> My point is: we can judge a system based on the character of its
> institutions. Do they foster libertarian socialist values like democratic
> self-management, egalitarianism, solidarity and diversity? These are the
> values I want a society to encourage and promote - others may differ as to
> what they find important - but that is fundamentally where you have to
> start. What values and principles do you want society to be based on?
> Once you've answered that question you can start making value judgements
> about existing societies.
>
I agree with your post 100% but would just note that building a dynamic economy and society that thrives over the long run may conflict with the values one finds important. What if a society,say, Nicaragua or the liberated parts of El Salvador in the 80's, Mozambique in the 70's and the 80's fosters the right values but is horribly impoverished? Janos Kornai makes the argument that socialist values inevitably lead to economic stagnation. He says that economic dynamism requires a hard budget constraint which in turn requires unemployment and the ability to fire people. How can productivity be raised without threatening worker's livelihoods? While promoting the maximal amount of democracy, diversity and egalitarianism? Tough questions.
Sam Pawlett