David:
I am disavowing pure democracy; one in which everybody votes on everything.Stoller: That's obvious. And that's why I say you are no friend of democracy!
: Correct. I am a friend to constitutionally limited democracy, however.
And WHAT, pray tell, is that supposed to mean? Perhaps you care to tell me some more about 'objective laws' that acknowledege only a uniform standard of freedom?
Stoller: Percentage of American jobs requiring any skill above a high school level: 25% (Business Week, 1 September 1997, p. 67). Percentage of Americans able to afford a B.A. or above: 23% (Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1996, table 243, p. 160).
: Before you do your statistical happy dance allow me to ask you some questions about those statistics. First, did the statistics relating to those who can afford a B.A. take into account scholarships or financial aid? Student loans? Working through college?
What relevance would any of that have on the similarity of the numbers?
What I am demonstrating is that the 'invisible hand' of 'suppy and demand' is quite predetermined. What I am suggesting is: if everyone in America suddenly got 'smart' and 'ambitious' and 'pulled themselves up by the boot straps' like you libertarians urge poor people to do, there STILL wouldn't be enough decent, intelligent, well-paying jobs to go around---because the capitalist mode of production is PREDICATED upon lousy, mindless, and low-paying work.
: In the statistics relating to the skill required for 25% of the jobs, you fail to consider the fact that a good portion of those jobs are held by teenagers or university students.
And by the year 2005, the 'growing supply of college grads could outstrip growth in demand by as much as 330,000 annually.' (Business Week, 6 October 1997, p. 30.)
Time to raise tuitions again!
Err...that's no happy dance at all...
From a purely economic point of view, a capitalist is a person who buys in order to sell for profit. However, the productive role that capitalists and businessman serve cannot be overstated...
Thanks for the inspiring Chamber of Commerce speech.
One of the primary things that a capitalist buys 'in order to make a profit' is labor-power, the labor-power of men and women who HAVE TO sell themselves cheap---just in order to survive---because the capitalists 'just happen' to own all the land and technology and everything else that the prior labor-power of working men and women have produced for the capitalists.
: : Who are you trying to fool?
: The many Cuban refugees I keep in my basement. They peel oranges for me while singing french folk songs.
Do you whip them---or do they sing for table scraps?
