(September 17, 2010 at 8:02 am)Tiberius Wrote: No, you are wrong. Socialism isn't the *only* system that could do such a thing. Regulated capitalism could do exactly the same, through various methods: taxing corporations for the waste they use, enacting anti-competitive laws, etc.
Indeed, in a theoretical consumer-oriented capitalist society, the same behaviour would come about via private lobbying groups representing the consumers. If respect for the environment is established as a attractive position for a company, then that company will strive to meet with consumer demands for environmental action.
But then that wouldn't be regulated socialism but socialism with capitalistic tendencies, and yes true capitalism is impossible has much has true communism and true socialism, and what you're describing is true capitalism, in true capitalism companies compete to have the greatest products sold, however true capitalism is impossible, in this corrupted version of extreme capitalism america has companies compete for profit and that's all they ever care.
