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70 comments on Right Sizing the Economy: Can Herman Daly's Prescription for a Steady State Economy Accomplish this Task?
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70 comments on Right Sizing the Economy: Can Herman Daly's Prescription for a Steady State Economy Accomplish this Task?
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You are describing a socialist society, whether you realize it or not. The failures of "socialism" so far have been primarily caused by two factors: (1) trying to build a socialist society on the basis of a backward feudalist/capitalist society, as in Russia and China, and (2) the brutal opposition of the capitalist states. Ever since the United States and other Allied powers invaded Soviet Russia in 1918, thru the Second World War (with the Soviets losing 26 million people and most of their cities), thru the Cold War, they have made sure that socialism would never get a chance to develop normally.
This continues today. It is an essential part of U.S. foreign policy to oppose anything that would endanger the global rule of capitalism, and this has been the major cause of most wars in the last 60 years. Overthrowing democratic governments and replacing them with despots is standard practice,m such as Guatemala (1954), Indonesia (1965), Chile (1973), etc.. We even supported the Taliban in our drive to bring capitalism to Afghanistan. It reminds me of the rivalry between Greece and the Roman Empire; Greek democracy did finally prove its superiority, even when ancient Greece no longer existed.
Some second and third world countries are attempting to build a "socialism for the 21st century". One thing that needs to be emphasized for that, is that economic and political competition must be recognized as an evil, Otherwise, we will be busy fighting wars with each other while the environment decays and natural resources disappear. Can socialism be made to work? I don't know, but if we don't try, we're going to go the way of the dinosaurs.
RogerK's is only superficially similar to socialism.
It is misguidedly focused on money and finance. This is more the stuff of populism.
Not that I want to equate RogerK's proposal with old ideas... it draws upon them but constitutes a sort of synthesis featuring some newer ideas which are popular on TOD.
Your analysis of the failures of "socialism" is standard-issue bolshevik revisionism by the way. This is the 21st century... is it not due for an update?
A mighty strange account of history. Greek democracy ended in stupendous disaster with its outstandingly incompetent Sicilian Expedition (aggressive invasion) resulting in the entire Athenian army and navy being destroyed. (Parallels with the present?) That happened while Rome was in early stages of its Republic. This only became the empire over 300 years later.
Democracy was generally recognised as a failed system till only a few hundred years ago when the Brits started enthusing about it.
Oldcommie--Socialism has not been tried because in your concept it can't be. The USSR certainly had a planned economy and highly socialised values and culture. Neither big socialism nor big capitalism work. The left-right preoccupation misses the point that nothing big anonymous works, only small non-anonymous local community can.
Bioregional communities
You did never live in a socialist country, didn't you? Live like born and raised?
For starters read "the gulag archipelago" and follow how the different groups of deviators got decimated. You need a Stalin for socialism to work - people are so selfish and have to be educated. North Korea is a very enlightening example how to perpetuate a socialist society as revolution needs surplus (energy) to overthrow the government - in a society which is lacking internal economic and political competition. You are postulating reveries ignoring millions of victims.