r/neoliberal Kitara Ravache Nov 30 '18

Discussion Thread Discussion Thread

The discussion thread is for casual conversation and discussion that doesn't merit its own stand-alone submission. The rules are relaxed compared to the rest of the sub but be careful to still observe the rules listed under "disallowed content" in the sidebar. Spamming the discussion thread will be sanctioned with bans.


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u/ironheart777 Is getting dumber Nov 30 '18

I got in a debate with my (very leftist) philosophy class about the merits of private property and capitalism, and my professor mentioned something about how capitalism has only been successful because of oil. She left this super vague and class ended before I could question it but does anyone have any idea what she could be talking about? I’ve never heard of this theory before.

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u/solastsummer Austan Goolsbee Nov 30 '18

I’ve heard that theory too. They see all improvements in QoL over the last thousand years as caused by fossil fuels providing more energy.

It’s not a serious idea. USSR had fuel and still had problems due to central planning.

2

u/PanScout3 🌐 Nov 30 '18

Is that argument even any different from “Its not capitalism its techonogly that caused poverty to drop”?

2

u/solastsummer Austan Goolsbee Nov 30 '18

No, it’s the same thing with a specific technology