Dialogues with Greco, "On Economic Choice"

...and its relation to democracy...

Greco: Suvian, if I were to ask you what is the one thing that sets us apart as Americans, something that makes us special in the world, the thing for which other nations in the world pine for, but has its clearest and most desirable expression in our society, how would you respond?

Suvian: Hmm...let me see...well, I think that would have to be the idea of "freedom"...

Greco: Can you be a little more specific? "Freedom" is such lofty concept...

Suvian: Well, the idea that as Americans, we live in a society in which democracy recieves its most abundant and fruitful expression...that the historical struggles our country has experienced has culminated itself into the democratic principles that lie at the foundation of our society...

Greco: Well said. Tell me more about those "democratic principles"...

Suvian: Those democratic principles include an abundance of civil liberties protected by the Bill of Rights, such as the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms...

Greco: That is true...these represent some of the core values of our democracy as we know it. But in looking at the way things work today, wouldn't you grant me that economic choice is also a kind "freedom"?

Suvian: Well, yes I would agree with that...

Greco: That it is logical to say that the more choices we have, the more freedom we have?

Suvian: Yes...

Greco: That the idea of diversity is an essential part of democracy?

Suvian: Yes...

Greco: Keeping that line of thought, how would you describe the kinds of economic choices that you make these days?

Suvian: Well, everyone makes dozens of economic choices everyday, ranging from the phone company they use, to the books they read and the food they eat, for example.

Greco: True. And do you have any guiding principles in how you make those choices? What makes you decide to buy something or not?

Suvian: Well, price is certainly a big factor, especially for the more everyday kind of things like food, clothing, etc.

Greco: Right...and that's very practical of you, Suvian. Saving money on everyday expenses is a good way to watch your budget...are there any other things you think about when deciding to buy something?

Suvian: Yes. Sometimes I think about who makes the product and whether or not I agree with or want to support that company by buying their goods. Sometimes this means buying a product which is more expensive, but I feel that the expense is worth it because I am supporting a company whose values I agree with.

Greco: So price is not always the bottom line?

Suvian: Right...but what concerns me more and more these days is the increasing consolidation of products into "super-stores" and "mega-centres" where almost any product can be found at a cheap price...

Greco: And why does this concern you?

Suvian: Well, there are two sides to it. One is economic. These super-stores are closing down the local shops, making it more and more difficult for them to stay in business. The second is about choice. As the super-stores continue to grow and spread across the country, how does this affect the choices that we can make? It would seem to narrow them, such that the choices made available to us are increasingly determined by the super-stores, at the expense of the local stores...

Greco: And, might I say, at the expense of democracy.

Suvian: How so?

Greco: Earlier, we agreed that diveristy is a necessary component of democracry, did we not?

Suvian: Yes we did.

Greco: Then it stands to reason that as our economic choices become increasingly constrained and limited by the super-store phenomenon, by the multi-national corporations that provide them with the goods, and by governments that readily endorse "the rising tide will lift all boats" ideology, that it is democracy itself that stands to lose out in this process.

Suvian: Hmm...but surely we will still be free?

Greco: To what end? If choices made available to us are increasingly put into the hands of a powerful few, then how is that "free"? No, Suvian, that is not democracy. That is the natural development of embracing capitalism, and the corollaries with fascism are striking.