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Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by MaxGanzII on Sunday March 13, 2022 @10:26AM (#30661470)
> even called parasitic

I do not recall this from WoN.

Quote please.

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by monocasa on Sunday March 13, 2022 @12:20PM (#30662693)
> As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce.

as well as

> They [landlords] are the only one of the three orders whose revenue costs them neither labour nor care, but comes to them, as it were, of its own accord, and independent of any plan or project of their own.

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by p0nce on Sunday March 13, 2022 @04:13PM (#30665262)
Exactly I was thinking about the first one.

The internet giants "reap where they never sowed".

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by simonh on Sunday March 13, 2022 @05:59PM (#30666165)
I just don’t think that argument is viable. They provide ongoing highly valued services people choose to pay for. Advertising for Google and Facebook, retail and hosting services for Amazon, physical products and online services for Apple, etc. They employ hundreds of thousands of people, are constantly updating and extending their products and services. That’s all serious work done by actual people.

I’m not justifying everything they do, or all their business practices, but if these companies didn’t provide those services someone else would. There’s a genuine need.

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by p0nce on Monday March 14, 2022 @03:59AM (#30669603)
I completely disagree.
Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by simonh on Tuesday March 15, 2022 @10:23AM (#30685677)
Well, their customers do agree and that's what actually matters, regardless of what you and I think.
Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by MaxGanzII on Sunday March 13, 2022 @01:21PM (#30663451)
Neither of which is Smith asserting rents are parasitic.

He describes economics; others put opinions into his words.

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by alecbz on Sunday March 13, 2022 @01:46PM (#30663774)
"Parasitic" can be descriptive? I means roughly someone that takes from a system without giving to or benefiting it.

Parasitic does have a fairly strong negative connotation, and Smith doesn't literally use the word, but those two passages do seem to have somewhat of a negative connotation to them, to my reading.

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by madsbuch on Sunday March 13, 2022 @10:37AM (#30661568)
I am quite sure the discourse on "rent seeking activities" come with a negative connotation in the wealth of nations. (forgive me if I am wrong, it is some years ago I read it)
Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by alfiedotwtf on Sunday March 13, 2022 @12:46PM (#30663024)
That's what I got out of it to. From his tone, he was completely against rent seeking.
Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by mhh__ on Sunday March 13, 2022 @11:46AM (#30662276)
Are you going to find any zingers in Smith?

The writing style is utter treacle to me at least, and I set out to give it a go under my own steam (i.e. not for a class or similar)

Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by sn41 on Sunday March 13, 2022 @05:28PM (#30665906)
If you want a completely underplayed side of Smith, you can also read "The theory of moral sentiments".
Re:Adam Smith did not mean what he is often made to say (1998) by digitcatphd on Sunday March 13, 2022 @10:35AM (#30661541)
The only thing being spun about WoN is this article