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Because Pinker's rebuttal was initially supposed to be an email to somebody else. He recognized that Hickel was likely pushing an ideology and left it at that.

Because Pinker's rebuttal was initially supposed to be an email to somebody else. He recognized that Hickel was likely pushing an ideology and left it at that. Even in the email Pinker is saying that he's citing experts in the field. >then went on to calling mild centre-left socialdemocrats A central point in the criticism Hickel wrote was that markets don't work, but regulation, protectionism and state intervention does. I'm not sure that would qualify him as a "mild centre-left social democrat".

andrepd 8y ago
I'm pretty sure regulation, protectionism and state intervention in a market economy is the definition of social-democracy.
- jopsen 8y ago
  No, not really. Social democracy is about solidarity. It does not conflict with a free market which needs regulation to stay free, it does not encourage protectionism, rather it seeks solidarity with others. I should know I live in one :)
  - esarbe 8y ago
    I too live in a Social democracy. And I'd say that the GP is pretty much spot on. Social democracy, from Wikipedia, an excerpt: "The protocols and norms used to accomplish this involve a commitment to representative and participatory democracy; measures for income redistribution and regulation of the economy in the general interest; and welfare state provisions." So, there you have regulation and and state-intervention. If you then consider that every Social Democracy in Europe has some sort of protectionist policy with regards to it's agricultural sector, I'd say that GP is spot on. For the European Union, the agricultural subsidies still make up about 38% of the budget. What's that, besides protectionist? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy) So, there you have all three; regulation and state-intervention by definition, protectionism by fact.
LaGrange 8y ago
> Because Pinker's rebuttal was initially supposed to be an email to somebody else. ...you can't really be serious? It's published. With his knowledge. He could have edited it, or at least quickly tweeted "omg this was terrible I'm sorry I had a heated gaming moment." > A central point in the criticism Hickel wrote was that markets don't work, but regulation, protectionism and state intervention does. I'm not sure that would qualify him as a "mild centre-left social democrat". That's literally the definition of a mild centre-left social democrat.
- Mirioron 8y ago
  A social democrat, at least when looking at Europe, is somebody who thinks markets work. They simply want a better safety net for people and maybe some additional regulation to keep the market more fair.

andrepd 8y ago

I'm pretty sure regulation, protectionism and state intervention in a market economy is the definition of social-democracy.

jopsen 8y ago
No, not really. Social democracy is about solidarity. It does not conflict with a free market which needs regulation to stay free, it does not encourage protectionism, rather it seeks solidarity with others. I should know I live in one :)
- esarbe 8y ago
  I too live in a Social democracy. And I'd say that the GP is pretty much spot on. Social democracy, from Wikipedia, an excerpt: "The protocols and norms used to accomplish this involve a commitment to representative and participatory democracy; measures for income redistribution and regulation of the economy in the general interest; and welfare state provisions." So, there you have regulation and and state-intervention. If you then consider that every Social Democracy in Europe has some sort of protectionist policy with regards to it's agricultural sector, I'd say that GP is spot on. For the European Union, the agricultural subsidies still make up about 38% of the budget. What's that, besides protectionist? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Agricultural_Policy) So, there you have all three; regulation and state-intervention by definition, protectionism by fact.

LaGrange 8y ago

> Because Pinker's rebuttal was initially supposed to be an email to somebody else. ...you can't really be serious? It's published. With his knowledge. He could have edited it, or at least quickly tweeted "omg this was terrible I'm sorry I had a heated gaming moment." > A central point in the criticism Hickel wrote was that markets don't work, but regulation, protectionism and state intervention does. I'm not sure that would qualify him as a "mild centre-left social democrat". That's literally the definition of a mild centre-left social democrat.

Mirioron 8y ago
A social democrat, at least when looking at Europe, is somebody who thinks markets work. They simply want a better safety net for people and maybe some additional regulation to keep the market more fair.