"In the end somebody's views will have to decide whose interests are more important; and these views must become part of the law of the land, a new distinction of rank which the coercive apparatus of government imposes upon people.... Planning leads to dictatorship, because dictatorship is the most effective instrument of coercion and the enforcement of ideals and, as such, essential if central planning on a large scare is to be possible."
That is a Hayek quote via John Cassidy's excellent How Markets Fail: The Logic of Economic Calamities.
So obviously I'm taking him a bit out of context. But lets read this text very carefully.
In the end somebodies views will have to decide the collective action quandaries we face as a society
--we call it governance. But when we impose market liberalism on people via central planning mandates and trade deals--very subtly labelled "free trade" even though they are full of protectionism's for the 1% that redistribute wealth upwards--we are on the pathway to dictatorship by the 1%.
I noted yesterday in my post The mechanism for selecting competent leaders is broken that the radical wing of Congressional Republicans and the small but powerful group of deficit fixated Wall Street Democrats are nothing short of a Sturmabteilung for the 1%.
This falls right in line with what Hayek predicted in these lines. As I noted recently over at The Nation magazine a specter is haunting America, that of our citizens’ inability to see, understand, or act—as autonomous individuals in a collective manner—to challenge their own decline. The 1% have utilized the central planners to create an economy that works for them only.
Its up to us to take it back from them. You can start by reading Cassy's book which I highly recommend. Remember, knowledge is power, and fighting back against the 1% won't be easy unless you know what you are talking about!
So obviously I'm taking him a bit out of context. But lets read this text very carefully.
In the end somebodies views will have to decide the collective action quandaries we face as a society
--we call it governance. But when we impose market liberalism on people via central planning mandates and trade deals--very subtly labelled "free trade" even though they are full of protectionism's for the 1% that redistribute wealth upwards--we are on the pathway to dictatorship by the 1%.I noted yesterday in my post The mechanism for selecting competent leaders is broken that the radical wing of Congressional Republicans and the small but powerful group of deficit fixated Wall Street Democrats are nothing short of a Sturmabteilung for the 1%.
This falls right in line with what Hayek predicted in these lines. As I noted recently over at The Nation magazine a specter is haunting America, that of our citizens’ inability to see, understand, or act—as autonomous individuals in a collective manner—to challenge their own decline. The 1% have utilized the central planners to create an economy that works for them only.
Its up to us to take it back from them. You can start by reading Cassy's book which I highly recommend. Remember, knowledge is power, and fighting back against the 1% won't be easy unless you know what you are talking about!
At the same time that the top 1% have enjoyed 95% of our economic recovery, roughly 15% of Americans now receive food stamps or other poverty programs. What about the other 80+% of us?
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