Re: Government vs. Markets

[chen@intuit.com (Mark Chen)]

I wasn't sure whether to respond to this message, or your other one,
which admonished that this is off-topic.

nelson@crynwr.dom writes:
>    From: chen@intuit.com (Mark Chen)
>    Date: Wed, 5 Oct 1994 15:57:03 -0700 (PDT)
> 
>    It would be helpful if we could define the word "government."  Is a
>    government any organization of people, or is it any organization
>    wherein some people hold coercive power over others?
> 
> It's any organization that is allowed to have a monopoly on legitimate
> coercion.  When the IRA collects taxes, and provides protection,
> that's thuggery.  When the British Government does the same thing,
> that's perfectly fine.  <cough!>

And within the scope of their operations - among their employees -
corporations have a monopoly on the means of economic coercion
(forgive me if I omit your editorial use of the word "legitimate").
They have exclusive control over livelihoods.

>    In either case, how are corporations different from governments?
> 
> In the main, corporations persuade and governments force.

So maquiladora workers are "persuaded" to work twelve hours a day for
fifteen cents an hour.  Salvadoran workers are "persuaded" (at
gunpoint) to contribute to the welfare of their latifundista
benefactors for either a handful of beans or nothing at all.
Similarly, I am "persuaded" to contribute my labor to the designs of
my employer - truly, because if I don't like it, I can leave.

Perhaps your will elaborate your assertion.


--
Mark Chen 
chen@netcom.com
415/329-6913
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