Social Cooperation

Comments

Samarami's picture

Indian:

    Capitalism is white TAKER (thievin') culture. "Free-Market" is a masquerade to whitewash brutal aggression.

I'm convinced ALL "ism" fits that category. When you put "free-market" in quotes I'm assuming you are implying "free" as overshadowed by predators claiming to be agents of state. That's "bond".

Individuals mutually consenting to exchange -- whether items or ideas -- tend to avoid aggression (although I recognize there can be thieves walking around freely who do not sport state costumes, tin badges, and are not dangerously armed and touting claims of legitimacy).

Free-market thieves (those without the costumes, tin badges and claims of legitimacy) are easily distracted through cooperation between consenting marketeers.

I might be wrong. Challenge me.

Sam

Samarami's picture

Indian:

    There is no "free-market" in civilization that isn't founded on lots of aggression. Agricultural City-Statism (civilization) is built on a pile of skulls and leaves a Trail of Tears.

Sounds like a tale of woe to me. But that's no doubt the way you see it, and if that's the way you see it, that's the way it is. For you.

On the other hand, in any "society" there have been free men and women. There were Jews in Nazi Germany and in the Warsaw Ghetto. They're the ones who wore no yellow arm bands, engaged in no "uprisings", neither made pacts with the enemy nor turned in or narked on fellow Israelites. Some eventually escaped, many died. But death is not a symptom of a lack of freedom. 100 years from today you and I will have died.

I will have died free. I don't know about you. As long as you put the term "free market" in quotes, I presume you may not die free. Angry, perhaps, but not free.

Sam

Samarami's picture

I need to add one more thought: I get the feeling from your posts, Indian, that you have a general mindset that states that nobody can be free without changing the behaviors of others. That I cannot be free living within the boundaries of what has definitely become a police state -- with government incursions on our right and government incursions on our left. My understanding of your posts hints that, due to the egregious and tyrannical behaviors of all those who engendered "Agricultural City-Statism (civilization)", and due to the fact I live within the fictitious boundaries of those tyrants, I cannot be free. That due to "corporate greed" I'm a slave.

That's where you and I disagree.

"Corporate Greed" is an interesting term when you analyze it. It fits the classic example of state agents concocting a "problem" then creating the illusion with the shapeless masses they are "on it" -- that they are working diligently to solve the "problem" (they created in the first place). "Just vote for me and I'll work to expand government to regulate them bastards!"

The poor working bloke never comes to understand s/he would be better off if s/he would Abstain From Beans (and stay out of unions that are incestuously yoked with "the government").

Remember: the idea of "corporation" or corporate status is a government sponsored enterprise (GSE). Corporations cannot exist without government franchise and the political connect and favoritism that goes along with it. That's what corporatism is all about. And I am powerless to change it.

But get the poor sheep chanting, "Corporate Greed! Stop Corporate Greed!" While they piddle away their productive efforts into the coffers of the concordat between government agents and politically connected "business" (men).

I'm personally convinced -- and I could be 'way off base on this -- that genuine freedom comes to the individual who recognized his or her powerlessness to change ANYBODY. I can exchange information and opinion with you. And if I'm willing to keep an open mind I can gain deeper insights and make internal changes from the posts you write. But change you? Unless you showed an openness to change I'd do better attempting to shift the north wind.

"If it's going to be, it's up to me".

Through the mutual (and free) exchange of ideas and information we might -- and certainly do -- have an influence one upon the other. But my freedom is not dependent upon you or your approval or agreement.

Be free.

Sam

Samarami's picture

Indian:

    But you're not free in the holistic sense of the word. You're definitely not free to gambol about plain and forest to live a millions-of-years successful Non-State lifeway.

You and I agree in that. I might NEVER be free to "...gambol about plain and forest to live a millions-of-years..." First of all, I'm 76. I'm gonna die one of these days. Now if you're of a religious bent you might say that if I'm "good" I'll be wafted off to "heaven" and live forever on streets paved with gold...(why gold? -- don't ask). But I'm more realistic than that, and that's why I ride a bicycle everywhere when I could well afford to drive a nice automobile. It keeps me from being enslaved in a nursing home.

Second, there's precious little "...plain and forest.." on which to gambol about. I've got to be content with the ice-covered and snow-packed streets of the city for now. I've given thought to moving back down to my native Fayette County, TX (500 miles south of Dallas) where the streets and highways stay clear year-'round, but I choose to stay in Ioway close to family and friends. That's the price of free choice.

I call myself the richest man in our town because few 76 year-olds are in as good physical or mental condition as I. That's why the "I AM THE 1%" bumper stickers on my bikes. I work because I want to work, not because I have to work.

But I do see your point -- and it's well taken. There are and will always be limitations to my freedom. If no other infringements to freedom I'll have family responsibilities that keep me from always doing my own will.

Sam

Samarami's picture

This guy laments about the absence of a "free market":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=B_FncAQsAJg#!