It seems to me, that for capitalism to really work, Man has to be basically good in nature. Man has to not want to exploit his fellow man for profit -- or at least be deterred from doing so for some reason. That reason might be morality, legality, or reputation -- the reason doesn't matter, the end action does.
Socialism assumes that Man will not get along with his fellow Man, unless they are equal -- there's a group of haves, and a group of have-nots, and under socialism, it's the government's job to move wealth from the haves to the have-nots.
(As a note, much of this discussion follows from several long conversations with Scott.)
Some would argue that today the government is moving wealth from the have-nots to the haves, and I couldn't argue against that. Some would also point out that the Robber Barons, and well, most of the industrial revolution, really, cast quite the bad light on capitalism. Hell, an entire continent, most of the
But that's not what this is about.
It would seem to me, that capitalism assumes that Man is good. Doesn't necessitate it, but assumes. Socialism, however, assumes that man is evil, that he will not do good for his fellow man unless put under threat of force.
Is the world fair?
Really, I think that the basis of several political ideas, and economic systems, can be set out with a few simple questions. I'm not sure what all of these questions are, I'll probably never know them all, and I'm sure these ones aren't perfect, but I'd like to try(in all of these, feel free to substitute life for 'the world' -- I don't think it changes it):
Is the world fair?
If not, is it the government's job to try to make it fair?
If it is the government's job to make it fair, do you feel that the government can suceed in this?
If the government can suceed in making the world fair, is there someone, anyone, who could do it better?
Two Final Questions
Should the government force people who are better off to help those who are not so well off?
Well, one more question, I suppose -- this one comes from from Robert Heinlein's wonderful work: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress(and this quote may be a bit off):
"When is it moral for the group to do what it would not be moral for the individual to do?"
Leave a comment