Yeah, definitely don't take my word for that...because that was not even close to what I said. I said if government planners can know the proper scope of government then socialism is a viable concept. If somebody can know enough to know that the government should only do A, B and C...then another person can know enough to know that the government should do A through Z. If I want to start my own business...do you think I can know enough to be certain that it will be a success? Absolutely not...because I'm not the one who ultimately decides whether my business is a success or not...consumers are. You're saying that government planners can know that the government organizations can be successful at doing A, B and C. If they have enough skills to know better than all consumers...then they have enough skills to know that the government should do A through Z.
You're going to tell me that the markets work for food, clothing, housing, education, environmental protection, healthcare...but we can't trust the public with defense and whatever else Ron Paul wants the government to do? Explain to me the mechanics. Break down how some goods are exceptional. Make a free-rider argument that doesn't also apply to all the cabinet depts that Ron Paul would throw overboard.
Either we allow consumers to guide what is produced...or we rely on superior beings to determine what should be produced and in what quantities. When we're guided by consumers it's called a market and when we're not guided by consumers then it's called socialism.
How is it more viable to allow Ron Paul to decide where to cut? Because he's done his research? Anybody who's done enough research would know that we can't make cutting decisions for other people...we can only make them for ourselves. That's how markets work.
Why do you want to kick any government organizations over to the market if you have no idea how markets work? How much research could Ron Paul truly have done if his supporters have no idea how markets work? Does the "problem" you are describing happen in the private sector? Do consumers all of a sudden decide to only purchase asparagus? Do we suddenly all decide to purchase underwear and absolutely no other article of clothing?
How will experts disseminate their information? They'll write a book, start a blog, start a pod cast, write an article...send smoke signals...they'll call you on the phone...send you text messages...knock on your door...buy commercials. It's not HOW they will disseminate their information but WHY they will disseminate their information. Why am I disseminating my information to you? Because I'll benefit when you purchase my product. Everybody is trying to sell you something and everybody requires some information to purchase anything.
Coordinate their efforts? When was the last time you called me on the phone to make sure that I had purchased asparagus? What are we...elementary school girls calling each other to coordinate our outfits?
I already mentioned rational ignorance to somebody. The cost of researching does not reflect the potential gain. How many different possible topics can you research? You're not going to research every single topic which might impact your life. You're going to prioritize what you research and what you research will depend on how much within your immediate influence is at stake. If I'm going to spend $1 for a pack of gum then I'm hardly going to spend hours researching which gum will truly give me the most bang for my buck. However, if I'm going to spend $1000 on a new laptop...then I'll put a lot more research into trying to pick the best laptop. Give taxpayers the opportunity to spend their hard earned taxes in the public sector...and they will be motivated to do as much research as it takes for them to feel sufficiently confident that they will get the most bang for their buck.
Oh, I addressed them in several different ways. I just made the mistake of assuming that you had a decent grasp of basic economics. Taxpayers are all going to give their taxes to the Dept of Interior? Really? There's absolutely no diminishing returns?
I added your response to my list of people who don't understand how the invisible hand works...Unglamorous but Important Things. I blame Ron Paul.
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