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I don't play "what if" games. It is a waste of time.
Critical/creative thinking approaches may involve considering 'What if' strategies. A simple critical/creative thinking approach to solving problems:
• Identify the problems. — “What’s the real questions we’re facing here?”
• Define the context. — “What are the facts & circumstances that frame this problem?”
• Enumerate choices. — “What are our most plausible three or four options?”
• Analyze options. — “What is our best course of action, all things considered?”
• List reasons explicitly. — “Let’s be clear: Why we are making this particular choice?”
• Self-correct. — “Okay, let’s look at it again. What did we miss?
Adam Smith wrote his work "The Wealth of Nations" to put forth the idea that free market competition was the best way to create and maximize the wealth of nations. Better than things like Mercantilism, slavery, hunter-gatherer, or feudalism. The system Smith championed was called Capitalism. It puts a premium on the most efficient use of capital and in doing an activity for the lowest cost possible.
Businesses are punished by share holders if they choose to do things inefficiently. You must use the best technology and practices. You must keep wages to the minimum practical. If you can do your business with few workers you must. This may have been good at the beginning of industrial development but as the economy develops. Wealth becomes concentrated and technology improves to the point that its use eliminates jobs not create them.
The USA is plagued by slow growth and if it weren't for the retirement of the Baby Boom Generation our job growth rate is grossly inadequate because it lags behind our population growth. Although our nations net wealth is growing it is many in the form or virtual financial wealth largely due to the fact or accident of history made the US dollar the international reserve currency that underwrites about 60% of all business activities globally and dollar denominated financial obligations exceed 600 Trillion dollars. The number of dollars in non-American hands exceeds that in American hands!
In looking at the current Presidential campaign much is being said about erecting tarrif walls, and other abandonments of the free market that it begs the question ,has the free market become inadequate for managing the American economy and have we outgrown a economic system first formulated in the 18th Century?
There is no such thing as a free market in the USA... To government and many brainwashed that think government is god, that would be called an "illegal business" Government owns all economical drivers today. In 1900, they controlled only 5%. 1929 and they took over micro managing 20% and by the time WW-II was over 39%. Today, Obamacare put the government in control of over 50% of the economy and the free market is completely regulated(not free market any longer), some say 53% and some as high as 59%
And I noted because of that, all we can do is discuss theory. That is my point. Theory is best left to the classrooms.
There are restrictions. Free will.
Capitalism doesn't state that there should be absolutely no regulations. It states they should be as unobtrusive as possible.
Well, I disagree fundamentally about theory being left to classrooms. But I'll set that aside for now.
In what was is free will a restriction? An argument for your point could be made, but an equally strong argument could be made the free will is the enabler, not the restrictor.
And sure, unobtrusive regulation. The problem with this is that it's sort of hard to define. Some say that being required to pay your workers a fair wage is obtrusive. Others say it's not. Many would argue that it took state legislation to get that to happen. It certainly took state regulation to get children out of coal mines, but not as many would consider that obtrusive, at least not today.
Well, I disagree fundamentally about theory being left to classrooms. But I'll set that aside for now.
In what was is free will a restriction? An argument for your point could be made, but an equally strong argument could be made the free will is the enabler, not the restrictor.
And sure, unobtrusive regulation. The problem with this is that it's sort of hard to define. Some say that being required to pay your workers a fair wage is obtrusive. Others say it's not. Many would argue that it took state legislation to get that to happen. It certainly took state regulation to get children out of coal mines, but not as many would consider that obtrusive, at least not today.
Everyone should be self employed... There should never be a thing as an "employee". You volunteer to be a slave for someone else, for what they feel you are worth to them.... and then youbitchpissandmoan about it.
Self employed, actually can be selective in who they work for and what job they are willing to take on. They set their own destiny and worth and value to the world.
The government telling a person, no matter of their age(child) that they cannot produce and provide for themselves and then FORCE the collective to support the person making it on their own.
Can a kid(6 yo) mow the neighbors grass in the neighborhood and get paid? Help your dad or brother, or brother-in-law install flooring(started at 12 during the summers)( I did for 7 years"mow grass" and bought my first car(69 Dodge Coronet R/T basketcase when I was 13 and had it in show room condition when I turned 16 and got my license to drive)
No, today let government get wind of that!
What if? As history has proven over and over, economic problems are a direct result of government involvement and taking control.
Are you familiar with the machinations of the Asian financial crisis? Russia's rocky transition to capitalism? Or, are you preaching as a free market fundamentalist?
In looking at the current Presidential campaign much is being said about erecting tarrif walls, and other abandonments of the free market that it begs the question ,has the free market become inadequate for managing the American economy and have we outgrown a economic system first formulated in the 18th Century?
Our economy is so strangled by Crony Capitalistm (not capitalism at all, really) and Socialism on the other, I can't believe people even think we have free market capitalism in America. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Are you familiar with the machinations of the Asian financial crisis? Russia's rocky transition to capitalism? Or, are you preaching as a free market fundamentalist?
All had ruling class involvement... Government was involved. Or did you not take that into account.
Our economy is so strangled by Crony Capitalistm (not capitalism at all, really) and Socialism on the other, I can't believe people even think we have free market capitalism in America. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Crony Capitalism, is called Fascism.
Where there is no separation in business, economy and the government.
When all this started(Progressive Era), Fascist Mussolini was a god to the business economic world.
The 16th amendment allowed this all to happen.
Who takes what is not theirs by force?
Government
People
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