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To quote Jeff Sovern, "Capitalism may be the best economic system ever devised, but one of its drawbacks is that it provides financial incentives to harm and ev
by robtherobber 6y ago
To quote Jeff Sovern, "Capitalism may be the best economic system ever devised, but one of its drawbacks is that it provides financial incentives to harm and even kill people." [1]
There need to be protection mechanisms in place in order for us to reap the benefits of this system.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/business/dealbook/the-risks-of-unfettered-capitalism.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/business/dealbook/the-ris...
[typo]
- 0xy 6y agoExcept in this case, the government forced the small businesses to close with the threat of life ending fines and direct enforcement action while not providing any compensation.
- montjoy 6y agoAs opposed to a life ending virus. There are no good options here.
- cultofmetatron 6y agoThe "without compensation" is the key here. I'd be all for forcing shutdown for nonessential services if the businesses were compensated by the government such that they could pay down expenses they would otherwise incur. This could easily be done by taxing amazon and other large companies that are profiting handsomely right now.
- 0xy 6y agoOutdoor dining has been disallowed by many governments despite the evidence. I also fail to see how 500 people crammed into a supermarket is safer than 50 people browsing a giant hardware store.
- throwaway201103 6y agoTo quote John Adams, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." You could probably apply that sentiment to capitalism as well.