Scarlet the FoxJan 27, 2023

I studied capitalism in college because it was a particular interest of mine. I hated it. I also wanted to understand it, so that I could know why it rubbed me the wrong way and live intentionally to push against it.

There was this moment when I was in a grad course and the professor was talking about self-optimizing markets. That's when it hit me. I literally stood up in the class, interrupted everything and went like "wait, the math isn't optimizing for income inequality". It was kind of funny watching more than 100 little economists in training suddenly start tearing apart the equation at once. You could literally hear the sound of frantic spreadsheeting and charting.

In the end, the professor himself said that it was true, you could achieve a fully "optimized" economy with literally everything being owned by a handful of people. Made me think.

How is a system supposed to be beneficial for us all when the mathematics at its core don't actually consider societal benefit?

If an economy is fully "optimized" but everyone is sick, sad, and angry - is it actually optimal?

A mathematical model can make sense without being sensible. This is why I have an implicit distrust of algorithms and other systems of optimization. It's also why I'm a socialist.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Show threadBill SeitzJan 28, 2023
@scarlet so what *was* it optimizing for?
Show threadSocialistStanJan 28, 2023
@billseitz @scarlet Most profitable price point for any good or service, externalities be damned.
Show threadColin MacAllisterJan 30, 2023

@billseitz @SocialistStan @scarlet but that’s why we don’t live in an anarchy — so we can tax the wealth and put excess profits back into the welfare of all — so we maximize growth but consciously minimize inequality — or we would if we neoliberals we’re in charge ;-)

Pre-WTO China was very “fair” but had no superabundance of wealth to redistribute, so everyone was on the edge of starvation all the time.

Show threadSocialistStanJan 30, 2023
@dcoli @billseitz @scarlet Neo-liberalism is a completely failed and discredited ideology for a reason, it relies on the imagination that a system built by and for the elite will act against the interests of those same elite.
Show threadColin MacAllisterJan 30, 2023
@billseitz @SocialistStan @scarlet neoliberalism has been the policy of both Democrats and Republicans the past 50 years. It’s not leaving anytime soon.
Show threadSocialistStan
@dcoli @billseitz @scarlet That's part of why I don't vote or participate in this system. Not giving any of those turds legitimacy over me.
Jan 30, 2023 at 3:22amWeb
Show threadColin MacAllisterJan 30, 2023
@SocialistStan @billseitz @scarlet I was right there with you in my 20s, voted only for the green party, ran candidates against local Democrats. But then in 2000 Bush beat Gore, we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, ignored climate, change for a decade, and I realized that elections have consequences, even if I felt Gore was only the lesser of two evils.
Show threadSocialistStanJan 30, 2023
@dcoli @billseitz @scarlet I was like you in my 20s, I believed in the farce of representative democracy and was a christian conservative, the perfect American. Then I grew up and realized this system has nothing for me.
Show threadColin MacAllisterJan 30, 2023
@SocialistStan @billseitz @scarlet I'm nothing like a Christian conservative. Socially, fiscally -- in no way am I conservative. I believe in the redistribution of wealth. I just think free markets are the best ways to get the things people need to them. And letting them choose what is best for themselves.
Show threadSocialistStanJan 30, 2023
@dcoli @billseitz @scarlet Then why would you be a neo-liberal capitalist? Like you said, it's the same ideology. Two wings one shitty bird.