Monday, October 26, 2009

Things that sound great in theory

David Weidner, Wall Street Journal:

For many of us, our love for capitalism is real, and for us, love isn't too strong of a word. But like every relationship, it's complicated. It's easy to be infatuated by theories. Who didn't feel a rush of power when they were handed their first paycheck from a summer job? Who isn't awed by the beautiful efficiency of free markets, how they reward ingenuity and keep balance between buyers and sellers?

I'm awed by the beautiful efficiency of eating a sandwich.  I don't know if that figures prominently capitalist theory, but I'd love to see everyone try it in practice!

7 comments:

Salty said...

"Who didn't feel a rush of power when they were handed their first paycheck from a summer job?"

Me

"Who isn't awed by the beautiful efficiency of free markets, how they reward ingenuity and keep balance between buyers and sellers?"

Me.

almostinfamous said...

It's easy to be infatuated by theories.

well at least THAT explains what David is doing in the WSJ...

Anonymous said...

Unless you harvested the wheat, baked the bread, kept a garden and harvested the veggies, bred, kept, and slaughtered the pig/turkey/cow, and then flew to wherever it is that the spices in your condiment of choice are from and harvested those somehow, too--yeah, you might feel *something* akin to affection or reverence or at least gratitude for the efficiency that allows you to make and eat your sandwich. Would it be better if someone in the Ministry of Sandwicherie calculated for and anticipated your tastes, and dispatched well-paid agro-uptopian worker-kings to the fields? You tell me, I really don't see how. Is it better to just buy local? Probably. Would it be better if the Mexicans who picked *my* tomatoes were doing so as part of a life that is better than shit? Of course. But, LadyPov, please do better than this post. Some people genuinely care about others and do indeed see aspects of free enterprise and, horror!, capital(ism) as allowing people--and not just the capitalists--to live better, happier, more easily, with less drudgery, more free time, better meals, and, as Warren Zevon bid us, to "Enjoy every sandwich."

JRB said...

Hey, buddy. For you, a holistic haiku:

There is no such thing as a free lunch

No one is hiring

You see my dilemma!

Anonymous said...

I like it, but that's not a haiku!

Am I totally wrong about the blessings of specialization/the division of labor? Like, sandwiches existing?

As far as unemployment--of course I agree, this sucks. What would work? If you don't have any specific ideas, links to folks who do?

-Buddy

JRB said...

Hey, buddy. It's good to hear from you.

I'm not good at haikus. In fact, I may not be good at anything. Even still, I doubt you would deny me a sandwich.

So why endorse a social system that does? It seems to me that either capitalism meets this minimum standard of decency -- that people who are hungry have some means to eat -- or we continue working towards something that will.

For example: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/908d3950-c3eb-11de-a290-00144feab49a.html

JRB said...

I'll include the link in an upcoming post.

Thanks for critical perspective.