Webb_S [Webb_S@bls.gov] wrote:
>In Russia and many SE Asian countries, for example, global
>capitalism looks rather like a dismal failure at the moment.
Which is really strange, because capitalism has nothing to do with the economic failures in those countries. The problems in Asia and Russia are largely due to cronyism and to IMF interference. Just as the FDIC caused the S&L disaster in the US ('Hey guys, don't worry about bad loans, we'll cover anything you lose'), the IMF ('Hey, why don't you make high-risk investments in all these unstable countries, we'll pay you back if it all goes wrong') caused the Asian and Russian collapse.
>A bit of an exaggeration, eh? I live in DC and work for the government.
>Trust me, most government activities have nothing to do with force.
*ALL* government activities are funded by taxes taken from individuals at gunpoint. Or would you continue to work there if everyone refused to pay taxes and you were no longer paid?
>Now, if you want to talk rampant coercion in modern America, my exhibit A
>would be the control businesses have over their employees.
Damn right. Something must be done about all those businesses staging armed assaults on churches and then burning them down to "save the children". Something must be done about all those corporate executives committing perjury in sexual harassment cases and escaping justice with the full support of the media.
And, BTW, if you're talking about drug tests and the like, who forced those businesses to impose those tests? Oh, it was the government with it's "war on drugs", wasn't it?
>Personally, I'm much more
>concerned about what my next (private sector) employer might do to me, or
>try to make me do, than I am about the guvmint.
Why? If a business messes you around you can go to one of their competitors or start your own business. You have no such choice with the government.
Mark