08 Feb '10 15:35>
Originally posted by rwingettYou just assert things without any argument.
Poverty, hunger and starvation are inherent features of mankind's history. I agree. Prior to capitalism material scarcity, poverty and starvation were unavoidable. Capitalism built up the means of production to the point where material scarcity could be fully overcome. But capitalism never delivered on that potentiality. The system which was initially a boo ...[text shortened]... d capitalism to reach the next step. It will take a fundamental reconfiguration of capitalism.
"The system will subsequently correct itself by the minimum amount necessary to quiet popular discontent."
The "system" you're talking about is the libertarian one, that's not the one I have in mind. I have yet to see an argument why governments with a redistributory role necessarily require "starvation".
"The result is that through trial and error there is a certain percentage of starving people arrived at that is deemed an acceptable cost of doing business."
Acceptable by whom?
"The point I have been trying to make here is that the more our productive capacity increase, the harder it will become to justify that outlook."
Sure, that's why a social role for governments seems to be increasingly accepted compared to 30 years ago and free markets are seen as a powerful, but sometimes flawed, tool.