> Paul, lets look at these words: Economics = a bit of a science (micro,
> not macro) and a bit of a logical approach. Rationalism = alternative to
> rationalism is what? emotionalism? stupidity? irrationality? que?
>
> Fact is there are alot of turkeys running around espousing garbage under
> the banner of economic rationalism. Just cuz they label themselves as ER's
> does not mean they are or that they think clearly about this stuff.
>
> THe last FTC stats i remember from Uni from a WA report said that if all
> those employed in the FTC industry stayed at home and did nothing, we could
> pay them $50,000-$70,000 (cant remember which) per year and society (that is you
> and i) would have been better off (pay less for our FTC goods).
>
> Without going through the pain NZ went through with structural
> readjustment, we will not find our place in this world and end up a bannana republic. Its like me telling you that you have cancer but that we can cure you
> without any surgery/chemo/herbal medicine. If you believe that the solution
> exists, explain it and you have my vote. (plus a nobel prize)
>
> no one likes to see homeless people, suffering, etc. but the costs to
> the rest of society can be huge if we do not address these issues
> rationally_ : )
>
> maybe i should take a rest and someone else pick this up?
You might have seen from my previous postings that I am interested in
ideology. I have no answers but lots of questions. I do have a sense
that useful disussions can be pursued on the nature of ideology & it's
relationship with human behaviour.
One general problem with ideologies is that they tend to come adrift
from reality. As they then become increasingly dysfunctional they are
either replaced by a new paradigm or merge with other ideologies to
become hybrids. What we have been discussing is probably a difficult to
describe hybrid of Economic Rationalism (ER), conservatism, pragmatism &
who knows what else. You seem to have a purist understanding of ER & my
postings do not coincide with this. No drama. Communication about these
issues is bound to be difficult.
As for Economics being a science, I don't think so. Where's the
scientific method? Where's the empiricism? Maybe when we can
successfully model massive chaotic systems such as the human economy and
successfully make predictions (climatology is promising in this regard)
then Economics may become a science. So far Economics has been dismally
unsuccessful at predicting the behaviour of the economy.
And Rationalism, cute name. If you don't agree with it you must be
irrational. For a penetrating anaysis of the history of Rationalism I
suggest you check out Voltaire's Bastards by John Ralston Saul (his The
Unconscious Civilisation is worthwhile too.)
Oh and credit, might it be the case that the global credit system is now
so abstract that it no longer reflects the potential prosperity of the
global economy/ecology? After all the assumption of continued growth
underpins credit and financial instruments such as futures, derivitives
& hedge funds.
I don't want to sound like a prophet of doom but I don't think that our
current economic/political system can survive for much longer. It is
simply too unstable & disconnected from reality. The increasing gap
between the haves & have nots is well known indicator of instability
(this preceded the 1929 crash). Anyway this may not be such a bad thing
in the long run. To survive we may have to develop a system that works
better. The Internet certainly provides opportunities for new
developments.
Paul
PS I'm not necessarily in favour of protectionism & obviously
monopolistic cartels are pathological. I am an electronic music artist
who supports the ACCC's approach re CDs. The music industry in general
treats artists like slaves & rips them off. I estimate that sales of CDs
of my music have netted approximately $200,000. But I have received less
than $2000 from record companies. My only option is to sue. Even if I
had been payed my due this would be only about $10,000 & I produce
complete masters in my home studio. The record industry sucks.