what do you expect for free?

julieq

So what pays for the public sector?

ninky_2

Generali wrote: »

Not even libertaians believe in an absence of Government and thus taxation so you're arguing against something that nobody wants and doesnt exist. You might as well argue that the last heffalumps should be shot in case they give us all dropsy.

well you could have fooled me with some of the posts on this board.

DexterA

julieq wrote: »

So what pays for the public sector?

A combination of the public and private sector. The point is, the private sector needs a combination of carrot and sticks to ensure it serves the public good, and not just shareholders.

e.g. banning ciggerette advertising is something I consider a positive.

julieq

Very little of the public sector generates wealth. It can't pay for itself, and essentially the private sector, which is based on capitalism, is necessary to allow it to exist at all. It is theoretically possible to create a state based on entirely nationalised industry, but all attempts so far to make this work have failed, because without the discipline imposed by capitalism, there is no incentive to increase efficiency in businesses.

I don't disagree altogether with the idea that it's about checks and balances, and the state should provide some level of regulation. I agree very much about the cigarette advertising ban being positive (though strictly speaking this wasn't done by the public sector, it was done by the government). But it's naive and unfair to bash capitalism which works about better than anything we've ever devised to improve standards of living for everyone.

ronny_todgers

Yeah the education system just swallows money doesn't it - I mean all those private companies would love to employ people who couldn't read or write. Having a useful and functional public sector enables the private just as much as vice versa.
Its a popular myth that private sector is the only one generating money and public sector just spends it.

ronny_todgers

And in terms of wealth creation what percentage of the wealth created by investment banking in 2007 still exists? - did it ever?

Generali

ninky wrote: »

well you could have fooled me with some of the posts on this board.

Do you have a link or is this (yet) another example from your fevered imagination.

ninky_2

julieq wrote: »

Very little of the public sector generates wealth.

name a part of the public sector that doesn't generate wealth.

lostinrates

ronny_todgers wrote: »

Yeah the education system just swallows money doesn't it - I mean all those private companies would love to employ people who couldn't read or write..

Agreed, but its a shame more people don't leave school able to read and right*, or at least with a desire to learn and be fulfilled and productive in life.

* unnintentional lirism!

michaels

Nice

lostinrates wrote: »

Agreed, but its a shame more people don't leave school able to read and right, or at least with a desire to learn and be fulfilled and productive in life.

So if the govt didn't provide education then no-one would pay for it?

If the govt gave out vouchers so people could buy their own education rather than the state providing as well as paying for it then the standards would be worse?