3 ms·
I don't know but I suspect my definition of capitalism and yours are different. From my perspective if I have a goat, and that goat has kids, and I trade you on
by thescribe 10y ago
I don't know but I suspect my definition of capitalism and yours are different. From my perspective if I have a goat, and that goat has kids, and I trade you one for some seeds we have a functioning, but tiny, instance of capitalism.
I used my resources to produce more resources, you did too, and we exchanged in a way we both considered to be in our best interest (Or we wouldn't have done it).
If I'm way off base I'd love to hear.
- gbhn 10y agoI'd suggest this is more of an endorsement of free trade. (That is, no external party forced you to trade goats for seeds.) Lots of societies have free trade that I don't think would be usefully described as "capitalist." (And anecdotally societies in which free trade is discouraged seem to end up with a lot of black market free trade activity -- it is just too powerful an attractor.) To me capitalism is a more descriptive of a narrower and more modern development. Free trade is an aspect of it, but not sufficient to describe it.
- thescribe 10y agoI think I had made an assumption between countries like Venezuela and Soviet era Russia that had large black markets for a lot of goods and them being the opposite of capitalism.
- Retric 10y agoWhy should I trade you a goat if I can just take it?