Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

I can't say i see it turning into communism. In the past most all companies that have started to monopolize meet their fate. Globalzation makes sure of that. The changes move past these companies. Like US Steel, and GM. They have both in a sense were left in the dust after being one of the most dominating industries of the 1920s and on into later years.

This is an interesting comment. I wish I knew more about economics to respond. I do see the mass conglomeration of corporations happening at least in the media with 5 key players owning (and to an extent controling the presentation of reality) for a majority of media outlets. Also emerging are all of these international institutions like the World Bank and the Free Trade Organization, which have much control over who gets to trade and borrow in this world economy. Yes, they operate under the notion of "free trade" but not exactly in the "hands off" approach presented by Adam Smith.

Unfortunately I don't have much to contribute, but I find economics to be a fascinating discipline of study.

Well, being a vegan I don't agree in sacrificing any animals, but to get to your point. What you are describing about corporations merging into one super corporation is not a foreign topic. Marx always stated that capitalism would do this to itself. Major corporations would monopolize certain aspects of the market, you are seeing this with things like clear channel radio. Eventually, Marx predicted, these institutions would collapse upon themselves and result in public control over them. Let's all hope that happens soon. But don't sacrifice cows, it's speciesist.

Why would we want complete government control? I'm pretty sure the Soviets already proved that that didn't work at all. We need to some how gain control over the companies gaining to much power, there has got to be a way to break them up? To give complete control over to the government would be like putting America in the same spot Marx put the Soviets, on the fast path to destruction. I'm not saying that our system is completly correct, but i know it is better than full blown socialism in any way shape or form.

I don't see how it could be communism, which requires government control. Just because a couple now publicly owned economies of scale managed to squeeze by rules and laws governing anti-monopolostic corporations does not mean it is able to happen on a global scale. Before I hear the Wal-Mart and Microsoft rants, microsoft was grandfathered in under the technological advancement clause, and Wal-Mart due to its decreasing marginal costs over time and increasingly popular supply-chaining techniques. There are more and will be many exceptions to this rule but as it is easier and cheaper to start a company anew and is cheaper via line of internalized sunk costs to have a relatively smaller business, (mergers are all temporary and it's just the modern fad to utilize employment services and maximize profits on a regional scale), as new small business innovations come out, competitve society will stay strong for a very long time. As long as antitrust is legislatively enforced, the IMF has its root connections in member WTO countries, the people won't stand for their own businesses to monopolize because, as according to rational expectations, that hurts profits in the long run due to inefficiencies in aggregate markets on a micro level, and marginal error in the Phillip's curve on a macro scale.

Hmm... I don't think that our US economy could lead into communism since I believe the government would step in and regulate. Our constitution is so thorough and strong that I can't see one or two companies monopolizing practically every company in the US. On the other hand though, I feel that Wal*Mart is kind of like a communist market. They have stores literally every 15 miles away from each other. Their low, low prices of products imported from India and Pakistan are super cheap which takes business away from local retailers such as Target (which is amazing!) and ShopKo/ KMart. I think if there was one company that could potentially become a huge monopoly it'd be Wal*Mart. Their profits are outstanding and they could easily by out all of their other competitors. They have history of discrimination against women and they don't pay thier employees very well. I can't foresee that the US will become a communist market ever, but Wal*Mart is a threat.

No, I don't think the US market will ever lead to Communism. Communism is a very strong word, a VERY,VERY strong word. Communist policy regulates food coupons, where you can use them, how much they get you, and what you get. Communism destroys competition...ALL competition, not just a merged corperation bulldozing small business. We're talking a freedom of choice level of ZERO.

That being said, there have been several phases in U.S. history of government intervention into the economy, as well as our (in)famous laissez-faire. This occured in the early 1800's, throughout the Industrial Revolution, and into the 1900's. The government stepped in to beef up workers' rights, for businesses were controlling their lives. That's about as close to Communism as the U.S. will ever get, I think.

I see your point Jared, and I agree, i hope you're right too though, i hope our government is on top of these corportations. We might not get communism, but with 3 or 4 super conglomerates, we can get alot less freedom.

While I see your point about super companies ruling the world, I don't think that it will happen. The existnace of bodies such as the SEC, and FTC put a halt to companies getting too large. Not to mention that there are new technologies croping up and new ideas that appear to the individual, and these new ideas are the foundation of our captalistic society.