Michael Dawson
Yes, corporate capitalism presents entirely new dangers, many of which are possible end-times issues. But return to smallness is not the answer economically any more than return to the 1950s is the answer for "family values." If we are to save the world from war, ecological disaster, poverty, and cultural decay, we need more, not less, centralization of leading institutions. That's just a fact, hippies or no hippies. And Doug is right about the economic aspect. Small businesses in certain areas with certain rules (e.g., universal HC, livable minimum wages, etc.) are great secondary institutions. As primary ones, they stink.
^^^^^^
CB: As Lenin points out in _Imperialism_, in "biggness" , monopoly capital lays the groundwork for a socialist organization of society. The popular impression is the Leninists only have bad things to say about monopoly capital. However, actually, Leninists agree with Doug and Michael on this point. This is analysis of a contradiction, a method ignored by many analysts. The centralized planning of socialism will be based on state monopolies in the basic means of production. The monopolies formed under capitalism are a proto-step to socialist organization, structure that fits the famous increased socialization of labor.