3 ms·

Because then people would have to confront challenges to their highly propagandized views of economics and political standards. People would have to admit that

Because then people would have to confront challenges to their highly propagandized views of economics and political standards. People would have to admit that the 'free market' isn't some catch-all solution to problems and that sometimes it is the cause of problems. They would have to admit capitalism itself isn't some naturally occurring and self-maintaining phenomenon and realize how easily it can be, and is, arbitrarily manipulated by people either good or bad. They would have to confront the idea that much of what they are told is highly influenced advertising and propaganda purposefully created to mislead them into one action or another. They would need to recognize the full extent that the concentration of power and wealth has contributed to political corruption. Nobody wants to admit that their preconceived notions might be a bunch of bullshit they were purposefully fed, and not something they thought up and devised themselves.

CryptoPunk 8y ago
What "free market" are you talking about? The US has been moving rapidly towards being a highly regulated social democracy over the last 50 years. Central economic planning by local, state and federal government has steadily replaced the right to private contract and property. I recommend you look at the raw statistics on: 1. The absolute level of inflation adjusted social welfare spending per capita. 2. The percentage of GDP consumed by social welfare spending by the government. 3. The number of regulations in force. Between 1960 and 2018. It seems like the more social democracy fails, the more the alleged dominion of the free market is blamed. You would think from hearing all these laments about "neoliberalism" that we're in a free market paradise, when exactly the opposite is the case. >>They would have to confront the idea that much of what they are told is highly influenced advertising and propaganda purposefully created to mislead them into one action or another. You can start by taking your own advice.

CryptoPunk 8y ago

What "free market" are you talking about? The US has been moving rapidly towards being a highly regulated social democracy over the last 50 years. Central economic planning by local, state and federal government has steadily replaced the right to private contract and property. I recommend you look at the raw statistics on: 1. The absolute level of inflation adjusted social welfare spending per capita. 2. The percentage of GDP consumed by social welfare spending by the government. 3. The number of regulations in force. Between 1960 and 2018. It seems like the more social democracy fails, the more the alleged dominion of the free market is blamed. You would think from hearing all these laments about "neoliberalism" that we're in a free market paradise, when exactly the opposite is the case. >>They would have to confront the idea that much of what they are told is highly influenced advertising and propaganda purposefully created to mislead them into one action or another. You can start by taking your own advice.