ext_48561 ([identity profile] bord-du-rasoir.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] talkpolitics2010-04-20 05:34 am

Conservatism or Corporatism?

What accounts for the spikes in these graphs? Conservative (free market) policy or corporatist (government intervention) policy?









Why'd average Wall St. bonus pay recently quadruple average annual salaries? Why'd the financial sector recently triple the nonfinancial sector? Why'd the highest incomes recently increase 36 times faster than median family income?

Provide concrete explanations as to how X (policy) caused Y (economic indicator). Point to specific legislation or executive orders.

The liberal position is predictable: The unprecedented extreme growth in the financial sector and increased inequality is bad. Free market policy (deregulation of banks --> derivatives market expansion --> collapse) is to blame.

I'm more interested in the conservative position: How do you explain the unprecedented growth in the financial sector and the increased income inequality? What're the causes? Is corporatism (government interventionism) responsible? If so, how? Do you draw a connection between the above figures and the financial collapse?

I honestly don't understand the conservative position.

Re: Good point.

[identity profile] abomvubuso.livejournal.com 2010-04-21 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
did caesar or alexander need corporations to rule the world?

You really need to look a bit closer at the Macedonian and Roman societies at their time.

Re: Good point.

[identity profile] debergerac.livejournal.com 2010-04-22 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
sophia is the expert on ancient history around here. the romans did have versions of corporations, but as i said, such associations aren't necessary to gain wealth or to rule the world. there are other alternatives...

Re: Good point.

[identity profile] abomvubuso.livejournal.com 2010-04-22 09:15 am (UTC)(link)
True. There are many ways of ruling the world. Mega-corporations is one possible way.