4 ms·

This seems like an odd question to me. Social security? Medicare? Free education? The entire welfare state? The vast majority of regulatory apparatus, which is

This seems like an odd question to me. Social security? Medicare? Free education? The entire welfare state? The vast majority of regulatory apparatus, which is generally implemented when wealthy/owner class people cause damage to employees/poor people to a degree that political action is taken (NLRB, FDA, OSHA, EPA, CFPB, etc.)? The great volume of services provided to all citizens, for free - weather forecasting, GPS, state/federal parks, federally funded research; laws like the CRA, VRA or ADA which help those disadvantaged by racism, disability, etc. Look, I'm not going to say regulatory capture doesn't exist, or that the wealthy don't have advantages in getting laws passed that favor their interests, but there's a great deal of stuff that gets done that is specifically for the poor or the average citizen.

orthecreedence 4y ago
> This seems like an odd question to me. Social security? Medicare? Free education? The entire welfare state? These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. They are crumbs thrown to the masses to keep them from revolting during uncertain times. > The vast majority of regulatory apparatus I'd argue most regulatory bodies are captured agenies in the US. The delineation between state and industry has been fading for decades. They either look the other way, or overregulate to choke out any competition that would unseat existing players. Regulation in the US is almost entirely in service to capital. > weather forecasting, GPS Again, these are likely more in service to the economy (capital) than normal citizens. > state/federal parks Fair enough. I'd add libraries to this list as well. These institutions are actually kind of an odd exception to America's complete obsession with privatization, consumerism, and capital. > laws like the CRA, VRA or ADA which help those disadvantaged by racism, disability, etc. Again, fair enough. > federally funded research Yes, often funded by the citizens such that private industry can sell the result without recompense. > Look, I'm not going to say regulatory capture doesn't exist It's the the rule, not the exception.
- tqi 4y ago
  > These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. By that standard, a law completely redistributed wealth from top to bottom could still be viewed as primarily "benefiting the wealthy"...
- heavyset_go 4y ago
  > These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. They are crumbs thrown to the masses to keep them from revolting during uncertain times. This is how Germany got some of its welfare state way back in the 1800's. Monarchy and statesmen realized they had to quell the masses or they'd get socialist revolutions from the burgeoning socialist movements at the time, and headed them off by implementing things like universal healthcare under Otto von Bismarck.

orthecreedence 4y ago

> This seems like an odd question to me. Social security? Medicare? Free education? The entire welfare state? These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. They are crumbs thrown to the masses to keep them from revolting during uncertain times. > The vast majority of regulatory apparatus I'd argue most regulatory bodies are captured agenies in the US. The delineation between state and industry has been fading for decades. They either look the other way, or overregulate to choke out any competition that would unseat existing players. Regulation in the US is almost entirely in service to capital. > weather forecasting, GPS Again, these are likely more in service to the economy (capital) than normal citizens. > state/federal parks Fair enough. I'd add libraries to this list as well. These institutions are actually kind of an odd exception to America's complete obsession with privatization, consumerism, and capital. > laws like the CRA, VRA or ADA which help those disadvantaged by racism, disability, etc. Again, fair enough. > federally funded research Yes, often funded by the citizens such that private industry can sell the result without recompense. > Look, I'm not going to say regulatory capture doesn't exist It's the the rule, not the exception.

tqi 4y ago
> These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. By that standard, a law completely redistributed wealth from top to bottom could still be viewed as primarily "benefiting the wealthy"...
heavyset_go 4y ago
> These benefit the wealthy. They are used the quell the thirst for wealthy blood that would otherwise be prevalent. They are crumbs thrown to the masses to keep them from revolting during uncertain times. This is how Germany got some of its welfare state way back in the 1800's. Monarchy and statesmen realized they had to quell the masses or they'd get socialist revolutions from the burgeoning socialist movements at the time, and headed them off by implementing things like universal healthcare under Otto von Bismarck.