Re:People Had to Be Convinced of the Usefulness of Electricity
by fsckboy on Monday March 20, 2023 @01:47AM
(#35227739)
what you are saying is, it's an economic decision, which is what I am saying. But you're not recognizing it as an economic decision, you're just saying "food. do it"
Re:People Had to Be Convinced of the Usefulness of Electricity
by bbarnett on Monday March 20, 2023 @05:09AM
(#35229001)
Not quite.
What I will agree with, is that while it could be wrapped into an economic decision, if so, then "making sure there are hospitals there", or police, or schools is also an economic decision.
Which pretty much means that with such reasoning, all centralized planning is. Many economists might disagree.
Re:People Had to Be Convinced of the Usefulness of Electricity
by MichaelZuo on Monday March 20, 2023 @09:50AM
(#35231472)
Everything that involves resources is certainly at least an economic decisions, or political-economic decision, etc.
Re:People Had to Be Convinced of the Usefulness of Electricity
by bumby on Monday March 20, 2023 @09:14AM
(#35231005)
Hey, while we’re at it let’s pro-rate how much the military /police/fire departments are willing to protect citizens and property based on their proportional contribution. /s
The cost and reward functions in a complex society are much more complicated than you seem to allude. Some things we’ve decided as a society are public goods and deserve to be uncoupled from those market forces because they are important enough to ensure everyone have relatively equal access.
But what rural worker wants to leave their children to unfair advantage? These things have value beyond economics, they are required to maintain population and workers of absolutely essential jobs.
(Otherwise, these areas further depopulate, and you have to provide other incentives to get people to do said work.)