Lately, I think a lot about how modern business management principles were perfected by slave owners (per @CC_Rosenthal “accounting for slavery”)

And wonder if capitalism can ever be unbound from that legacy wrt human participation

Given that labor is the biggest cost in most companies, and capitalism’s dependence on infinite profit, must human labor always be minimized and coerced into submission?

During growth/expansion phases capitalism provides for humans because it needs them.

But in steady state or contraction, watch out.

Alan Greenspan wrote that capitalism is at its most vulnerable in the down cycle-and explains even to ardent capitalists that health care, education, and other safety net programs are what innoculate (my word) capitalism from populism

So I believe strongly that sharing the spoils of capitalism is how the system perpetuates itself.

But this requires a system view; and a willingness to see beyond one’s own finite lifespan.

Hard to do for many, antithetical for others.

If as a business owner you share resources to maximize globally and others only maximize locally you’re at a disadvantage in most situations.

Which is why I believe in strong regulations and government assistance.

Companies on their own won’t ever provide for the general welfare as well as a properly functioning central government.

companies do what they do then tax them to provide for general welfare-let government operate at scale.

Nationalize health care and education.

Like it’s ludicrous that I have to (get to?) choose the health care plans my company offers.

Wtaf do I know on this subject? How am I qualified to make that decision?

My team’s actual lives could be in my hands. It seems off for a business owner to make this call.

This system relies on me to know to ask if mental health is included, elective abortion, transgender health, domestic partner definitions, adoption support, etc

And your average bro cannot in any serious way know this stuff.

And all those things cost extra, so as the owner I must constantly fight the natural drive to profit instead of focusing on growing my firm.

Or, if I am more selfish, choose not to cover.

Reliance on owners being “good people” is the flaw in America’s system today.

I get the argument about waste and fraud in government. I was a free markets person for most of my adult life.

Still, In an age of technology, government could be both efficient and useful if properly funded and managed.

Still, and maybe it’s just me, I’d rather have some waste and fraud than see my fellow citizens suffering and dying needlessly.

Like what is the psychic cost to extraction of profit from the desperate and needy?

Feels like blood money to me.

You can’t have free markets if people aren’t free to participate because they are shackled to poor health and no education.

We may not be physically restraining labor, but we are coercing it nonetheless.

And now you know why I can’t sleep at night lol