EPTin capitalism having too much stuff is not just a waste of resources, it is a threat to the economic system, because redistributing the surplus (which would be the rational thing to do) is a threat to the social order. This increases the amount of waste, not decreasing it as a result of magic capitalist autopoesis as jonny believes
US Politics Mega-thread - Page 429
| Forum Index > Closed |
Read the rules in the OP before posting, please. In order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a re-read to refresh your memory! The vast majority of you are contributing in a healthy way, keep it up! NOTE: When providing a source, explain why you feel it is relevant and what purpose it adds to the discussion if it's not obvious. Also take note that unsubstantiated tweets/posts meant only to rekindle old arguments can result in a mod action. | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
in capitalism having too much stuff is not just a waste of resources, it is a threat to the economic system, because redistributing the surplus (which would be the rational thing to do) is a threat to the social order. This increases the amount of waste, not decreasing it as a result of magic capitalist autopoesis as jonny believes | ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 04:07 sam!zdat wrote: that's not a threat to the economic system, it's just a waste of effort. Capitalism also engages in a lot of things that are a waste of effort, so that breaks even. Also I'm not that kind of a communist so I take no responsibility for central planning, I've been advocating decentralization for pages. I'm really not a stalinist, I'm a big fan of nassim taleb which is as far as you could get from being a stalinist. in capitalism having too much stuff is not just a waste of resources, it is a threat to the economic system, because redistributing the surplus (which would be the rational thing to do) is a threat to the social order. This increases the amount of waste, not decreasing it as a result of magic capitalist autopoesis as jonny believes Redistributing the surplus happens all the time. It's called a sale. BOGO baby! Capitalism encourages the reduction of waste. Waste reduces profits. | ||
|
Danglars
United States12133 Posts
Capitalism does a pretty damn good job satisfying demands and focusing production. I know some on this forum will not be satisfied with an economic system until the exact amount of lumber produced leaves just one last pencil for the final back to school shopper and none remaining. The latest tries at engineering markets and directing an economy create much worse waste than it was supposedly trying to improve. It turns out the price signalling is the best way yet discovered for a large society to put scarce resources where they're most needed. I'm talking short of a huge population decrease. It's a lot easier when you personally know your suppliers and your customers. | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
also it has to install in everyone a relativist ideology to convince everyone that it is blasphemous to make any sorts of value judgments about what goes on around them. Precisely because of the above | ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 04:53 sam!zdat wrote: capitalism has to invent new desires and convince people that useless things are useful in order to keep the motor of accumulation running. Obviously. That's what television is for also it has to install in everyone a relativist ideology to convince everyone that it is blasphemous to make any sorts of value judgments about what goes on around them. Precisely because of the above TV advertising exists as a means to convey information and increase efficiency. | ||
|
farvacola
United States18857 Posts
| ||
|
Danglars
United States12133 Posts
| ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:00 farvacola wrote: Unfortunately, it does oh so much more. Like fund entertainment? | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
On September 13 2013 04:57 JonnyBNoHo wrote: TV advertising exists as a means to convey information and increase efficiency. yeah ok jonny | ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
You need volume otherwise fixed costs make production expensive. Ex. A full truckload is about as expensive as a half truckload in terms of shipping costs. If you can advertise and cajole people into buying enough to justify a full truckload of goods you can make the endeavor more efficient. | ||
|
farvacola
United States18857 Posts
If you'd like to read up on the latent effects of media, I highly recommend Marshall McLuhan's Understanding Media. It's a little dated at this point, but it serves as an excellent introduction to how media like television can shape the way society views the world and itself. | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
thanks for providing an enlightening example of the utter banality of capitalist ideology. I hope all you kids out there are listening to this man very carefully | ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:12 sam!zdat wrote: if you have to cajole someone into buying something, you shouldn't have made it in the first place. That's flat out stupid. People can and do enjoy things they've been convinced to participate in. If a teacher has to convince a student to read a book the book must really be bad. Otherwise the student would have already read it, right? | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
| ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:21 sam!zdat wrote: nope. I'm not a relativist that's your ideology. I'm an old fashioned mean totalitarian defender of western civilization, critical thought, and human dignity. Books: good. Consumerism: bad. blow up your television and fucking educate yourself. I have a great education on the topic already! You should listen to me when I share it, rather than slavishly sticking to whatever ideology you hold. | ||
|
sam!zdat
United States5559 Posts
edit: you didn't know who adam smith was. Don't talk to me about your education | ||
|
sc2superfan101
3583 Posts
In fact, all you really need to survive is a tribe and maybe a stone tool or two. Oh the great outdoors! | ||
|
Roe
Canada6002 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:31 sc2superfan101 wrote: You know, Starcraft 2 is pretty useless in the grand scheme of things. So is the internet. And clean water. In fact, all you really need to survive is a tribe and maybe a stone tool or two. Oh the great outdoors! you know, existing is pretty useless in the "grand scheme of things" | ||
|
sc2superfan101
3583 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:43 Roe wrote: you know, existing is pretty useless in the "grand scheme of things" Indeed. Which is why bitching about the propagation of "useless things" in the capitalist system is, ironically, a complete waste of time and resources. | ||
|
JonnyBNoHo
United States6277 Posts
On September 13 2013 05:30 sam!zdat wrote: you don't have an education jonny you went to busyness school edit: you didn't know who adam smith was. Don't talk to me about your education Yeah b-school is a lie made up by the shadowy capitalist conspiracy. Universities are just in on it too. How about you start using facts and making logical arguments rather than just conspiracy theory ravings and insults? Edit: What's wrong with b-school anyways? Is your problem that b-school teaches people to think for themselves rather than blindly follow in whatever economic prophet you believe in? | ||
| ||
