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// freedom and free markets
when people call the united states 'a free country', they are typically referring to the bill of rights (freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, of assembly, to petition, etc.) as well as our right to vote in a democracy - in other words, they are referring to a freedom to live individually in a way we find fitting, and to vote in order to shape and effect the laws and conditions under we live our lives.
when we describe our economy as being 'a free market', we are saying that commercial entities operate in a way that is relatively of state intervention. these two conceptions of freedom are considered not only to be compatible, but to essentially be a manifestation of the same principles - but is this true?
if our rights in a democracy secure our ability to shape our own society to reflect our needs and values, why is that ability not considered to extend to shaping the economic aspects of our society, given that commerce has grown to almost encompass every modern human activity? how do we reconcile this being a free country with workers' inability to control their work or have influence over their working conditions, given that we spend half of our waking hours in the workplace?
assuming that the purported benefits of free-market capitalism (efficiency, innovation) are unique to capitalism and necessary for a well-functioning society, can these qualities survive real and comprehensive democracy?
more »
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e i s b r e c h e r | jpeg | 2009-03-11:
how did we drift so far out / hard news is the risk of finding out
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| freezer burn (future cut) | | mp3 | 2008-09-05:
japan: a suzuki jetcycle seethes through the holographic infrastructure. on the horizon stands a biomechanoid centaur with a plasma crossbow - time to intercept: 1:36
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sphex.tentacle.net supports and honors:
» terminator - selected scenes
» thomas hobbes - leviathan
» nicolai rosen died of loneliness
» george bush tribute gallery
» monkey vs robot have yet to reach resolution.
» adbusters - fuck the corporate
» TOR - geeks always win
» propellerheads' reason
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