• trailing9@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    The mechanism is simple. But how do you prevent the ones who regulate it from being corrupted?

    I have to admit that I don’t know Keynes’ answer. If you don’t mind, could you give me some keywords for a search, please?

    • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmygrad.ml
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      1 year ago

      But how do you prevent the ones who regulate it from being corrupted?

      By setting up a system that don’t promote corruption nor require it, unlike capitalism which do.

      Keynes answer was to make state regulate the above features of capitalism, but Keynes either from ignorance (hard to believe) or rather from utter idealism, ignored Marx and Smith analysis and warnings and put the regulation of capitalism in the hands of capitalist state. In effect, he tasked regulating those nastiest of men from OP quote to the very same men.

      Recommended read: Lenin’s “Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism”

      • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        I really have to read it. But I don’t question that the state will be corrupted. My question is how that non-corruptive system can be created. That’s the tricky part.

        • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmygrad.ml
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          1 year ago

          Yes, it indeed is very tricky. For that there isn’t real universal answer except socialism (as system which don’t encourage nor require corruption) plus constant effort. Basically all socialist leaders wrote at least something about that. One of most notable examples is Xi Jinping, whose entire career is based on sucessful anticorruption activity on many levels of government.

          • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            What is human nature? If there is no obvious corruption then there can be hidden corruption. Socialist people could easily find each other and live together in harmony, but they don’t, which suggests that some coercion is needed.

            With effort, capitalism can be maintained, too. Elect a party that taxes capital and maintain the balance.

            Would Xi Jinping be elected if there wasn’t the threat of invasion and the existential need to avoid corruption?

            • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmygrad.ml
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              1 year ago

              What is human nature?

              https://github.com/dessalines/essays/blob/master/crash_course_socialism.md#history-and-human-nature

              If there is no obvious corruption then there can be hidden corruption.

              Especially if you’re imprisoned in the preemptive inquisitorial mindset which leads you to dismiss any potential change because it might not be perfect, which is sadly the case in a lot of western leftists.

              Socialist people could easily find each other and live together in harmony, but they don’t, which suggests that some coercion is needed.

              We all live in class societies and you can’t just leave society, especially nowadays. And while you can try to chage it, by the means of revolution, there will be reaction. Recommended reading: Engels “The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State”, Marx “The Class Struggles in France, 1848 to 1850” and “The Civil War in France”.

              About coercion, what is needed first is the cessation of coercion and violence from capitalist states. So far, not happened anywhere, thus we need revolution.

              With effort, capitalism can be maintained, too.

              Not indefinitely. Capitalism require infinite growth but we only have finite planet. It is undoubtedly resilient system, as evidenced by its developing from ordinary capitalism into imperialism and then by several cycles inside the imperialism level, but eventually it will fall. Problem is, it will most likely kill all or most of us, destroy the planet and collapse entire civilisation. Thus we need to put a stop to it, the sooner the better.

              Elect a party that taxes capital and maintain the balance.

              As above, impossible. Again, Lenin’s “Imperialism…” and Marx book 1 of “Capital”. Last century is especially glaring example of complete failure of keynesian model, which wasn’t even really fully implement anywhere.

              Would Xi Jinping be elected if there wasn’t the threat of invasion and the existential need to avoid corruption?

              Now that would be a magical world without any hardships. Sorry, marxism don’t deal with that.

              • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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                1 year ago

                Thanks for the link.

                So many topics to reply, I pick the following.

                Capitalism doesn’t need infinite growth. That’s only needed if all interests are paid. Some creditors can fold. That’s where capitalists work, they have to pick or make the winners.

                I wouldn’t give up on the majority maintaining a tax rate. Ignorance is paying off, so people don’t care but that can change. The question is how?

                Inversely, I don’t believe that socialists are inherently less corrupt. My last paragraph was not about hardship but policy-altering threats. If socialism needs them then it’s as dependent on competition as capitalism.

                • PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmygrad.ml
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                  1 year ago

                  Capitalism doesn’t need infinite growth.

                  Wrong. Marx explains this and reality confirmes it all the time. What happens when the capital runs out of the roon for growth? It crashes in a crisis, simple as. Every decade or so, for the last 200 years. Crisis destroys some capital, leaving some room to grow in this place, but every time, countless human being suffer and the wealth gets even more concentrated. Also the profit margin is on average dropping.

                  That’s where capitalists work, they have to pick or make the winners.

                  And you say you don’t see the concentration of wealth as being inherent to capitalism? Someone wins, someone have to lose.

                  I wouldn’t give up on the majority maintaining a tax rate.

                  “Majority” don’t have power in capitalism. Capital has. For well known example, for how long majority of USA citizens wants public healthcare? Decades, and nothing happened. How long are people in most capitalist countries against austerity? Yet they are getting consecutive rounds of it, both in boom and in bust. Why are neoliberals in power almost everywhere in capitalist countries while being unpopular? Etc. etc.

                  Ignorance is paying off, so people don’t care but that can change. The question is how?

                  Yes, and we have ample historical proof people can take the power and use it in good way. Answer is socialism.

                  I don’t believe that socialists are inherently less corrupt.

                  They you believe wrong. Take out profit motive, that will took out most of it, by the definition.

                  My last paragraph was not about hardship but policy-altering threats. If socialism needs them then it’s as dependent on competition as capitalism.

                  What kind of competition do you even mean here?

                  • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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                    1 year ago

                    Without profit motivation, you end up with the sovjet union not having enough grain.

                    I see the danger in accumulation of capital like there is danger in nuclear energy. It requires skills to manage it. The answer can involve socialism but I think it’s not entirely political. Why has the population not prevented the fall of the sovjet union?

                    Marx argues like capitalists during the banking crisis. Let even the critical businesses go bust. The means of production remain. The state takes ownership and production continues. Shares can be sold later on. Accumulation of capital doesn’t matter if you tax it.

                    The last paragraph. You mention Xi Jinping who cleared corruption. Is that something that can be expected in a world organized by socialism? Why would a corrupt socialist elite elect somebody like him as a leader without the threat of invasion?

                  • trailing9@lemmy.ml
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                    1 year ago

                    Thanks for the links. I have tried to find a contradiction to my points in the first one but haven’t.

                    Marx writes before democracy. If you control the law, you want accumulation of capital because you can tax it. Let the capitalists optimize society and enjoy universal basic income.

                    Of course there is corruption. But that’s not limited to capitalism although it can be more severe.