In its worst misuse, “corporatism” is given as a synonym for capitalism. Corporatism is made of fictions, while capitalism is a natural economic occurrence. Corporatism is the case where statism is used to control purely natural market activities. When well-meaning people complain about the excesses of capitalism, they are usually resenting the dodging of responsibility, legislatively by the state-licensed corporation or illegally by the marauder.
Author: Kilgore Forelle
Unforeseen Consequences, Boeing Edition
I don’t want to rehash the details, to second guess, to play “I told you so.” It looks as though, however, that complication has led again to unforeseen consequences. It seems that a collision among customers, research and development, marketing, and multitudinous governmental regulatory agencies has produced another snarl of buck passing and finger pointing, diluted responsibility and destroyed accountability.
Statism Scorecard
Some headlines: A — Afghanistan — 2 US service members dead B — Brazil — Bolsonaro C — China — explosion kills
Randolph Bourne
Bourne packed a lot of ideas into his short life, and did much writing for someone who was repeatedly canned for being so forthright with his ideas. Today, his legacy includes the Randolph Bourne Institute and its instrument, Antiwar.com. Furthermore, Bourne is famous for the very durable quote, “War is the health of the State.”
The World’s Largest Socialist Economy
Who has the largest military system in the history of the human race? And who has the largest corporate welfare system to support the industrial arm of that military? Who has the largest public schooling program in the world? Could it be China, or India? I don’t know, but let me know if you are aware of real evidence that it is not the USA.
Tempus Fugit
“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.”
Words Poorly Used #139 — Complexity
Complexity is an ambiguous word covering any combination. It is a minefield. It is the stuff of unforeseen consequences. The user of the word can stretch its meaning to post-describe any set of relationships.
The Shadow Factory
All units (individuals) have agenda. Each human will try to attach her agenda to the agenda at the highest levels attainable — for instance, in The Shadow Factory, the top set of agenda is that of the White House (nominally authored by George W. Bush, truly by Dick Cheney), a lower but very high set of agenda for the NSA, expressed by and through General Mike Hayden.
When Will the Media Admit …
Some wishful thinker the other day, on Facebook, wondered in a post “When will the media admit … [blah blah blah]?” The answer is … NEVER. “The media” is not a sentient being. In fact, the media can be relied upon to go for the lowest common denominator.
Who’s In, Who’s Out?
Last week there was a sort of sea change in the ongoing saga of the ships of fools. POTUS’s former personal attorney, Mr. Cohen, appeared before an assembled committee of congresspersons. The first takeaway was that Cohen was not a compelling witness. The second takeaway was that the warring parties fell all over themselves trying to make something of the proceedings.