[PaulDavisThe1st]

Depends on what you mean by "the state".

I respect the power of loosely regulated markets, and a highly entrepeneurial culture.

I also have respect for the power of participatory democracy to make better decisions than profit-incentivized corporations.

Do I think that the current US congress can do a better job than Salesforce in deciding how to spend US10M? Actually, probably yes. Can the current US congress do a better job than the entirety of all US for-profit corporations? Probably not.

Does that mean that there are no forms of non-corporate resource allocation decision making that couldn't do a better job. I believe that it does not, and that we should, as a society, seek out those other forms.

[rcoveson]

The idea that we should "seek out those other forms" is a huge retreat from the statement:

> I'm fine with companies making a profit (I think). But I want them taxed in a way that removes their control over the bulk of these resource allocation decisions.

Do you think we should increase corporate taxes to "the bulk of" a company's resources (implying, at a minimum, more than half)?

Or are you just frustrated by this instance of what seems like obvious waste, but on further consideration still admit that leaving the bulk of resource allocation decisions to the market is the best idea we collectively have?

[PaulDavisThe1st]

I think that we should tax away the majority of corporate profit (modulo, of course, legally sanctioned re-investment).

And no, I do not think that leaving the bulk of resource allocation decisions to the market is the best idea we collectively have. The market works fine for some resource allocation, but it has very disturbing failures with quite a number of things that are central to a happy, free life. I do believe that market pricing is a valuable strategy in running a contemporary economy, but the level of trust and responsibility we place in it has, IMO, gotten completely out of control.