Building microwaves is not like handling libraries. To build the microwaves you have to coordinate the work of vastly different mining, design, electronics, and metallurgical industries, each employing huge numbers of people. Then you have quality control, so the microwaves work and don't set fire to things (centrally planned economies have notoriously sucked ass at this). Then you have to distribute the microwaves to various optimal points where people want microwaves, in sufficient amounts and at appropriate intervals. Then you need a feedback mechanism so you know people are happy with the microwaves.
In libraries, on the other hand, the books are already produced. All you have to do is order them.
--- On Wed, 3/4/09, SA <s11131978 at gmail.com> wrote:
> From: SA <s11131978 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] IT innovation and "the Markets"
> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
> Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 5:05 PM
> Miles Jackson wrote:
>
> >> While I agree with your list do you imagine
> central planning would be as effective at filling demand for
> microwaves, TeeVee, pants, shoes and similar goods?
> > Why not? The efficient distribution of media from a
> lending library requires significant planning, tracking,
> budgeting, staffing, etc. Actually, the more I think about
> it, in practical terms, it's way easier to produce and
> distribute microwave ovens than it is to produce any of the
> public goods on my list.
>
> I don't think we're all talking about the same
> thing here. You seem to be talking about whether
> "planning" can work well. On that there was never
> any disagreement. Planning works well - libraries, subways,
> Medicare, etc - no argument there. What others are talking
> about is whether *central* planning works well.
>
> An economy where virtually all production is planned = a
> centrally planned economy. An economy where libraries and
> subways are planned = capitalism as we know it. You seem to
> believe that the former is just an extension of the latter,
> but that's the whole point - it's not.
>
> Planning under central planning is like decrypting a coded
> text in which every letter is represented by an unfamiliar
> symbol. Planning under capitalism as we know it is like
> decrypting that same text with the aid of a legend that
> translates half the letters of the alphabet for you. It
> would take an average person an hour to decode the text with
> the legend; without the legend most people could never solve
> it no matter how much time they had.
>
> SA
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