Rebecca WatsonSep 22, 2023
Here we go again: popular YouTube physicist Sabine Hossenfelder is extremely wrong about something! This time, she argues in favor of capitalism, saying that without it, we wouldn't have scientific progress. The Nobel prize winner she cites begs to disagree. https://skepchick.org/2023/09/sabine-is-wrong-again-capitalism-wouldve-killed-penicillin/
Sabine is Wrong Again: Capitalism Would’ve Killed Penicillin

A few weeks ago, several of you let me know that there had been yet another great disturbance in the online science communication force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out “what the fuck a…

Skepchick
Show threadLewis

@rebeccawatson The idea of capitalism is perhaps better implemented in Germany currently.

The capitalism being practised in the UK is concerned with providing big windfalls for the rich and has little interest in investment in proactive scientific development to better society.

Sep 22, 2023 at 7:53pmWeb
Show threadlj·rkSep 23, 2023

@LewisHarrington @rebeccawatson Nope, doesn't work here either.

It only works if you make a disconnect between the economic system and the political one. But reality is different, even in "social welfare capitalism" the rich do get richer and at some point have enough political power to unhook the regulations and then you get the same crap. It's not as bad here yet, but it's gotten worse a *lot*.

It's why some call for the "dictatorship of the proletariat": Being a capitalist must mean renouncing any political power.

Show threadLewisSep 23, 2023

@ljrk @rebeccawatson
This is the real problem of our time.

The power of those who like to divert the path of wealth toward the rich, endlessly, seems unassailable and terrible in consequence.