4 ms·

The alternatives being worse doesn't make a critique of a system less valid. Yes, it's good that we have free political speech and yes, it's true that capitalis

The alternatives being worse doesn't make a critique of a system less valid. Yes, it's good that we have free political speech and yes, it's true that capitalism's incentives drive decisions like invasive data collection.

noduerme 5y ago
Breath of fresh air to read that in one perfect paragraph. I only set up straw men when I'm bored. So ok. It's interesting how capitalist and authoritarian motives converge when it comes to violating individuals' privacy. You're leaving me hanging. Under the current system in America I can use VPNs and all kinds of ways to hide my identity, even if it does get harder to buy a Roku. There's no such ability in China, let alone a right to pursue your ability to protect your identity. Identity and individuality are simply not a thing. Capitalism does, because is sells individualism (Chevy trucks, Coors Beer, the Green Bay Packers) - it does have to grudgingly allow individual people to, you know, act as individuals. From time to time. This is a difference that a lot of people gloss over, but it's the reason all those assholes voted for Trump, which just proves that it can be harnessed. But moreover, rank obstinacy isn't necessarily a bad thing when the alternative is totalitarianism.
robertlagrant 5y ago
All incentives are the same in that regard - wanting to have and know more things. That's nothing to do with capitalism. Capitalism lives within that desire, as does socialism. Capitalism and socialism (excluding others for time) only differ on who gets to allocate resources. Do independent parties allocate their resources based on mutual agreements, within a legal framework run by a central authority? Or does a central authority allocate resources, within a legal framework run by that central authority?

4 ms·

The alternatives being worse doesn't make a critique of a system less valid. Yes, it's good that we have free political speech and yes, it's true that capitalis

by brightstep 5y ago

noduerme 5y ago
Breath of fresh air to read that in one perfect paragraph. I only set up straw men when I'm bored. So ok. It's interesting how capitalist and authoritarian motives converge when it comes to violating individuals' privacy. You're leaving me hanging. Under the current system in America I can use VPNs and all kinds of ways to hide my identity, even if it does get harder to buy a Roku. There's no such ability in China, let alone a right to pursue your ability to protect your identity. Identity and individuality are simply not a thing. Capitalism does, because is sells individualism (Chevy trucks, Coors Beer, the Green Bay Packers) - it does have to grudgingly allow individual people to, you know, act as individuals. From time to time. This is a difference that a lot of people gloss over, but it's the reason all those assholes voted for Trump, which just proves that it can be harnessed. But moreover, rank obstinacy isn't necessarily a bad thing when the alternative is totalitarianism.
robertlagrant 5y ago
All incentives are the same in that regard - wanting to have and know more things. That's nothing to do with capitalism. Capitalism lives within that desire, as does socialism. Capitalism and socialism (excluding others for time) only differ on who gets to allocate resources. Do independent parties allocate their resources based on mutual agreements, within a legal framework run by a central authority? Or does a central authority allocate resources, within a legal framework run by that central authority?