Is Distributism utopian?

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David and Cho,
I have not said you weren’t good Carholics because you do not espouse distributism. Nor do I believe that at all.

However, I do think that neither of you understands distributive justice, a concept explored by St Thomas Aquinas so not really a modernist heresy, nor the Catholic understanding of the role of the government.

Aquinas also had some bad ideas about finance. All his writings were not infallible; in fact, next to zero. But answer please: Do Distributist believe that there is a pooiint a company can get that is too big and as a result it should be down-sized

You two are upset because you think we are saying bad and unwarranted things about you, but you are saying bad and unwarranted things about us. I am not a person who blogs about the evil capitalists on a Mac, or anyone remottely like that.

I am not upset… ok ok ok ok I just choked my cat to near death… perhaps a bit over emotional… I have not said anything bad about you; I truly believe you have never shot an old woman

I also did not say that businessmen were necessarily greedy. I said something completely different, but you gloss right over that.

I don’t have the time or the money to read through Von Mises’s books.

I will send you one at no charge to you. Tell me how to get the money to you… perhaps i can send some money to Von M … i don’t know… See what happens when someone has a lot of money: he can educate but if someone came and took my money I could not send you any… truly I will send you some… do you need rent money?

Does Distributism believe that businesses can get too big and and therefore should be down-sixed or eliminated?
 
St Francis;8543632:
David and Cho,
I have not said you weren’t good Carholics because you do not espouse distributism. Nor do I believe that at all.

However, I do think that neither of you understands distributive justice, a concept explored by St Thomas Aquinas so not really a modernist heresy, nor the Catholic understanding of the role of the government.

Aquinas also had some bad ideas about finance. All his writings were not infallible; in fact, next to zero. But answer please: Do Distributist believe that there is a pooiint a company can get that is too big and as a result it should be down-sized
You two are upset because you think we are saying bad and unwarranted things about you, but you are saying bad and unwarranted things about us. I am not a person who blogs about the evil capitalists on a Mac, or anyone remottely like that.

I am not upset… ok ok ok ok I just choked my cat to near death… perhaps a bit over emotional… I have not said anything bad about you; I truly believe you have never shot an old woman

I also did not say that businessmen were necessarily greedy. I said something completely different, but you gloss right over that.

I don’t have the time or the money to read through Von Mises’s books.

I will send you one at no charge to you. Tell me how to get the money to you… perhaps i can send some money to Von M … i don’t know… See what happens when someone has a lot of money: he can educate but if someone came and took my money I could not send you any… truly I will send you some… do you need rent money?
That is very kind of you 🙂 I also just do not have the time these days, as we are having an extremely busy year; I homeschool so things tend to get more busy here than usual. I am already behind on a few things…
Does Distributism believe that businesses can get too big and and therefore should be down-sixed or eliminated?
From what I have read, distributism seems to advocate worker-owned coops for large businesses, and limited ownership for small businesses.

My own personal, probably not distributist idea is that publically-held corporations are “too big.” It is the diffusion of ownership which seems to me to cause problems.

I like the distributive idea of guilds. What I see is people belonging to a Guild based on locality and a guild based on type of business. The guilds would be the major regulators of the conditions of working in the field, and would include not just the “bosses” but also the employees. In Rerum Novarum, what I saw the Pope trying to say was that workers and bosses should be cooperating in the enterprise rather than taking inimical stances as communism advocates, and this is an area where I really see a lot of good being done.

The point about guilds is that they have to live by the rules they set up. Like right now, Congress set up the EEOC, but they themselves are not bound by the EEOC rules. So a Polish-sausage-making company in Chicago to whom no blacks ever even applied can be bankrupted by the enforcement of the rules, but the people who set up the rules are not themselves bound by them.

In other places, a store had to have disabled arrangements for people in wheelchairs, but had never had a person in a wheelchair come in.

These types of difficulties, and the thing you mentioned about raw milk, would be reduced, I think, if it were handled locally and within the field of the business, iyswim.
 
David and Cho,
I have not said you weren’t good Carholics because you do not espouse distributism. Nor do I believe that at all.

However, I do think that neither of you understands distributive justice, a concept explored by St Thomas Aquinas so not really a modernist heresy, nor the Catholic understanding of the role of the government.

You two are upset because you think we are saying bad and unwarranted things about you, but you are saying bad and unwarranted things about us. I am not a person who blogs about the evil capitalists on a Mac, or anyone remottely like that.

I also did not say that businessmen were necessarily greedy. I said something completely different, but you gloss right over that.

I don’t have the time or the money to read through Von Mises’s books. I am extremely limited. But I don’t see the big deal about his having predicted the Depression, I, using just my common sense, knew that the dot.com explosion of the 90s was a bubble, and I saw back in the 90s that the housing market would collapse.

I see that there is a huge chasm between your way of thinking and mine. I read Ayn Rand over 30 years ago; I know that there is a thrill there but I also saw flaws in her work (and she turned out to be a horrible person). I know the appeal rugged individualism can hold, but I also know that it is just a fantasy like socialism and communism, because it doesn’t accord with reality.

I have asked a distributist about your question (accusation?) that distributism or the implementaion of distributism would require massive amounts of government redistribution, which, btw, I am not sure what you mean by, and if I get an answer, I will share eith you, but I really don’t think that we are getting anywhere otherwise, because I don’t have the resources, time, or background to respond adequately to your points or to untangle what I see as your errors in logic.
With all due respect, how can you complain about Castlen and I not understanding Distributive justice when you yourself obviously are clueless, or are refusing to explain the practicalities of how it would work? From here so far I think I understand it better than you. I believe what is going on here is simply a reflection of the huge schism within the Church that everyone is tippytoeing around. Leftists want to harness the Church to Create a Fair World and claim that the Church requires us to be slaves of a central state for enforcement of wealth redistribution and dialectical behavior management for the Greater Good and to create utopia on earth.

Others of us are trads, view the above philosophy as communist state worship and intended to destroy the Church (and almost has). I expect in the not so distant future there will be an official split. I will probably be martyred by the communists for my refusal to ignore laws against theft, killing, coveting, greed, homosexual behaviors, and tyrannizing my neighbor in the name of Making a Better World.
His Will be done.
 
With all due respect, how can you complain about Castlen and I not understanding Distributive justice when you yourself obviously are clueless, or are refusing to explain the practicalities of how it would work? From here so far I think I understand it better than you. I believe what is going on here is simply a reflection of the huge schism within the Church that everyone is tippytoeing around. Leftists want to harness the Church to Create a Fair World and claim that the Church requires us to be [bslaves of a central state for enforcement of wealth redistribution and dialectical behavior management for the Greater Good and to create utopia on earth.**
Well, when you describe it like that, I’m against it too! And from what I have read, the part that I have bolded is not at all true about distributism, which is what I have been saying all along.
Others of us are trads, view the above philosophy as communist state worship and intended to destroy the Church (and almost has). I expect in the not so distant future there will be an official split. I will probably be martyred by the communists for my refusal to ignore laws against theft, killing, coveting, greed, homosexual behaviors, and tyrannizing my neighbor in the name of Making a Better World.
His Will be done.
Trad Catholics aren’t the only ones against all this bad stuff, you know. And I imagine that some Trads are not thrilled with the Acton Institute.
 
I am pretty sure that all of Mises works are available free for downloading on Mises.org.
Thanks, and I hope one day to read them. Lack of resources like time and energy also bar my getting into them properly right now as well.
 
I uploaded a little video, less than two minutes for a basic understanding of what distributism is. Hopefully someone will find it useful. I think we are misled by the word to misunderstand what it means. Hope it helps someone:

youtube.com/watch?v=9APuhxUKqgg
 
And what about “the Mongols”??

I am not seeing a lot of difference these days between the Mongols and agents of the central state
Then you are in denial of reality and therefore your positions are understandable.

And the point about the mongols is, that they attacked some people who never provoked them and never heard about them. So the mongols prove that the it is an error to think by just being peaceful and leave others alone conflict could always be avoided and that is true for internal (criminals) and external threats.

I am not worried about the mongols, but it is possible that others are willing to attack my country or me even if everything possible is done not to give them reason.

I suspect your next argument will be along the lines “then we could fight far more effictively by localized militia/resistance and make it too costly for the aggressor, look how a military fails against that in afghanistan”. But it would only deepen your denial of reality.
This is a huge logical fallacy abounding on this forum and other places. People are so trained to view themselves as property of the political class and to fear “greedy capitalists” having liberty. People understand original sin, the tendency of men to be greedy and sinful. And because of this they fear their neighbors having liberty! Why, if there was no state prohibiting murder, their neighbor would simply shoot everyone in sight. If there was no state class prohibiting rape, our neighbors would be kicking in our doors raping us. Our fellow man is to be feared and watched, ratted out and kept from getting ahead of us…and yet…
these same people have not the slightest qualm about giving OTHER men, just as sinful, just as greedy, just as flawed…very probably actually WORSE than our neighbors because they are power seekers…and giving them a monopoly on force, a license to kill, steal, lie, cheat and then believing that this political class will PROTECT (and are protecting) them. It is a slave mentality. It is not your fault, it was brainwashed into you using animal training as a child, but it is not logical.
On that you are somewhat correct and it would be correct if not for the mongols. A few of your neighbors would murder, rape and steal if the state would not be there or more precisely a few more would do so.
 
Then you are in denial of reality and therefore your positions are understandable.

And the point about the mongols is, that they attacked some people who never provoked them and never heard about them. So the mongols prove that the it is an error to think by just being peaceful and leave others alone conflict could always be avoided and that is true for internal (criminals) and external threats.

I am not worried about the mongols, but it is possible that others are willing to attack my country or me even if everything possible is done not to give them reason.

I suspect your next argument will be along the lines “then we could fight far more effictively by localized militia/resistance and make it too costly for the aggressor, look how a military fails against that in afghanistan”. But it would only deepen your denial of reality.

On that you are somewhat correct and it would be correct if not for the mongols. A few of your neighbors would murder, rape and steal if the state would not be there or more precisely a few more would do so.
Sorry. You see, how this works is you have to explain HOW I am "in denial of reality " (smear of being mentrally ill) and provide proof of that. As smart as you think you are, your asserting it does not make it so. My point, which you decline to address, is that the state today terrorizes people as did the Mongols. Just because you have not yet been targeted, or you happen to agree that they should tyrannize/kill those they do does not make it less the truth. You think there might be some afghans or middle eastern tribes or children who never heard of Obama, Bush, Cheney, etc?? I’m sure they know now.

You are the one in denial of reality. My proof is that there was no justification for attacking Iraq, Libya, or Pakistan. We have no justification to be in Yemen, or even considering attacking Iran. Attacking these sovereign states and setting upm dictators to oppress the people is creating enemies for Americans. Now if YOU want to go over there and kill people for whatever reason, that is your choice. But spare me the crud about how they are “protecting my freedoms”, which grow less with each of these military excursions and are bankrupting this country. 71% of active military support RON PAUL, what does that tell you?How is that for “reality”?
 
OH, and BTW, the cops do not protect anyone from murder, etc. They show up afterward and scrape up your remains and wait for snitches to tell them who did it. If they somehow get to a crime scene they will set up a “perimeter” and wait until the bad guys are finished raping/killing and maybe catch them after a car chase with helicopters, etc. Ever heard of Columbine? That Dcotro whose wife and dtrs were raped and burned to death while the cops diddled around outside with perimeters and SWAT gear?? Your death, victimization provides excuses for funding their bureacracy. It is illogical to believe they would do anything to decrease crime.
 
Sorry you mistook what i said for smear. Most people are in denial of reality in a lot of things and all people are in denial of reality regarding some things.
and provide proof of that.

My point, which you decline to address, is that the state today terrorizes people as did the Mongols.
You provided the proof yourself. “terrorizes people as did the Mongols” implies same methods and same extent and same justification (or lack thereof).

Just check out the cities Fallujah 2004 and Baghdad 1258.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_occupation_of_Fallujah

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258

Mind that:
“On February 10, Baghdad surrendered. The Mongols swept into the city on February 13 and began a week of massacre and destruction.”

What damage the US did in Fallujah was done during fighting. They stopped damaging or killing after the city was secure. During the fighting 6000 civilians died. The Mongols started killing 3 days after winning and killed 100000+ civilians. It is not the same.
My proof is that there was no justification for attacking Iraq, Libya, or Pakistan. We have no justification to be in Yemen, or even considering attacking Iran.
Iraq was in a state of war with the US and was in violation of armistice conditions. Pakistan is either no sovereign nation - unable to stop attacks from Pakistan against Afghanistan - or is trying to wage a war without anyone noticing its interference, either case enough justification to attack targets inside Pakistan.
Iran declared war on the US in 1979, when taking control of US territory, no peace treaty since then, so the war continues.

Libya you are right, Jemen i do not know, there is nearly a civil war there with some forces trying to attack the US as well.

Having justification does not mean it is wise to act.
71% of active military support RON PAUL, what does that tell you?How is that for “reality”?
Where is this number from?

And it tells me that the “Lets be nice and fight wars.” approach of Bush and Obama(even worse) is wrong, either you are nice or you fight a war, trying both gives the bad results of both.

Besides, i do not think Paul wants to abolish the state, he seems to be in favor of a very limited state.
 
Sorry. You see, how this works is you have to explain HOW I am "in denial of reality " (smear of being mentrally ill) and provide proof of that. As smart as you think you are, your asserting it does not make it so. My point, which you decline to address, is that the state today terrorizes people as did the Mongols. Just because you have not yet been targeted, or you happen to agree that they should tyrannize/kill those they do does not make it less the truth. You think there might be some afghans or middle eastern tribes or children who never heard of Obama, Bush, Cheney, etc?? *I’m sure they know now.

You are the one in denial of reality. My proof is that there was no justification for attacking Iraq, Libya, or Pakistan. We have no justification to be in Yemen, or even considering attacking Iran. Attacking these sovereign states and setting upm dictators to oppress the people is creating enemies for Americans. Now if YOU want to go over there and kill people for whatever reason, that is your choice. But spare me the crud about how they are “protecting my freedoms”, which grow less with each of these military excursions and are bankrupting this country. 71% of active military support RON PAUL, what does that tell you?How is that for “reality”?
Sorry. You see, how this works is you have to explain HOW I am "in denial of reality " (smear of being mentrally ill) and provide proof of that. As smart as you think you are, your asserting it does not make it so. My point, which you decline to address, is that the state today terrorizes people as did the Mongols. Just because you have not yet been targeted, or you happen to agree that they should tyrannize/kill those they do does not make it less the truth. You think there might be some afghans or middle eastern tribes or children who never heard of Obama, Bush, Cheney, etc?? *I’m sure they know now.

You are the one in denial of reality. My proof is that there was no justification for attacking Iraq, Libya, or Pakistan. We have no justification to be in Yemen, or even considering attacking Iran. Attacking these sovereign states and setting upm dictators to oppress the people is creating enemies for Americans. Now if YOU want to go over there and kill people for whatever reason, that is your choice. But spare me the crud about how they are “protecting my freedoms”, which grow less with each of these military excursions and are bankrupting this country. 71% of active military support RON PAUL, what does that tell you?How is that for “reality”?
I’m trying to get a handle on what you are saying here…

It seems that you are saying that government is not needed.

That the only reason we want government is to protect us, which it does not do.

And that government by interfering in the economy messes it up.

Is that an accurate indication of your position?

(I’m not addressing the war issues because they are separate issues from the pure, should we even have a government issue.)
 
(I’m not addressing the war issues because they are separate issues from the pure, should we even have a government issue.)
(Unfortunately its not, any unprovoked aggressor - Mongols just proof there are such - will be very happy if all others lack a government.)
 
(Unfortunately its not, any unprovoked aggressor - Mongols just proof there are such - will be very happy if all others lack a government.)
(I’m just saying that US involvement in those particular military actions are separate from the issue of having or not having a government)
 
Where a state exists, the people comprising that political class are bound to behave in a moral manner toward those they rule, the same as kings and other rulers. This is not the same as the political class having a God given right to rule. That is the old discarded Divine Right of Kings doctrine. And of course, absence of the state class means an-archy. But anarchy is not synonymous with chaos any more than capitalism is synonymous with the current corporate-statism that tyrannizes us. Actually, if you believe that we should be living under the righteous authority of God, we are currently living lawlessly, chaotically, although not anarchically.
Anarchy is not synonymous with chaos? What’s the difference then?
 
Well, here you go, here is a good short definition of Distributism:

youtube.com/watch?v=8nVldr6T7mQ&feature=related

If ever there was a government control system Distributism is it.

I have always wonderred how much quicker we could have attained many hight tech goals had it not been for government interference; e.g., the space program. Can you image had the governemtn allowed GE and GM and IBM and ATT Bell Labs to merge? Could we now be traveling in space? Could the heavens be more explored and the majesty of God be given greater glory?
look at this Distributism and follow its progress - it is the death of a growing ecoonomy.
 
Well, here you go, here is a good short definition of Distributism:

youtube.com/watch?v=8nVldr6T7mQ&feature=related

If ever there was a government control system Distributism is it.

I have always wonderred how much quicker we could have attained many hight tech goals had it not been for government interference; e.g., the space program. Can you image had the governemtn allowed **GE and GM and IBM and ATT Bell Labs to merge? **Could we now be traveling in space? Could the heavens be more explored and the majesty of God be given greater glory?
look at this Distributism and follow its progress - it is the death of a growing ecoonomy.
Bolded… What a nightmare!

You said you read UHAE… didn’t you notice how the megarich of the time manipulated education? That was not government interference, that was directly from the owners of big businesses, to, again not the government but to professional associations.

When I was in college and very secular and sorta liberal, I remember how everyone complained about Senator Jesse Helms. They accused him of manipulation education in NC to supply the cotton industries with workers. Yeah, I know you look at that and see government interference, but I look at it and see big business instigation of government interference, or even more directly, big business interfering with schools.

And while you may see what the Gates foundation is contributing to education as charity, I wonder what’s behind it, and I wonder why they’re doing this particular thing? And I wonder precisely because I read Gatto’s book.
 
Bolded… What a nightmare!

You said you read UHAE… didn’t you notice how the megarich of the time manipulated education? That was not government interference, that was directly from the owners of big businesses, to, again not the government but to professional associations.

When I was in college and very secular and sorta liberal, I remember how everyone complained about Senator Jesse Helms. They accused him of manipulation education in NC to supply the cotton industries with workers. Yeah, I know you look at that and see government interference, but I look at it and see big business instigation of government interference, or even more directly, big business interfering with schools.

And while you may see what the Gates foundation is contributing to education as charity, I wonder what’s behind it, and I wonder why they’re doing this particular thing? And I wonder precisely because I read Gatto’s book.
i find it notable that Americans have grown to look at government as this scary monster which is out of their control. They fail to realize its not because government exists (it always would), its because it no longer belongs/answers to them.

The ultimately false dichotomy between between private and state helps keep the private owners of the state of affairs firmly in place.

if the 2 biggest market NFL teams were allowed to buy as many players as they wanted, spend as much money as they wanted, become the dominant engine behind everyone’s opportunity, eventually the existence of the entire league would be in their hands, and thus they could set the rules. Of course, the league as a whole would suffer, eventually collapse, and bring down those 2 teams with them.

everyone talks about the top 1% being job creators, and we argue whether they are in fact putting any real effort into job creation, but the other part of it is: why in heavens name SHOULD they get to monopolize opportunity?
 
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