So does then socialism of the Soviet variety involve considerably less?
Soviet socialism involved more wasteful competition than modern free-market (‘capitalist’) economies, by far. Much of that competition played out in the political arena, through the handing out of all sorts of special privileges and permits as “prizes” to be won. I’m not sure what a social system that involved “considerably less” competition might actually look like. Neo-cameralism of the Moldbuggian variety is often said to have some (rather minor) benefits in reduced social competition, but the costs are rather uncertain and potentially quite high.[1]
[1] (I actually think it might have a useful role to play, but only for the narrow use case of transition from weak authoritarian government like what you see in most of the non-Western world, to something like modern liberal democracy.)
In any case, we started with you saying competition is wasteful. So what are the alternatives?
I’ve tried to outline feasible options for the issues in the OP elsewhere in the comment thread. Anyway, ‘we started’ with you saying competition among high-school students has to be desirable and non-wasteful, precisely because it is a competition. My point was just that this is not quite correct.
Soviet socialism involved more wasteful competition than modern free-market (‘capitalist’) economies, by far. Much of that competition played out in the political arena, through the handing out of all sorts of special privileges and permits as “prizes” to be won. I’m not sure what a social system that involved “considerably less” competition might actually look like. Neo-cameralism of the Moldbuggian variety is often said to have some (rather minor) benefits in reduced social competition, but the costs are rather uncertain and potentially quite high.[1]
[1] (I actually think it might have a useful role to play, but only for the narrow use case of transition from weak authoritarian government like what you see in most of the non-Western world, to something like modern liberal democracy.)
Citation needed. This looks plain false to me.
In any case, we started with you saying competition is wasteful. So what are the alternatives?
I’ve tried to outline feasible options for the issues in the OP elsewhere in the comment thread. Anyway, ‘we started’ with you saying competition among high-school students has to be desirable and non-wasteful, precisely because it is a competition. My point was just that this is not quite correct.
Sigh. Bullshit. Quote me, please.
It’s only a few comments upthread and you already can’t distinguish between me and a straw monster living inside your mind.