tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post4955281834994384664..comments2023-10-24T11:03:41.388-05:00Comments on ladypoverty: "Between equal rights, force decides"J.R. Boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09076895859826581960noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-60436405735422279752011-01-24T17:01:38.364-05:002011-01-24T17:01:38.364-05:00One interesting blurring has occurred with Prop 13...One interesting blurring has occurred with Prop 13...the property tax freeze passed in California. Sold as a means of protecting the homes of elderly residents priced by ever increasing property values and taxes, the main beneficiaries have been large corporations...who transfer their property far less frequently than single family residences.Brian Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-72996167509987666212011-01-22T18:52:02.324-05:002011-01-22T18:52:02.324-05:00One of the greatest triumphs of "American sty...One of the greatest triumphs of "American style capitalism" propaganda has been getting people to conflate "individual liberties" with corporate 'liberty'. A challenge I repeatedly find myself in when having discussions with right-leaning acquaintances is trying to draw the distinction between the two. And not just make the distinction but point out how individual liberty is often in direct conflict with corporate liberty. <br /><br />As you have nicely pointed out, the same deliberate blurring has occured around the discussion of property.Ben Therehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09552547709669462400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-86644439355119519802011-01-22T11:18:22.207-05:002011-01-22T11:18:22.207-05:00Richard:
Yes, personal possessions -- that which ...Richard:<br /><br />Yes, personal possessions -- that which you can make productive use of in your own capacity -- is the the classic alternative offered up by various socialists against "private property" as an institutional arrangement.<br /><br />As you suggest, we won't find much consensus on the terms and their definitions in a US context, so I like to begin where most Americans already are, which is to regard their personal possessions as a form of private property to which they are proudly attached, will defend to the death with firearms, and "all the rest of it," as our friend David Harvey would say.<br /><br /><br />Peter:<br /><br />You make a persuasive case as far as I am concerned! <br /><br />I think many Americans are emotionally attached to the small business economic model; and when I look at my Italian Market neighborhood here in Philadelphia, which still sports independent proprietors hawking pasta, meats, and cheese; I can appreciate why. <br /><br />I think it's a discussion many communities are interested in having, and of course I think it would be great if it was supplemented by an examination of first principles like the ones you raise. We have to integrate what makes sense into conversations that people are eager to have.JRBhttp://ladypoverty.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-7418529674560424902011-01-21T23:22:41.901-05:002011-01-21T23:22:41.901-05:00Having been employed by both a "small busines...Having been employed by both a "small business" as well as a mega-corp, I found the experience of the worker about the same.<br /><br />Personal experience aside, based on interviews I've done for the Retail Action Project here in the City, it seems some of the wost local labor abusers are "small businesses".<br /><br />In fact the "small business" is a construct devised to defended the rentier model against, say, self-management or the basic libertarian principle that, "the laborer who attends a garden is perhaps in a truer since its owner than the listless voluptuary who enjoys its fruits."Peter Wardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-22275718913337736662011-01-21T13:59:25.269-05:002011-01-21T13:59:25.269-05:00It seems to me that it was a great rhetorical vict...It seems to me that it was a great rhetorical victory for capital when personal possessions were elided with "private property", causing much confusion among normal people. Another good post.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08014014605639738887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-58904201991788094092011-01-21T11:17:05.719-05:002011-01-21T11:17:05.719-05:00Nice quotation, "new freedom agenda" is ...Nice quotation, "new freedom agenda" is a chilling phrase.mitchnoreply@blogger.com