At election time we are often treated to rather platitudinous statements about how wonderful it is that we have democratic systems that let us have a direct say in what our governments do.
Saying we are lucky because we are given a chance to “have a say” is anti-American in that it has it backwards: We are not given a say, we the people, give, or lend to, elected officials all the say, or power, that they have, not the other way around. We form and own government, it is supposed to be limited to only the power we give it.
When we use democracy, the ballot, to have government build and operate things there is nothing voluntary, there’s no win-win.
Setting some major policy and electing people to governing boards is a right function of the vote but, democracy itself is dangerous when it moves into the area of the control of resources and money that should be more part of the market economy.
Capitalism expressed in markets, is not a zero-sum game as voluntary trade benefits all parties involved. You buy a lawn mower and you’re out the money it costs but you gain the productivity the tool provides you – all voluntarily.
When we use democracy, the ballot, to have government build and operate things such water parks, that are customarily provided by non-government actors in the market economy, there is nothing voluntary, there’s no win-win. When such schemes gain a majority of ballots, those who vote against such end up being forced to pay for that which others wanted.
the time the providing a good or service becomes a zero-sum game is when such is done by government through the vote.
This is the winners versus losers zero-sum game the ignorant wrongly claim exists with market-based capitalism. The reality is that the time the providing a good or service becomes a zero-sum game is when such is done by government through the vote.
Democracy is dangerous when it strays from governing basics
Saying we are lucky because we are given a chance to “have a say” is anti-American in that it has it backwards: We are not given a say, we the people, give, or lend to, elected officials all the say, or power, that they have, not the other way around. We form and own government, it is supposed to be limited to only the power we give it.
When we use democracy, the ballot, to have government build and operate things there is nothing voluntary, there’s no win-win.
Setting some major policy and electing people to governing boards is a right function of the vote but, democracy itself is dangerous when it moves into the area of the control of resources and money that should be more part of the market economy.
Capitalism expressed in markets, is not a zero-sum game as voluntary trade benefits all parties involved. You buy a lawn mower and you’re out the money it costs but you gain the productivity the tool provides you – all voluntarily.
When we use democracy, the ballot, to have government build and operate things such water parks, that are customarily provided by non-government actors in the market economy, there is nothing voluntary, there’s no win-win. When such schemes gain a majority of ballots, those who vote against such end up being forced to pay for that which others wanted.
the time the providing a good or service becomes a zero-sum game is when such is done by government through the vote.
This is the winners versus losers zero-sum game the ignorant wrongly claim exists with market-based capitalism. The reality is that the time the providing a good or service becomes a zero-sum game is when such is done by government through the vote.