4 ms·
> No one is in a capitalist system. We are all in a capitalist system. Capitalism doesn't mean free markets, it has a much wider definition than that, and does
by ianleeclark 5y ago
> No one is in a capitalist system.
We are all in a capitalist system. Capitalism doesn't mean free markets, it has a much wider definition than that, and doesn't require free markets.
- nicoburns 5y agoHis previous sentence mentions "pure capitalism" which makes the one you quoted make more sense. No one lives in a purely capitalist system, but it is hel up as an ideal. Which is bizarre, as it would be a pretty hellish thing to live under. There's a very good reason why our capitalism is hybridused with democracy and state run services. And attempts since the late 80s/90s to move closer to a purely capitalist system seem to mainly have caused greater inequality and inefficiency.
- ianleeclark 5y ago> His previous sentence mentions "pure capitalism" which makes the one you quoted make more sense. I read it as, "why talk about pure capitalism when we're not even in capitalism?" I've seen far more conflation of the two by commenters on HN than not, so maybe that's clouding my reading.
- foxpurple 5y agoThe more common name for this is Anarco Capitalism. Or ancap. It’s somewhat of a meme on the internet because of how absurd situations become with no government or central police force.
- aaron-santos 5y agoJust a definition check. By 'purely capitalist system', does that mean a world where all of the means of production are privately owned eg: the non-existence of worker-owned corps, co-ops, or any government-owned production?