Re: [Pen-l] planning [was: Paul Davidson sums up

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

John Vertegaal wrote:
> FWIW, it looks like we both agree that central planning is a dead end and
> that social democracy is the way to go.

I didn't advocate any kind of social democracy. Social democracy would
involve a system of more rational management of capitalism due to
pressure from labor unions and other popular forces. It's better than
what we have now, but I didn't advocate it in my e-mail.

Instituting a not-for-profit economy would be a revolutionary change.
Of course, it is utopian at this point.

> "From each according to ability, to
> each according to deeds", I also concur with.

Charlie Andrews' system (if it works) tends toward "from each
according to ability, to each according to needs." It sees the "deeds"
criterion as transitional.

> But because we cannot sidestep
> natural elasticities between costed inputs and demand for output, and deeds
> become valued through the demand for one's output, I hold that a for-profit
> economy is by far the most effective way to deal with this situation; as
> long as it leads to an after the fact (of supply) remuneration in the form
> of profit sharing. This necessitates cost+ pricing, rather than a command
> system, at least for a substantial portion of an economy. A "tendency to
> gradually move toward a non-market communism" would be absent. But why would
> that matter in an environment where social needs are adequately taken care
> of?

This is gobbledygook, full of sound and fury but saying almost nothing.

Capitalist profit-seeking destroys people and the natural environment.
It's "effective" (efficient?) only at promoting the individual profits
of those who already own a lot of wealth. We already have a "command"
system: if it's not profitable for a powerful economic interest, it
does not happen. Those with money rule.
-- 
Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own
way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
_______________________________________________
pen-l mailing list
pen-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l