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Capitalism works because it can find an alternative to the resource that is running out. Something centrally planned systems struggle with. And a big reason why

by _hypx 4y ago

Capitalism works because it can find an alternative to the resource that is running out. Something centrally planned systems struggle with. And a big reason why centrally planned systems fail is because they are usually ruled by conservative men who cannot imagine a world without said resource. Meanwhile, a capitalist system will “creatively destroy” the old way of doing things and replace it with a new one. Ironically, people who cheer on capitalism often struggle with accepting the new way.

Slava_Propanei 4y ago
[dead]
TulliusCicero 4y ago
Markets tend to be results oriented in a way that governments tend not to be. Of course, sometimes that result involves exploiting the shit out of workers and destroying the environment along the way, but by God they'll get the thing done if said thing makes them money.
- ianai 4y ago
  And yet modern day would be impossible if we bulldozed all our roads, highways, and rail. That stuff needed massive government investment.
  - johngladtj 4y ago
    Did it need that investment? Do you believe that such infrastructure did not exist prior to government? Who do you think funded the first railroads exactly? Hint: if you think it was the government I suggest you start studying the railroad bubbles of the 1830s and 1840s
  - aeternum 4y ago
    Interestingly, the Nordic countries (often used as examples of ideal socialism), have a high percentage of private roads. Might actually work better than the national infrastructure approach: https://devoelmoorecenter.com/2018/02/28/why-the-u-s-should-adopt-the-nordic-approach-to-private-roads/ https://devoelmoorecenter.com/2018/02/28/why-the-u-s-should-... Also, nationalizing passenger rail travel in the US (Amtrak) seems to have led to one of the worst passenger rail services in the world.
    - apelapan 4y ago
      The private roads in Sweden tend to be gravel tracks serving a handful of households. Or logging roads. Some exceptions exist with paved networks of small, suburban streets, but there the "arteries" are still typically public. And there are private railroads that connect a single industry or mine to the public network. If you are on a paved road, wide enough for two cars to meet, it is almost certainly public.

by _hypx 4y ago

Slava_Propanei 4y ago

[dead]

TulliusCicero 4y ago

Markets tend to be results oriented in a way that governments tend not to be. Of course, sometimes that result involves exploiting the shit out of workers and destroying the environment along the way, but by God they'll get the thing done if said thing makes them money.

ianai 4y ago
And yet modern day would be impossible if we bulldozed all our roads, highways, and rail. That stuff needed massive government investment.
- johngladtj 4y ago
  Did it need that investment? Do you believe that such infrastructure did not exist prior to government? Who do you think funded the first railroads exactly? Hint: if you think it was the government I suggest you start studying the railroad bubbles of the 1830s and 1840s
- aeternum 4y ago
  Interestingly, the Nordic countries (often used as examples of ideal socialism), have a high percentage of private roads. Might actually work better than the national infrastructure approach: https://devoelmoorecenter.com/2018/02/28/why-the-u-s-should-adopt-the-nordic-approach-to-private-roads/ https://devoelmoorecenter.com/2018/02/28/why-the-u-s-should-... Also, nationalizing passenger rail travel in the US (Amtrak) seems to have led to one of the worst passenger rail services in the world.
  - apelapan 4y ago
    The private roads in Sweden tend to be gravel tracks serving a handful of households. Or logging roads. Some exceptions exist with paved networks of small, suburban streets, but there the "arteries" are still typically public. And there are private railroads that connect a single industry or mine to the public network. If you are on a paved road, wide enough for two cars to meet, it is almost certainly public.