Universal Basic Income: Biden's Best Bet?

[georgephillip]

If I lend you money...... Why should you win any complaint that I have about you?

Suppose you loan at a usurious rate of interest? Do you believe all creditors are created equal?

 

[hadit]

328 million Americans * $1,000/month = $328 billion/month.
$328 billion/month * 12 months = $3.9 trillion/year.

Fun times indeed. Where is the almost $4 trillion going to come from, Bill Gates?

That's McConnell's response that kills the whole thing.

No one can make it on $1000 a month. The minimum should be $2000, and it would require price controls.

That would be $8T a year.

They print all the money they need already, at this point we just need electrons to fill the bank accounts. That's all "money" is at this point anyway. "Digits", it's not based on anything real or tangible. So just program the treasury computers to fill every American's account with $500 a week and let people who can work earn a little bit more.

It's not that hard.

Every country that has attempted that has ended up in ruins. Venezuela printed money. Zimbabwe. Argentina. Haiti.

You can't just print money, and give it away, and not have consequences. Supply and demand, works on money itself. You drastically increase the supply, without a comparable increase in demand, and the result is lower value.

You drastically increase the supply of dollars, without increasing the demand goods, and the result is lower value of money.

100 years of economic history has proven this every single time.

Amazon.com

Throughout history, rich and poor countries alike have been lending, borrowing, crashing―and recovering―their way through an extraordinary range of financial crises. Each time, the experts have chimed, "this time is different"―claiming that the old rules of valuation no longer apply and that the new situation bears little similarity to past disasters.​

The old rules of how currency works are still true with the US today. Don't be stupid, and repeat the idiocracy of the past.

No one can make it on $1000 a month.

I have. And I know others that have.

If you want to earn more.... get a job that pays more. Learn something that pays more. Get a second job. I did.

If you simply eliminate all jobs that pay less, you simply won't have jobs that pay less.

No one is going to pay a burger flipper $25,000 a year. I wouldn't buy burgers from such a place. Thus such a place would shut down... thus they wouldn't earn $25,000 a year.

QE seems be working in the US. When was all of the money printed recovered?

The negative effects of QE will be felt for a long time. There's a reason why it can't be done on a long term basis, as I've explained to you, but you are not capable of understanding. It can be done temporarily to head off a much worse economic collapse, but it's only a band-aid and doesn't provide a long term fix.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

If I lend you money...... Why should you win any complaint that I have about you?

Suppose you loan at a usurious rate of interest? Do you believe all creditors are created equal?

Suppose you loan at a usurious rate of interest?

Suppose you borrowed at a usurious rate of interest?

 

[basquebromance]

there is no shame in poverty

the shame is being so greedy that you keep collecting money without giving back to society

 

[Andylusion]

The reason is simple. On the DR side, they have a concept that is fundamental to all Capitalism, called "Private Property".

On the Haiti side, they have government owned land, that is "held in common". So that all people can benefit from the natural resources of the country equally... and thus... there are none.

Haitian deforestation has more to do with charcoal, coffee, and French capitalists than with "government owned land."

Deforestation in Haiti - Wikipedia

"The rapid deforestation of Haiti began during the colonial period facilitated by slavery of captive Africans, and was intensified when coffee was introduced in 1730.

"Upland forests were cleared and fifty years later, a quarter of the colony's land was under coffee.

"The system of plantation monoculture and clean -cultivation between rows of coffee, indigo, tobacco, and sugarcane exhausted soil nutrients and led to rapid erosion[2]

"Following the Haitian revolution, the government was forced to export timber throughout the 19th century to pay off a 90 million franc indemnity to France for the 'loss' equivalent to the 'value' of the formerly enslaved population."

Couple of problems. You can't go back 100 years, to point to a problem today.

Because if I personally owned that land, I would work to restore the land. If you doubt that, look at Israel. They got control of the land in 1946, and through privatization, and investment in the land, are now an exporter of food, from what was previously barren desert.

Why has that not happened in Haiti? Because they don't have private property laws that allow owners to buy the land, and restore it.

So... it isn't restored.

Soil erosion can be dealt with, but not if you don't own the land. I'm not going to spend the money to plant trees and crops and build aquifers to maintain the land, if I don't own it.

Further, you yourself actually make my point. Who destroyed the land? Who? *WHO* destroyed the land?

Government. The Government under French rule, or the Government under Haitian rule, it was still government. Either way... still government.

A private owner would not have destroyed the land. Why would I destroy my own property, ruining my ability to make an income off the land in the future? I wouldn't.

Government ruined the land.

 

[Andylusion]

hese are for profit, capitalist companies, operating the oil fields in Alaska. They are not government run, they are for-profit. They are not 'held in common'.

The oil and gas resources they exploit ARE part of the commons. It is only the capitalists' peculiar definition of "private property" that permits a few parasites to amass vast fortunes from the public domain.

Well they shouldn't be part of the commons, because being part of the commons suck.

If you declare any resource at all, to be part of the 'commons', then it's no longer a resource, it's just a waste.

The Soviet Union was proof of this. By any and all possible measures.... the Soviet Union had more natural resources, than any nation that has ever existed in all human history.

And we're talking about any resource at all. Russia alone, separate from the Soviet Union, possesses rich reserves of iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, titanium, copper, tin, lead, tungsten, diamonds, phosphates, and gold, and the forests of Siberia contain an estimated one-fifth of the world's timber, mainly conifers. That does not include natural gas, oil, and coal.

Nor does it include the fact that Russia alone, not including the rest of the Soviet Union, had the 4th largest amount of arable farm land.

But here's the problems... it was owned by the state, not private companies. Thus, the country with the most natural resource wealth in the entire world, was having their citizens engage in cannibalism to survive.

Resources should never be part of the commons, where possible. They should all be privatized, because that is the only way to actually utilize them for the good of the country.

Look at Venezuela. They nationalized their oil companies, and production has been declining sharply ever since. Which by the way, was predicted by free-market Capitalists like myself, when Hugo Chavez did it in the early 2000s.

And no... it wasn't because of Sanctions that didn't happen for almost 20 years later, sorry.

 

[Andylusion]

Consumers shouldn't automatically, or by default win.

Consumers should have their cases heard in public courts instead of private (corporate) tribunals.

You flipped topics. You went From "Consumers" to "Employees".

Then get another job. There are literally endless numbers of jobs in this country. I still have companies calling me to come work for them, and I have no degree, no skills, nothing.

Why would you waste your valuable time in court.... when you could be working at a better job, with better conditions?

And even if you win in court... you think you are going to be treated well after you win in court?

You think you are ever going to get a raise, or promotion in a company you won a lawsuit against?

Are you stupid?

That is the most retarded thing you could possibly do. And further, you are damaging your future. You think your new employer isn't going to punch your name in Google, and see you sued your last employer?

Unless you have a clear cut bold case.... and you have a chance of walking away with half a million or some large amount.... you are just destroying yourself. Dumb idea.

This is why conservatives win, and left-wingers lose. Anyone who wastes their life trying to attack other people, will both never succeed, and end up poor and miserable.

 

[Andylusion]

If I lend you money...... Why should you win any complaint that I have about you?

Suppose you loan at a usurious rate of interest? Do you believe all creditors are created equal?

I don't know what "creditors created equal" means.

It's my money. I can lend it to you, at whatever rate I want, because it's MY MONEY.

If I want to rent out my house, I can charge $900 a night, if I want. It's my house.

If I want to loan out my car, my 03 Grand Marquis Luxury Sedan Beast.... And I want to loan it for $100 a day... it's MY CAR. I own it. I can do with it, whatever I want.

You have the option to not loan out the car, or not rent out my house, or not borrow my money.

Your job to be wise. YOURS. YOUR JOB. Not mine. It's not my job, to make sure you are not engaged in stupid.

If you decide to buy at car at 25% interest... that's on you for being stupid. And yes, I know a guy who bought a Honda Accord, at 25% interest. He was foolish man, and proved it.

Don't borrow money, if you don't want to pay the interest. Your job to be smart. Not their job to be smart for you.

Because here's the truth..... if every single creditor was required to work in your best interest..... they would advise everyone to simply not get a loan. If creditors were required to work in your interest, they would close their business. That would be what is in your best interest.

Loaning money, at any interest rate.... is dumb. Whether the interest rate is high or low, you are still paying bank to do nothing. You are giving your money to bank.... while they do nothing to earn it. That's what a loan is.

So, instead of demanding government do something... just don't borrow the money.

Save up the money, and buy it with cash. If you don't have the cash, don't buy it.

 

[LuckyDuck]

Almost everyone's aware of Alaska's Permanent Fund:

"...The program began in 1976 after the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope.

"The then-governor, a renegade Republican named Jay Hammond, concluded that this windfall was too good to just give to the oil companies.

"So he devised the program to share the revenue with Alaska residents...."

"OK, here’s the idea for President-elect Biden:

"Bring 20 of the Trumpiest-looking Alaskans to a press conference.

"Unveil a plan whereby every man, woman, and child gets a $1,000 check every month from the government.

"Finance it with taxes on large wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, and intellectual property resulting from taxpayer-funded public research.

"Invite the Alaskans to describe the joy of getting their checks: no middleman, no means tests, no government forms to fill out—just free money as everyone’s share of the American commons.

"Dare Mitch McConnell to oppose it."

A Big, Simple, Winning Issue for Biden

The "American commons" are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society. In a time when the privileged few expand their vast fortunes despite a global pandemic and recession, it seems fitting to socialize the profits and privatize the losses.

Does anyone believe "Delaware Joe" will turn on his corporate benefactors?

There have already been proposals along these lines from Democrats like Kamala Harris.

Personally I think they are a great idea. This is America, the richest, best country in the world. We should have no one living in poverty here.

I hate to burst your bubble, but "every" nation has poverty. There's just not enough wealth to go around. You talk a basic $1,000 dollars per month for every person. That's $12,000 per year and doesn't pay for much. Add to this, if the fake Democrats get their way, the border will fly open and millions will flood in. Add to this, the ridiculous "Green New Deal," Socialized Medicine and free education and it all can't be paid for. There's just so much money to go around.
This nation will end up exactly like Venezuela, its public starving and others fleeing out of the country to survive. North Korea's Socialism: Millions starved to death. China's Socialism: Millions starved to death. Old Soviet Union Socialism: Millions starved to death and in all three of those Socialist Utopias, millions were also murdered by the governments.
Once you've bilked the rich and middle-class of all their money, whatcha gonna do?

 

[georgephillip]

I hate to burst your bubble, but "every" nation has poverty. There's just not enough wealth to go around. You talk a basic $1,000 dollars per month for every person. That's $12,000 per year and doesn't pay for much.

If the average US family consists of 3.14 people, $3140 would pay for a great deal. In my case as a single retired adult, an additional $1000 a month would eliminate my dependency on my $244 a month SSI benefit and another $100/month Medicaid payment.

If you believe an "invisible hand" automatically distributes wealth and income based solely on each worker's and investor's marginal utility, you are drastically underestimating the influence of our politically constructed laws and institutions on society.

 

[danielpalos]

Almost everyone's aware of Alaska's Permanent Fund:

"...The program began in 1976 after the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope.

"The then-governor, a renegade Republican named Jay Hammond, concluded that this windfall was too good to just give to the oil companies.

"So he devised the program to share the revenue with Alaska residents...."

"OK, here’s the idea for President-elect Biden:

"Bring 20 of the Trumpiest-looking Alaskans to a press conference.

"Unveil a plan whereby every man, woman, and child gets a $1,000 check every month from the government.

"Finance it with taxes on large wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, and intellectual property resulting from taxpayer-funded public research.

"Invite the Alaskans to describe the joy of getting their checks: no middleman, no means tests, no government forms to fill out—just free money as everyone’s share of the American commons.

"Dare Mitch McConnell to oppose it."

A Big, Simple, Winning Issue for Biden

The "American commons" are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society. In a time when the privileged few expand their vast fortunes despite a global pandemic and recession, it seems fitting to socialize the profits and privatize the losses.

Does anyone believe "Delaware Joe" will turn on his corporate benefactors?

There have already been proposals along these lines from Democrats like Kamala Harris.

Personally I think they are a great idea. This is America, the richest, best country in the world. We should have no one living in poverty here.

“Poverty” here in this country would be considered opulence innody of the rest of the world. This is a colossal mistake by some very ignorant people. All that will happen is an increase in the cost of living, putting people right back in “poverty” despite the free money.

Means nothing, Labor has to be able to afford our first world economy.

That’s funny because it’s been working so far as is. Where else do you see “poor” people with cell phones and big screen TVs?

Because we have the expense of our social, war on poverty? Free market capitalists used to simply outlaw being poor not actually solve simple poverty.

WTF? Are you off your meds? Are you replying to the right thread?

It doesn't matter which thread he's on, he always says the same things.

More "gospel Truth" than right wingers, that is for sure.

It's been said that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. They're right, so stop wasting yours.

I used to vote republican, then I started working on recovering my mind.

You're going in the wrong direction.

Right wingers have no free market capitalism solutions only right wing fantasy that requires socialism on a national and international basis.

You've been publicly spanked in every thread on economics you've ever posted.

Isn't right wing fantasy wonderful. In left wing male fantasy I have to "bend over and say thank you ma'am, may I have another" every time I resort to fallacy and lose my argument.

You must be very used to doing that.

Have any women here been bragging about it?

Equal protection of the laws for unemployment compensation is more economically efficient than our current regime.

We should have no homeless issues in our first world economy.

We already have "Equal protection of the laws for unemployment compensation". You have failed to demonstrate how we do not. The law doesn't discriminate against any skin color, sexual preference, or even favorite NFL team. That's the bottom line, if you're laid off, you can collect. If you never held a job or just don't want to, you can't. Equal protection.

This is the law in question:

An employment, having no specified term, may be terminated at the will of either party on notice to the other. Employment for a specified term means an employment for a period greater than one month.

There are no for-cause criteria. EDD would have to prove a for-cause employment relationship existed in an at-will employment State.

From your own statement, which has no link to any law, which means you could have just made it up, I submit the following: "Employment for a specified term means an employment for a period greater than one month". How do you reconcile that statement with your fantasy that it applies to people who never worked and never will?

Employers are not required to hire anyone in an at-will employment State, not even in Right to Work States. What is your point?

There is no unemployment under free market capitalism only underpayment.

The point is, as it always has been, that there simply is no unequal protection under the law when it comes to UC, and at-will employment doesn't even relate to the topic. Yet you continue spouting the same worn out meaningless phrases as if they mean something. Do you understand that? You've never managed to demonstrate where the so-called unequal protection exists, ever.

Also, saying there "is no unemployment under free market capitalism only underpayment" is also meaningless, because of course there is unemployment.

No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

How does that even relate to UC? You're just quoting random things, hoping desperately they relate, but they don't.

Too bad for you, there is no appeal to ignorance of the law. Just because You are that ignorant means nobody should have to take You seriously; no judge has to take You seriously, why should anyone else?

You have yet to demonstrate any knowledge of the law. Nothing you've quoted has any relevance to UC.

All you have is fake news. Why do you bother?

 

[danielpalos]

The negative effects of QE will be felt for a long time.

What negative effects? We must have a better understanding of economics since we don't have the rampant inflation pre-WWII Germany had.

 

[The Original Tree]

I hate to burst your bubble, but "every" nation has poverty. There's just not enough wealth to go around. You talk a basic $1,000 dollars per month for every person. That's $12,000 per year and doesn't pay for much.

If the average US family consists of 3.14 people, $3140 would pay for a great deal. In my case as a single retired adult, an additional $1000 a month would eliminate my dependency on my $244 a month SSI benefit and another $100/month Medicaid payment.

If you believe an "invisible hand" automatically distributes wealth and income based solely on each worker's and investor's marginal utility, you are drastically underestimating the influence of our politically constructed laws and institutions on society.

We are not allowing you sick Satanic Bastards to implement Globalist Great Reset so that you lazy bastards can sit on your couches and collect a paycheck at my expense.

Get a damn job, and quit wasting your time chasing hairy man butt, and being lazy. Communism is a virus that must be wiped out, not aided and abetted.

No one wants your Digital 666 ID, No one wants to be tracked, or have a chip implanted in them to operate in the Great 666 Reset Economy.

No one except you and your God Hating Friends wants to be enslaved by a Global Cashless Surveillance Society, where you own nothing, and have no rights, only privileges that the government can take away at will, and you are a subject, not a citizen, and you will not be able to buy or sell unless you have the digital ID, and they can starve you out and cut you off from you money at the push of a button.

Joe Biden is a fraud, and if you can cheat in an election on such a massive scale, imagine having the power to destroy billions of lives and starve people to death with a push of a button. NO thanks.

Maybe you should invest your time in Jesus, instead of being preaching The Gospel of Hell and doing The Devil's Work preparing for the End Time Tyranny and Oppression to come of which we have just gotten a taste of it for the last 10 months.

Piss off, and may there always be rocks in your shoes, and sand in your undershorts and a fly in your soup. May God curse all that you do, all that you care about, all that you stand for, and all that you say. Repent or Burn! I prefer that you burn.

To the rest of you, stop responding to this moron's thread and giving him free press for his Evil Communist Agenda. Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves.

ID2020 - The Mark Of The Beast - NoOneGetsOutAlive!

ID2020 - The mark of the beast. How it relates to COVID-19, and the Quantum Dot Tattoo. We are about to witness a biblical prophecy come true.

noonegetsoutalive.com

An Invisible Quantum Dot 'Tattoo' Could Be Used to ID Vaccinated Kids

For the people overseeing nationwide vaccination initiatives in developing countries, keeping track of who had which vaccination and when can be a tough task.

www.sciencealert.com

Quantum-dot tattoos hold vaccination record

Keeping track of a child’s shots could be so much easier with technology invented by a new Rice University professor and his colleagues.

news.rice.edu

Could immunity passports soon be coming to the world?

Will the coming COVID vaccines also come with a ‘passport’?

tottnews.com

WO2020060606 CRYPTOCURRENCY SYSTEM USING BODY ACTIVITY DATA

Human body activity associated with a task provided to a user may be used in a mining process of a cryptocurrency system. A server may provide a task to a device of a user which is communicatively coupled to the server. A sensor communicatively coupled to or comprised in the device of the user...

patentscope.wipo.int

 

[DBA]

I hate to burst your bubble, but "every" nation has poverty. There's just not enough wealth to go around. You talk a basic $1,000 dollars per month for every person. That's $12,000 per year and doesn't pay for much.

If the average US family consists of 3.14 people, $3140 would pay for a great deal. In my case as a single retired adult, an additional $1000 a month would eliminate my dependency on my $244 a month SSI benefit and another $100/month Medicaid payment.

If you believe an "invisible hand" automatically distributes wealth and income based solely on each worker's and investor's marginal utility, you are drastically underestimating the influence of our politically constructed laws and institutions on society.

Are you disabled? You are on Medicaid and SSI?

 

[Nova78]

Almost everyone's aware of Alaska's Permanent Fund:

"...The program began in 1976 after the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope.

"The then-governor, a renegade Republican named Jay Hammond, concluded that this windfall was too good to just give to the oil companies.

"So he devised the program to share the revenue with Alaska residents...."

"OK, here’s the idea for President-elect Biden:

"Bring 20 of the Trumpiest-looking Alaskans to a press conference.

"Unveil a plan whereby every man, woman, and child gets a $1,000 check every month from the government.

"Finance it with taxes on large wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, and intellectual property resulting from taxpayer-funded public research.

"Invite the Alaskans to describe the joy of getting their checks: no middleman, no means tests, no government forms to fill out—just free money as everyone’s share of the American commons.

"Dare Mitch McConnell to oppose it."

A Big, Simple, Winning Issue for Biden

The "American commons" are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society. In a time when the privileged few expand their vast fortunes despite a global pandemic and recession, it seems fitting to socialize the profits and privatize the losses.

Does anyone believe "Delaware Joe" will turn on his corporate benefactors?

There have already been proposals along these lines from Democrats like Kamala Harris.

Personally I think they are a great idea. This is America, the richest, best country in the world. We should have no one living in poverty here.

It's called getting off your worthless ass and working, dip.

 

[Thinker101]

Almost everyone's aware of Alaska's Permanent Fund:

"...The program began in 1976 after the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope.

"The then-governor, a renegade Republican named Jay Hammond, concluded that this windfall was too good to just give to the oil companies.

"So he devised the program to share the revenue with Alaska residents...."

"OK, here’s the idea for President-elect Biden:

"Bring 20 of the Trumpiest-looking Alaskans to a press conference.

"Unveil a plan whereby every man, woman, and child gets a $1,000 check every month from the government.

"Finance it with taxes on large wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, and intellectual property resulting from taxpayer-funded public research.

"Invite the Alaskans to describe the joy of getting their checks: no middleman, no means tests, no government forms to fill out—just free money as everyone’s share of the American commons.

"Dare Mitch McConnell to oppose it."

A Big, Simple, Winning Issue for Biden

The "American commons" are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society. In a time when the privileged few expand their vast fortunes despite a global pandemic and recession, it seems fitting to socialize the profits and privatize the losses.

Does anyone believe "Delaware Joe" will turn on his corporate benefactors?

There have already been proposals along these lines from Democrats like Kamala Harris.

Personally I think they are a great idea. This is America, the richest, best country in the world. We should have no one living in poverty here.

Yep, this is America, a country where you can achieve just about any level of success you'd like. The only requirement is you gotta get off your ass.

 

[DBA]

Consumers shouldn't automatically, or by default win.

Consumers should have their cases heard in public courts instead of private (corporate) tribunals.

You have the right as an employee to leave the company and work somewhere else. What if you happen to be a very valuable employee to the company? You leave and they are in a real lurch. It hurts their bottom line ad productivity while they attempt to find a suitable and capable replacement. This is particularly applicable to small business.

 

[Nova78]

Sure as long as it does not come out of your pocket , hypocrites!
Ron Paul-I invited each of these colleagues to match my private, personal contribution of $100 which, if accepted by the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, would more than satisfy the $30,000 cost necessary to mint and award a gold medal to the well-deserving Mother Teresa. To me, it seemed a particularly good opportunity to demonstrate one’s genuine convictions by spending one’s own money rather than that of the taxpayers who remain free to contribute, at their own discretion

Not a single member of the House, all of whom had voted to spend the taxpayers’ money to fund this award was willing to personally contribute $100

 

[DBA]

Almost everyone's aware of Alaska's Permanent Fund:

"...The program began in 1976 after the discovery of oil on Alaska’s North Slope.

"The then-governor, a renegade Republican named Jay Hammond, concluded that this windfall was too good to just give to the oil companies.

"So he devised the program to share the revenue with Alaska residents...."

"OK, here’s the idea for President-elect Biden:

"Bring 20 of the Trumpiest-looking Alaskans to a press conference.

"Unveil a plan whereby every man, woman, and child gets a $1,000 check every month from the government.

"Finance it with taxes on large wealth, fossil fuels, financial transactions, and intellectual property resulting from taxpayer-funded public research.

"Invite the Alaskans to describe the joy of getting their checks: no middleman, no means tests, no government forms to fill out—just free money as everyone’s share of the American commons.

"Dare Mitch McConnell to oppose it."

A Big, Simple, Winning Issue for Biden

The "American commons" are the cultural and natural resources accessible to all members of society. In a time when the privileged few expand their vast fortunes despite a global pandemic and recession, it seems fitting to socialize the profits and privatize the losses.

Does anyone believe "Delaware Joe" will turn on his corporate benefactors?

There have already been proposals along these lines from Democrats like Kamala Harris.

Personally I think they are a great idea. This is America, the richest, best country in the world. We should have no one living in poverty here.

Yep, this is America, a country where you can achieve just about any level of success you'd like. The only requirement is you gotta get off your ass.

Yes, as opposed to the European model these lefties support which has no such requirement. It also has much smaller avenue for success for those that actually have some drive and ambition. Living in a shoebox in a big city is the dream for many lazy bums in this country. It is a step up. They don’t care if some of us would be forced to take a big step down to accommodate for their laziness and incompetence.

 

[danielpalos]

hese are for profit, capitalist companies, operating the oil fields in Alaska. They are not government run, they are for-profit. They are not 'held in common'.

The oil and gas resources they exploit ARE part of the commons. It is only the capitalists' peculiar definition of "private property" that permits a few parasites to amass vast fortunes from the public domain.

Well they shouldn't be part of the commons, because being part of the commons suck.

If you declare any resource at all, to be part of the 'commons', then it's no longer a resource, it's just a waste.

The Soviet Union was proof of this. By any and all possible measures.... the Soviet Union had more natural resources, than any nation that has ever existed in all human history.

And we're talking about any resource at all. Russia alone, separate from the Soviet Union, possesses rich reserves of iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, titanium, copper, tin, lead, tungsten, diamonds, phosphates, and gold, and the forests of Siberia contain an estimated one-fifth of the world's timber, mainly conifers. That does not include natural gas, oil, and coal.

Nor does it include the fact that Russia alone, not including the rest of the Soviet Union, had the 4th largest amount of arable farm land.

But here's the problems... it was owned by the state, not private companies. Thus, the country with the most natural resource wealth in the entire world, was having their citizens engage in cannibalism to survive.

Resources should never be part of the commons, where possible. They should all be privatized, because that is the only way to actually utilize them for the good of the country.

Look at Venezuela. They nationalized their oil companies, and production has been declining sharply ever since. Which by the way, was predicted by free-market Capitalists like myself, when Hugo Chavez did it in the early 2000s.

And no... it wasn't because of Sanctions that didn't happen for almost 20 years later, sorry.

Yet, it was the near communism of our wartime economy that achieved full employment and won WWII. How do you explain that? Nobody trusted Capitalism when it really really matters.