Adam Smith did not ‘invent’ capitalism. No single person can invent an economic system. He made some early observations and normative assertions about a set of economic relations that were forming independent of him.

So the economic system we had prior to capitalism was feudalism. The common lands that I mentioned were apart of the feudal system. The system of landlords and rent-seeking were and are apart of capitalism. You can just look around… we still have these things. You do understand that right? Unless you’re saying our current system isn’t capitalist.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yes, true capitalism has never been tested

But it doesn’t matter because the lesson to take away is that in any system the people with power will modify it to what we have now

For socialism

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

[–] SailorMoss@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

But it doesn’t matter because the lesson to take away is that in any system the people with power will modify it to what we have now

Was the system that the peasantry lived under in the commons the same as what we have now?

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

Ok?

The quote you just gave is from famous socialist George Orwell from his book Animal Fram. Which is critical of the structures the Soviet Union created.

But your comment is actually in direct contradiction to Orwell’s actual more nuanced point. His point was not that every system devolves into capitalism… he was himself a socialist who fought along side communists in the Spanish civil war after all. His point is that we need to think critically about the structures we’re creating to ensure they’re serving egalitarian ends. Something I agree with Orwell on.

The original reason why I commented was because it didn’t seem you were engaging in the same project of critically examining economic structures in the way Orwell was and the way Smith was. Though I would love to be proven wrong.

I think you should think more critically about what people tell you about Adam Smith and George Orwell.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago

Was the system that the peasantry lived under in the commons the same as what we have now?

Globally…if you are living better than that then you’re in the high earners tier

The quote you just gave is from famous socialist George Orwell from his book Animal Fram. Which is critical of the structures the Soviet Union created.

Yes, glad you can keep up…now try to use a small amount of critical thinking and question why that was?

Did socialism not work because of capitalism? Did capitalism not work because of capitalism? Did feudalism not work because of capitalism? Did mercantilism not work because of capitalism?

Of course not, you would have to be an idiot to argue that…or that Adam Smith argued against capitalism

It’s because of the bourgeoisie class that will always change the system to their benefit. And replacing the people in that class with new ones doesn’t change that