3 ms·

Again, what's the alternative?

by throwaway123x2 6y ago

tehjoker 6y ago
Democratic control of the economy.
- virmundi 6y ago
  That would be absolutely terrifying. The economy we have now is due to experts tinkering. Allowing the masses, who can't organize their own lives, to attempt to organize the economy will lead to more deaths and misery than the current system. Would you want a democratically elected airplane pilot with no training?
  - User23 6y ago
    Plenty of people think it's important that airplane pilots be democratically representative[1]. [1] https://www.ksby.com/news/national/new-law-looks-to-attract-more-diverse-pilots-to-the-skies https://www.ksby.com/news/national/new-law-looks-to-attract-...
    - beervirus 6y ago
      Plenty of people believe ridiculous things, story at 9.
  - tehjoker 6y ago
    Not even sure where to start with this level of elitism, but Elon Musk is certainly an expert in batteries, automotive production, rocketry and telemetry, and financial services all at once and not just a brand. The kind of sentiment you are expressing is directly antithetical to having any kind of real democracy. If you've ever met the people in power, many of them are quite dumb. It's easy to listen to experts (or not) and give commands. How often do you hear that executives don't know what's happening in their companies but the people on the line know exactly what to do but were not consulted seriously? To answer your question about airline pilots, I would probably accept (and in fact do, the FAA) a system designed by what is allegedly a democracy. Usually people don't have direct popular elections for technical positions, but design rules in consultation with people familiar with the field. If the voters were in fact other airline personnel, a direct election could be viable though I would require some qualifying criteria (e.g. people with XXXX hours of flight time).
bsanr2 6y ago
Interest-free loans, given as a public good and to hedge against a wealth tax. Get your name on some newfangled venture and keep Uncle Sam's hands out of your pocket, but you don't get to rent your money.

Again, what's the alternative?

tehjoker 6y ago

Democratic control of the economy.

virmundi 6y ago
That would be absolutely terrifying. The economy we have now is due to experts tinkering. Allowing the masses, who can't organize their own lives, to attempt to organize the economy will lead to more deaths and misery than the current system. Would you want a democratically elected airplane pilot with no training?
- User23 6y ago
  Plenty of people think it's important that airplane pilots be democratically representative[1]. [1] https://www.ksby.com/news/national/new-law-looks-to-attract-more-diverse-pilots-to-the-skies https://www.ksby.com/news/national/new-law-looks-to-attract-...
  - beervirus 6y ago
    Plenty of people believe ridiculous things, story at 9.
- tehjoker 6y ago
  Not even sure where to start with this level of elitism, but Elon Musk is certainly an expert in batteries, automotive production, rocketry and telemetry, and financial services all at once and not just a brand. The kind of sentiment you are expressing is directly antithetical to having any kind of real democracy. If you've ever met the people in power, many of them are quite dumb. It's easy to listen to experts (or not) and give commands. How often do you hear that executives don't know what's happening in their companies but the people on the line know exactly what to do but were not consulted seriously? To answer your question about airline pilots, I would probably accept (and in fact do, the FAA) a system designed by what is allegedly a democracy. Usually people don't have direct popular elections for technical positions, but design rules in consultation with people familiar with the field. If the voters were in fact other airline personnel, a direct election could be viable though I would require some qualifying criteria (e.g. people with XXXX hours of flight time).

bsanr2 6y ago

Interest-free loans, given as a public good and to hedge against a wealth tax. Get your name on some newfangled venture and keep Uncle Sam's hands out of your pocket, but you don't get to rent your money.