPAVER]

Capitalism doesn't necessarily require a state. In its current form it does, as the government is the enforcement arm of capitalism; however, techically, it could exist without a state.

"If America could be, once again, a nation of self-reliant farmers, craftsmen, hunters, ranchers, and artists, then the rich would have little power to dominate others. Neither to serve nor to rule: That was the American dream."- Ed Abbey

[Hoppe]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 9 2003, 06:11 PM
Surely capitalists know that capitalism requires a big state. They only say that state influence should be more limited than in socialism, this is true in capitalism. The state does still have many important functions in capitalism as an arbiter of the free market and to keep law and order.
Most capitalists who say such things are generally interested in pursuing their own goals via government-granted priviliges or monopolies. The function of the state in a minarchist society is only to be an arbiter in case of contract breaches etc. Not in the Bush-style "we support free markets but only if there is a level playing field".

[RedCeltic]

Capitalism doesn't necessarily require a state. In its current form it does, as the government is the enforcement arm of capitalism; however, techically, it could exist without a state.


I agree with this statement here. While the state may work in the best interests of captialism, capitalism surely can work without a state... and probobly make a hell of a lot more money without safty regulations, age restrictions, hour restrictions, pay restrictions, etc... They would also be able to make money out of things that were formally taken for granted as services of the government... like police forces, fire departments, privitized money, roadways, etc...

That's why you should think twice when people talk about smashing the state.

[Hoppe]

Ah Redceltic, your lack of knowlegde about markets is disappointing. Money is nothing more than a commodity like grain or iron. The first roads, railways etc were build by private individuals. The same goes for police, fire departments, schools, hospitals etc.

And the rest is also pathetic. So keep on dreaming.

[Misodoctakleidist]

I think capitalism requires a government to maintain an air of legitamacy without which it would be difficulct to oppress the working class.

[CommieKiller]

Originally posted by [email protected] 6 2003, 06:21 PM
This is for those capitalists who think your'e against "big government." Capitalism is founded on state power, anyone who supports capitalism supports statism.

The Iron Fist Behind the Invisible Hand (http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html)
Corporate Capitalism as a State-Guaranteed System of Privilege
by Kevin A. Carson
http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/.../iron_fist.html (http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html)
I find it ironic that anarchists choose communism over capitalism.

[The Feral Underclass]

commiekiller

Do you actually know what you're talking about? I have a feeling you couldnt define communism or anarchism if it was spelled out to you using two syllable words...