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Russia as well. A lot of these companies had lots of connections to people high up in the state, but they were not exactly state guided.



Right. Corporations and governments are 2 totally different things, not 2 wings of the same bird. We haven't always lived in a fascist governance structure, where corporations and governments work together to exploit individuals, via education, law, religion, media, etc. /s


> Corporations and governments are 2 totally different things

Are they, though? There are points well short of fascism where they exhibit significant similarity and cooperation. The idea of government as the remedy to every problem created by corporations is as overly simplistic as the idea of government ruining everything that corporations create. Either can be oppressive. Either can be beneficial. Some level of cooperation between the two can even be a good thing, as e.g. when corporations were first created to do things that were too expensive for one and too risky for the other. The similarities between organizations of similar size - also including churches, universities, and so on - overwhelm their differences. I would say corporations and governments are two wings of the same bird, and should remain that way, if the body in between is to be a healthy economy as part of a healthy society.

P.S. Yes, I'm well aware that the two exist for different purposes and answer to different kinds of authority. Don't even bother. The point is that their structure, behavior, and actual effect on society are not so dissimilar as you make them out to be.


I think you missed the /s at the end of my comment! We agree, they are similar - but disagree where you say things should remain that way. They should not.

From my perspective, there is no moral foundation for the existence of any governance system, except self-governance. Governance should NOT have a monopoly on force, they cannot legalise taxation, or the initiation of attacks on individuals, or license people/businesses, etc. These actions are possible on account of governmental force (in the form of police and military) it is not a moral right.


> there is no moral foundation for the existence of any governance system, except self-governance

"Self governance" is just another word for anarchy, which leads inevitably (and often quickly) back into autocracy. No thanks. Not even worth engaging with further.


The options are anarchy (or accepting personal responsibility for one's life) or immoral governance by force; aka slavery (to those who are able to take personal responsibility); aka pretending it is possible to abdicate one's personal rights to some ficticious entity called government. Self governance is really just the start of one's life as an adult.


Isn’t recognizing one’s limits and dependence on others also part of becoming an adult?


Either somebody has a monopoly on force or you have a failed state/anarchy.




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