Damn -- that guy was smart!

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

To the limited extend that central planning is possible, it functions as a supplement to these dispersed plans:

• It places some actions out of bounds via law and regulation.

• It changes incentives via taxes and subsidies

• It makes specific things happen via purchase of goods and services.      

• It influences broad levels of activity (via macroeconomic fiddling).

Einstein's thought was directed toward finding simple, universal, all-embracing principles. This was not a good background for contemplating the super-human complexity of society.

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

Interestingly, even George Soros wrote an article on the dangers of capitalism for a society of humans ("The Capitalist Threat," Atlantic Monthly, Vol.279, No.2, February 1997). Although it was much later.

A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government -- Edward Abbey

seriously chris....good catch.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

The essence of socialism in an old Hebrew saying.

In American discourse, Socialism is inherently "evil" (wchurchill recently posted something to this effect I believe) rather than merely a flavour or point along the spectrum of legitimate political thought or opinion.  [I forget who once said that the "broad spectrum of American political discourse ranges from the pale greenish blue to the pale bluish green" or wtte.] It's the Scarlet Letter of American discourse, as contaminating as (at one time) was adultery, mixed-race love, Jewishness, divorce or homosexuality.  There is an old fashioned, prudish horror of Socialism, as if it were syphilis.  If any cultural hero was "weak enough to succumb to it" then we don't talk about it in front of the children :-) as that would (a) set a bad, bad example or (b) undermine a cherished national myth by exposing the dirty laundry.

A similar Bowdlerism or revisionism excises surgically from popular consciousness the outspoken antisemitism of Henry Ford, and until quite recently the pro-Nazi sentiments of "Lucky" Lindbergh.  Horatio Alger's fascination for teenage boys can now be spoken of  -- at least by US historians and literati -- in hushed tones;  I think it may many decades before Americans can bear to discuss the socialist speeches or essays of an Einstein or a Helen Keller.

The difference between theory and practise in practise ...

He touches all the right places doesn't he?  This almost last para is the one that says it all for me.  It is why I have been such a societal interloper all my life.

This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career.

Thanks a lot for tuning me on to this essay.  I'll return to reread it.

alohapolitics.com