Re: Alternative to the Market

[Rick Lin <Rick.Lin@Colorado.EDU>]

> There are only two extremes of human society.  From the ancient jungle
> originated the concept of "every man for himself, and the devil take the
> hindmost," and its opposite end of the spectrum, "one for all and all
> for one."  The jungle maximizes "competition" and with "cooperation and
> teamwork," "competition" has no place.  The ultimate "competition" is
> called "war."  The type originated in the jungle, if allowed to prevail,
> would have meant no progress whatsoever from the aboriginal jungle.  We
> would all be still hunting for grubs enough to last us till tomorrow,
> literally killing each other in competition for that grub, with
> absolutely nothing else being accomplished.  The modern version of the
> jungle is named "capitalism," and that explains the outside world beyond
> the walls of any individual or group.

I don't think the origin of the concept of war stems from competition
between individuals.  However, this "unique" argument isn't surprising
considering this individual also equates cooperation with
ultranationalism.

> How about the reverse approach, by drawing in and absorbing all
> available people, and merging smaller groups into ever greater groups,
> until at least in our neck of the woods we can form one massive
> monopoly, USA Inc.  With no one outside in harm's way, who's to get
> hurt?   Particularly, as such a large group can be self sufficient, why
> would any other group or individual have to be harmed?

It's interesting to me how the opposite of competition is nationalism.
Somehow, the boundaries of the collective end at our national boundaries.
Even more interesting is the blindness to others in the world...  Monopoly
USA won't harm all of the other citizens of the world...in this time of
melting national boundaries.

I'm sorry...  Couldn't help but to express my wonderment...is there
an unstated political (ideological) agenda by this anonymous author?


Rick Y. Lin
Interdisciplinary Telecom. Program
Univ. of Colorado