Free Market vs Marxism

[C-Mag]

Every other section (164 acres) was given to the Railroad when they put in a line. You can still see the checkerboard effect on land ownership map today.

[DBTrek]

Competitors with each other for the rights to own the land.
Competitors with each other for the railroad crews required to develop the land.
And guess what, when interests have to compete they can't simply lay down whatever rules they want with zero regard to consequences - because their labor force is free to go elsewhere.

This is easy stuff, man.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Competitors with each other for the rights to own the land.
Competitors with each other for the railroad crews required to develop the land.
And guess what, when interests have to compete they can't simply lay down whatever rules they want with zero regard to consequences - because their labor force is free to go elsewhere.

This is easy stuff, man.

Yet there was no competition. Unca Sam said ‘build railroads here’ and they fought and ate each other until there were 1 or 2 left. Ten proceeded to consume the government. This is not complicated.

[DBTrek]

Yet there was no competition.

There was no competition because the government gave land grants (aka real estate monopolies) to the Barons.
Derp.
Without government involvement, there would have been regular ol' free market competition and all the usual factors of balancing productivity costs with worker satisfaction would've come into play. But no, the same government that is crushing small retailers now (while you blame Amazon) crushed railroad workers then as well. And yet, like a well trained dog, all the government has to do is say "evil capitalists" to cover their crimes and you obediently lap it up.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Yet there was no competition.

There was no competition because the government gave land grants (aka real estate monopolies) to the Barons.
Derp.
Without government involvement, there would have been regular ol' free market competition and all the usual factors of balancing productivity costs with worker satisfaction would've come into play. But no, the same government that is crushing small retailers now (while you blame Amazon) crushed railroad workers then as well. And yet, like a well trained dog, all the government has to do is say "evil capitalists" to cover their crimes and you obediently lap it up.

Meh, I dare say your fervor far outmatches my own. I’m happy in the middle ground between defending Jeff Bezos and hoisting the hammer and sickle.

[DBTrek]

Meh, I dare say your fervor far outmatches my own. I’m happy in the middle ground between defending Jeff Bezos and hoisting the hammer and sickle.

Concession accepted, you're half Marxist.
We knew it already, but always good to reiterate for the latecomers.

[Martin Hash]

DB does usually take the “Free Markets” side of the argument rather than “Capitalism” because that’s a lot harder to defend.

[DBTrek]

DB does usually take the “Free Markets” side of the argument rather than “Capitalism” because that’s a lot harder to defend.

To be fair ... I did the free market defense on this one too. I only mentioned capitalism in the context of government saying "evil capitalists" to sway low-info citizens to the side of big government.
"Yeah, damn those business guys! The government guys are looking out for US, but the rich are just looking out for themselves!!!"
To most big government supporters free markets, capitalism, and private ownership are just sort of jumbled together into one giant "evil rich people" ball.
/shrug

[SuburbanFarmer]

DB does usually take the “Free Markets” side of the argument rather than “Capitalism” because that’s a lot harder to defend.

We’re both very much in favor of free markets, if that’s the distinction being drawn. My focus is on rampant corruption, while DB’s virtue burns the wicked soul of anyone who complains about it.

[SuburbanFarmer]

DB does usually take the “Free Markets” side of the argument rather than “Capitalism” because that’s a lot harder to defend.

To be fair ... I did the free market defense on this one too. I only mentioned capitalism in the context of government saying "evil capitalists" to sway low-info citizens to the side of big government.
"Yeah, damn those business guys! The government guys are looking out for US, but the rich are just looking out for themselves!!!"
To most big government supporters free markets, capitalism, and private ownership are just sort of jumbled together into one giant "evil rich people" ball.
/shrug

As they should be, in an age where big business controls the government.