tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post5234170554883443581..comments2024-03-26T04:21:43.535-05:00Comments on Free Association: Unintended Consequence of the Minimum Wage?Sheldon Richmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15672237234580563637noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-11670935713728800292013-02-26T20:24:46.322-06:002013-02-26T20:24:46.322-06:00I'd be perfectly fine with describing the stat...I'd be perfectly fine with describing the state as a branch or instrument of capital. Of course it's a mistake to think it's all One Big Monolith. It's not, much as many of the big players would like it to be. But there are at least many competing interests within both "government" and "capital" as between them. The division of "capital" and "government" are even less meaningful than the division of "left" from "right". Understanding is better served by attention to the particulars of various conflicts of interests within the ruling class.<br /><br />I would describe the state as private, simply because all interests are inescapably private. A government is only public in the same way that any corporation is public.JORnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-53793107948717354872013-02-26T15:35:12.152-06:002013-02-26T15:35:12.152-06:00JOR: While I would agree that the state and capita...JOR: While I would agree that the state and capitalist privilege are inseparable, I would not conflate the two or even necessarily describe the state as "private." It would be just as accurate, after all, to describe the state as a branch - or at least an instrument - of capital. There has never been a strict separation of "private" and "public" sectors, which is the central error of most anarcho-capitalists (but not necessarily all market anarchists), i.e. the belief that there can be either without the other.Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-57628141359766558502013-02-25T14:30:50.049-06:002013-02-25T14:30:50.049-06:00Sheldon: You're right of course, and I see you...Sheldon: You're right of course, and I see you linked to an article I was thinking of in your TGIF article.<br /><br />Daniel: I agree, to the point of suspecting it's a mistake to think of them as separate things. Elite capitalists are a branch of the state, and the state is just another private institution.JORnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-62219734352387468412013-02-24T11:54:31.433-06:002013-02-24T11:54:31.433-06:00Of course I agree with you, Daniel.Of course I agree with you, Daniel.shemskynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-9151104979540567392013-02-24T01:00:42.548-06:002013-02-24T01:00:42.548-06:00Shemsky: I hope you realize that the intentional m...Shemsky: I hope you realize that the intentional maintenance of the reserve army of labor created by the minimum wage serves the interests of both the state and monopoly capital. It's not only about submitting to the state, it's about submitting to the demands of those who own the means of production who, through the labor market, force others to meet their demands. <br /><br />Monopoly capital and corporate capitalists benefit just as much as the state from compulsory unemployment. Their interests are inextricable.Danielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-10500795505024116552013-02-23T09:49:49.710-06:002013-02-23T09:49:49.710-06:00JOR, that's why I added the question mark. I&#...JOR, that's why I added the question mark. I'm sure for some, that effect is not unintended.Sheldon Richmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15672237234580563637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-8120943501543509482013-02-23T09:33:41.872-06:002013-02-23T09:33:41.872-06:00Right on, JOR. Better to have lots of people drawi...Right on, JOR. Better to have lots of people drawing welfare benefits then to have them working for their daily needs. That way they'll be sure to submit to the state when they are called on to do so.shemskynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-74318476562854660522013-02-22T18:51:29.777-06:002013-02-22T18:51:29.777-06:00Maybe not so unintended.Maybe not so <a rel="nofollow">unintended</a>.JORnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-1108639180956151742013-02-22T15:11:54.692-06:002013-02-22T15:11:54.692-06:00I think Murray Rothbard framed the problem of the ...I think Murray Rothbard framed the problem of the minimum wage best: "In truth, there is only one way to regard a minimum-wage law: it is compulsory unemployment, period...Remember that the minimum-wage law provides no jobs; it only outlaws them; and outlawed jobs are the inevitable result."Danielnoreply@blogger.com