Post AXsPmiWFQJWGvcHeRU by stripey@meow.social
 (DIR) More posts by stripey@meow.social
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmgoxjlIjf51ZKq by feoh@oldbytes.space
       2023-07-19T19:00:52Z
       
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       @d6 I think Capitalism maintains critical infrastructure because the drugs I take that keep my body from expunging all the salt and thus water from my blood keep me alive and are manufactured by a tiny number of pharma firms for a total audience of maybe 10-15K diabetes insipidus sufferers worldwide.There are alternative ways potentially that such research and manufacturing efforts could be organized, and maybe if everything falls apart and we have to start anew they would be, but I'm not so sure.Behavior is a different matter.I think few would argue that as things stand today if a person goes on a shooting spree, they will be punished in some way. We can debate the effectiveness of that as a deterrent, but there are laws and they are enforced, even if very irregularly depending on the color of your skin, which way your genitalia are arranged and how much money you have.
       
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmhcwjvHeA6PUFE by stripey@meow.social
       2023-07-19T19:20:43Z
       
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       @feoh The more, untagging numerik because it seems like the polite thingI reject that your example is specifically one of Capitalism maintaining critical infrastructure.The research which was conducted to identify causation of this specific disease - and *research* more generally - is primarily undertaken using public funding. Later clinical trials for efficacy are, it's true, undertaken in large part with pharmacorps bearing the direct monetary expenses, and of course manufacture, same.
       
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmiWFQJWGvcHeRU by stripey@meow.social
       2023-07-19T19:23:35Z
       
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       @feoh cont'd all of which adds up to a pretty strong case for some flavor of socialism (though not directly or obviously anarchism). And the parts which are currently-handled by Capital, it's very clear, do not need to be conducted as expensively as they are.(more)
       
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmjDUpW795kWBqy by feoh@oldbytes.space
       2023-07-19T19:38:43Z
       
       1 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @stripey Oh I totally agree.Some flavor of European style socialism - "Put Capitalism in a constrained box" makes EVERY bit of sense to me.It's like, sure, let's use greed to motivate behavior, but put boundaries around what's acceptable and ACTUALLY ENFORCE THEM without exception.Treat the sick. House the unhoused. Feed the hungry for fuck's sake. There's NO reason not to do those things in a society as rich as ours here in America.Now pardon me while I stuff a rag in the mouths of every nearby conservative whining "BUT THEY'RE ALL GOING BROKE!" as loud as they can :)
       
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmmaIJD8JXKCwIy by stripey@meow.social
       2023-07-19T19:31:57Z
       
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       @feoh I can ramble at length and with great specificity about pharmaceutical development, but I don't think that's necessary - the point is that what looks like Capitalism there is in fact Capital selling tickets to previously-paid-for public work.Like sitting in a folding chair at the beach and charge people to go swimming. This is not a different argument - it's thoroughly-similar, just simpler. The research has already been paid for.(more still, sorry)
       
 (DIR) Post #AXsPmoF68zMmgAJ2Xo by stripey@meow.social
       2023-07-19T19:36:39Z
       
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       @feoh You start to see this pattern pretty much everywhere, and it is of course a meme at this point to call it out that 'oh that infrastructure we have deliberately decided not to maintain is no longer working- better privatize it' is the playbook for this kind of capture.
       
 (DIR) Post #AY2phDB3CYzPd6fswa by niclas@angrytoday.com
       2023-07-25T06:42:53Z
       
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       @feoh The defense of anarchism is quite simple;1. Being violently dominated and have my shit stolen on a daily basis is not acceptable. Caring for the poor by aggression on everyone else is morally wrong.2. As brutal as capitalism seems to be, corporations collaborates more than they fight. But corporations are nothing more than people. Corporation; a state construct, shouldn't exists.3. Most people understand that collaboration is required for any kind of success.@stripey