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capitalism
vs. socialism
The
crucial difference, however, is that the capitalist, by giving
before he takes, pursues a mode of thinking and acting suitable to
uncertainty. The socialist makes a national plan in which existing
patterns of need and demand are ascertained, and then businesses
are contracted to fulfill them; demand comes first. One system is
continually, endlessly performing experiments, testing hypotheses,
discovering partial knowledge; the other is assembling data of
inputs and outputs and administering the resulting plans.
Socialism
presumes that we already know most of what we need to know to
accomplish our national goals. Capitalism is based on the idea
that we live in a world of unfathomable complexity, ignorance, and
peril; and that we cannot possibly prevail over our difficulties
without constant efforts of initiative, sympathy, discovery and
love. One system maintains that we can reliably predict and elicit
the results we demand. The other asserts that we must give long
before we can know what the universe will return. One is based on
empirically calculable human power; the other on optimism and
faith. These are the essential visions that compete in the world
and determine our fate.
George
Gilder: Wealth and poverty, Bantam Books, New York, 1981.
On
the left: Rockaway
Beach, California |
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