Re: Transaction costs, redistribution and libertarianism

[IPGmail@aol.com]

In a message dated 11/6/99 kwilde@magi.com writes:

> I am not
>  persuaded that all valuable work is being taken over by machine and that 
the
>  rewards for human effort in the "free" market are vanishing.  Broader
>  distribution of capital could, I conjecture, assist in the diversion of 
more
>  human effort into valuable pursuits that are currently neglected.

In "The Capitalist Manifesto" Kelso & Adler make a useful distinction between 
the "work of survival" and the "work of civilization."  The former is work to 
supply the necessities of life (food, clothing, shelter, etc.), the latter is 
scientific, religious, philosophical, educational, etc.  The former is being 
taken over by machines, the latter is not; spreading ownership of the 
machines means more people can engage in the work of civilization, which many 
people would gladly do without pay, because the work itself is rewarding.  
The reason this work is paid now is that the workers have no other way to 
meet their physical needs.

Alan Zundel
Institute for the Public Good
http://www.publicgood.org