Revolutions podcast - Russian Revolution

[DrYouth]

Socialism works for lots of things but we just don't call it socialism where it works. Socialists are at least honest in admitting where capitalism might work to some degree, whereas pro-capitalist people are loathed to admit where socialism works.

I wouldn't mind socializing the utility companies, for example. There cannot possibly be any competition there, so profit translates to nothing more than inefficiencies and lack of innovation. Then, if we ever want to do anything positive with the grid, like retool a coalfire plant to burn natural gas, tax payers have to pay for it anyway, so fuck it. Might as well have a state utility company at at that point.

I agree with this.

I also find that partially socializing medicine has been a net good.

Capitalism is more a less of a clusterfuck when it comes to medicine... big profits come from managing chronic illnesses poorly...
(see antidepressants, antihypertensives and anticholesterol drugs - big money makers)

Curing illness leads to almost no profits - you can't get big pharma to focus on a high quality antibiotic anymore when they could be coming up with another copycat antidepressant and making billions... investing in antibiotics is a net loss to save a few 10s of thousands of people suffering from antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.

[Fife]

How do you define "medical capitalism" Herr Doktor?

What does that term mean to you, IRL?

[DrYouth]

How do you define "medical capitalism" Herr Doktor?

What does that term mean to you, IRL?

For profit hospitals.
Big Pharma controlling research agendas and universities.

= medical capitalism

[Fife]

Sounds like routine statism to me.

Pedestrian, even.

Your "capitalism" is inconceivable without federal city. So, we just need more government, eh?

:goteam: :drunk:

[DrYouth]

Sounds like routine statism to me.

Pedestrian, even.

Your "capitalism" is inconceivable without federal city. So, we just need more government, eh?

:goteam: :drunk:

How is Big Pharma statism?

[Fife]

What's your take on IP, for a start on that question?

[doc_loliday]

I think certain industries can be socialized to an extent, but pretty much fail at any kind of scale. The diminishing returns due to bureaucracy cannot be overcome.

[Speaker to Animals]

As routine as checking books out of the library and going to sleep at night with the confidence that the fire department can be at your house within ten minutes (probably less) to put out a fire.

IOW Routine AF. You just don't associate good things with *gasp* socialism. dun dun duh!

[Speaker to Animals]

I think certain industries can be socialized to an extent, but pretty much fail at any kind of scale. The diminishing returns due to bureaucracy cannot be overcome.

In practice, I have noticed that, in industries with no competition possible (like your electric utility),
there exists no difference in efficiency between the state and the private corporation. The inefficiencies of the state-run passenger train system, for example, do not arise from the mere fact that Amtrak is a state entity, but because there exists no competition.

Where socialism becomes total shit is when it wipes out a competitive industry to become the sole producer. But if the nature of that industry precludes competition, then there typically is no efficiency loss either way by virtue of organization, and actually a small favorable point for socialism since, in that case, profit represents lack of efficiency.

[C-Mag]

I like the brevity of the episodes.
Listened to the show on the 3 tenants of Marxism. Duncan sells it well. I have a better understanding of the political theory now and a better understanding of how people are seduced by it. I didn't get that from reading Marx and Engels.