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On the contrary. I think arguably the advances that have made people's lives better over the last century have been collective, more centrally planned efforts,
by logjam 18y ago
On the contrary. I think arguably the advances that have made people's lives better over the last century have been collective, more centrally planned efforts, not driven by profit, and done in spite of the attitudes of big business and the market.
I am thinking specifically of public sanitation, public health works, winning World War II (what a boost to the economy that was), public education; most, if not all, beneficial scientific advances. Most technology "developed" by business has been largely offshoots of collective efforts (eg NASA).
But come to think of it, most that was pretty damned unsexy too :).
- eugenejen 18y agoI disagree. Just some counter examples in my mind. 1. Mass production of automobiles. I don't think Henry Ford achieved this goal without making profit on his mind. 2. Birth of Personal computers. I don't see any government has interest to put a computer in every household.
- Raphael 18y agoI consider computers and autos much more interesting and useful than online advertising.
- eugenejen 18y agoI think by making web and internet echo system economically sustainable helps globalization. It already benefits 2 billions of human beings. It usually irks me when I see anti-globalization sentiments. It reminds me "qu'ils mangent de la brioche."
- byrneseyeview 18y agoAlthough I agree with the main thesis, I must point out something that muddles matters: if we hadn't had massively subsidized highways, cars would not have been so ubiquitous in postwar America. I happen to think that this supports the libertarian side, since a government powerful enough to build something of that scope will be vulnerable to lobbyists who want it to build something useful to their industry.
- eugenejen 18y agoI agree the point of subsidised highway system encourages popularity of automobiles in America. This also means when government's involvement distorts the market mechanism, the consequence of suburban sprawls, huge consumption of oil will creep in one day. If the government did not try to build too many highways, maybe we will not waste so much of natural resources, right?
- gojomo 18y agoAll your examples only became possible because of a vibrant, unplanned economy. Wealthy, productive people can afford sanitation, public health works, war victories, education, and scientific advances.
- gaius 18y agoMost technology "developed" by business has been largely offshoots of collective efforts (eg NASA). And EVERYTHING done by NASA et al is funded by wealth generated by for-profit businesses.
- byrneseyeview 18y agoWait, winning a war is one of the triumphs of central planning? How many wars have been fought directly by non-governments? And isn't that like saying that one of the triumphs of dictatorships is how much life improved after Stalin and Hitler died?