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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Eaton writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> > Communism is based on the premise that some central mechanism can determine
> > the right quantities of everything for everyone, obviating the need for
> > individual choices. It's based on the premise that people should work hard
> > and not get the fruits of their labors, but rather suffer the consequences
> > of the central mechanism's mistakes.
> >
> > Capitalism is based on the premise that no central mechanism can do as well
> > at determining the right quantities as well as individual choice. It's based
> > on the premise that people should work hard or not, as they choose, and
> > suffer the consequences individually.
> >
> > That makes capitalism moral and communism immoral. That's a good enough
> > argument right there.
>
> Huge clarification to inflict on you-- it makes evidenced communism immoral
> and evidenced capitalism moral (by utilitarian standards).
But I'm not using utilitarian morality (were there such a thing, which there
isn't) here. My argument has several legs, each should be evaluated
independently. The utilitarian argument (which makes no reference to
morality) is entirely seperate from the pragmatic/observed argument, and the
"national defense" argument and from this one, the moral argument.
No, this argument rests on the moral premise that it is immoral to enslave
others, whether it's for the common good or for the pleasure of a politburo.
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Cuba
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| (...) I agree, but are you equating Communism-- that is to say the essential notion or theory of Communism/Socialism, not the current or former attempts at it-- with slavery? Slavery is the anti-thesis of Communism (and even Democracy) and therefore (...) (23 years ago, 30-Aug-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Cuba
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| (...) Silly Larry! Of course there is! The more happiness resulting from an action there is, the more moral that action is, and visa versa, says utilitarianism. Actually, I associate utilitarianism first and foremost with its view on ethics... (...) (...) (23 years ago, 31-Aug-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Cuba
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| (...) Huge clarification to inflict on you-- it makes evidenced communism immoral and evidenced capitalism moral (by utilitarian standards). To judge any system using utilitarian morality, one needs evidence of the happiness/unhappiness of the (...) (23 years ago, 30-Aug-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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