Comment Re:Capitalism (Score 1) 629
> Practically anything with practically nothing.
Something from nothing.
Free lunches.
Conservation of mass/energy/momentum.
I think the Universe disproves your claim. You don't get productivity from nothing. You get practically anything with practically nothing when you have unlimited population growth and resources to pyramid the resource/productivity chain to ever higher levels. In that grossly unrealistic version of the world, you're right. In the real world, it breaks down, right about when we start exhausting the non-renewable resources that are fueling our current 100 year boom--unless we start pulling resources from other planets, which will turn us into a junk planet. That's the capitalist path.
Ultimately, a good life for all is a gradually rising standard for everyone without enormous imbalances that is based on increased resource efficiency as a function of better collaboration between people. Capitalism doesn't quite reach that goal because human nature includes the capable concentrating control of resources for a feeling of power and security. In other words, if capitalism were about concentrating responsibility in the hands of the most capable and rewarding them with respect instead of material gain, then it would work. Respect is a limitless resource that is extraordinarily valuable. Money isn't a limitless resource, nor are natural resources, though are current economic path would have you believe so.
Someday soon we'll have to see this.
Something from nothing.
Free lunches.
Conservation of mass/energy/momentum.
I think the Universe disproves your claim. You don't get productivity from nothing. You get practically anything with practically nothing when you have unlimited population growth and resources to pyramid the resource/productivity chain to ever higher levels. In that grossly unrealistic version of the world, you're right. In the real world, it breaks down, right about when we start exhausting the non-renewable resources that are fueling our current 100 year boom--unless we start pulling resources from other planets, which will turn us into a junk planet. That's the capitalist path.
Ultimately, a good life for all is a gradually rising standard for everyone without enormous imbalances that is based on increased resource efficiency as a function of better collaboration between people. Capitalism doesn't quite reach that goal because human nature includes the capable concentrating control of resources for a feeling of power and security. In other words, if capitalism were about concentrating responsibility in the hands of the most capable and rewarding them with respect instead of material gain, then it would work. Respect is a limitless resource that is extraordinarily valuable. Money isn't a limitless resource, nor are natural resources, though are current economic path would have you believe so.
Someday soon we'll have to see this.