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Is the Pokémon world a socialist paradise?

GymLeaderMisty

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    Do you think the setting of the Pokémon world takes place under a socialist paradise? I do not see how the Pokémon world could be compatible with Ayn Randian capitalism.

    Here is what I envision...

    Most people usually criticize socialism or "big government" as inefficient due to the amount of bureaucracy required. In the Pokémon world, this problem is bypassed because Alakazams help the policy wonks in the Pokémon world to make policy by analyzing a lot of data very efficient. The administrative functions are done by a few machines (in this case Alakazams) that can process an enormous input, and accurately simulate output making government policy more effective at anticipating outcomes and preventing undesirable outcomes. The Alakazams would remove the need for a legislature, and president so there would be little undesirable human influence in politics such as lobbyists to buy politicians influence. Most of the actual governence occurs with think tanks and their models made by Alakazams. Due to Alakazams' tremendous processing power, they were able to simulate and anticipate climate change, and allow the government to issue policies that prevented it from happening.

    The Pokémon world would presumably have high taxes as I doubt that private individuals would fund the activities the all the Pokémon professors' research, the Pokémon league and gyms, the Pokémon centers and police force. Gym leaders and Pokémon professors have to apply for grants by the government. Also, in the Pokémon world, there is little poverty and no homelessness, so presumably there would be extensive welfare benefits. Also, Delia Ketchum doesn't seem to work (except as home-maker), presumably she get's a citizen's dividend (as a stipend) which allows her to purchase stuff for herself and Ash. The taxes result in low income inequality in that world, and would be like Denmark in that respect. Companies like Sliph Co. and Devon Corporation have a large fraction of their equity owned by the state.

    Also, the competition in the world is actually good. At least you are competing with Pokémon trainers in Pokémon battles, not against each other in a horrible economic war. At least you are not competing against Chinese and Indian people for a finite amount of jobs in a competitive world. Competition is amiable and does not result in the real life zero-sum like economic competition.
     
    Esper

    Esper

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    (!...When politics and pokemon collide...!)

    Socialist paradise? No. I think we just don't see everything that goes on. Ash's mom might work part time, have inherited a lot of money, be living off investments, etc.

    Anyhoo, assuming you're correct, would that would make Team Rocket capitalists or anarchists?
     

    Charmageddon

    Charizard has evolved into ^
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    Team Rocket just want money and power, I don't think they subscribe to any particular political ideology.

    I think there would need to be an awful lot of government intervention in the Pokemon world - Pokemon Centres are completely free, and so presumably funded by the government. However, the PokeMarts show evidence of a free market, so I think it's more of a mixed economy like Britain. PokeCentres are the Pokeworld equivalent of the NHS.
     

    GymLeaderMisty

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    Darverses said:
    XD I lol'd. That's a capitalist Team Rocket is a Team Rocket I support.
    Click to expand...

    Anarcho-capitalism does exist... However, I do not see how the Pokémon world is communist world, or an Ayn Randian capitalist world. I doubt Pokémon centers would exist in the latter. The Pokémon world seems to be like Sweden or Denmark.

    Team Rocket aren't capitalists, but presumably they would oppose the law so they could steal Pokémon.

    I suppose the items at the PokéMarts have a high value-added tax so it could fund all of the aforementioned things such as welfare, Pokémon centers, Pokémon leagues, Pokémon gyms, Pokémon researchers, etc.
     

    Agent Cobalt

    Proud U.S. Army Soldier
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    The only thing I think would prove anything is a constitution..

    Still though, this world is based on the very real nation of Japan, which is still pretty capitalist. <=/
     

    Rabbit

    where is my mind?
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    At least you are not competing against Chinese and Indian people for a finite amount of jobs in a competitive world. Competition is amiable and does not result in the real life zero-sum like economic competition.
    Click to expand...

    Economic competition is zero-sum? Doesn't greater efficiency create prosperity and more jobs? o.O And if there was a finite number of jobs in the world, how could it be possible for the average GDP per capita to rise?

    In a way, I think you're right. It certainly explains a lot of strange things in the Pokemon world - free PokeCentres, friendly people everywhere, no crime, 10-year-olds travelling alone, trainers never having to work. But that Alakazams preform the function of government... I don't know about that. I know the Pokedex says Alakazam has the mind of a supercomputer, but I've never seen that actually being exploited in the anime. Maybe there's no government at all save a small decentralized bureacracy.
     

    Agent Cobalt

    Proud U.S. Army Soldier
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    Rabbit said:
    no crime
    Click to expand...
    I don't know about that. The fact that we have Jenny, Growlithes trained as police dogs, officers/policemen, and so on. Crime exists but we don't see it except in limited quantities (The Black Arachnid, Team Rocket, et cetera).
     

    GymLeaderMisty

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    The Alakazams can do complex linear algebra (for multiplying matrices and finding inverses) and do complex differential equations instaneously along with processing various input data. For example, they could simulate the effects of quanitative easing, changes in short-term interest rates, and changes in the money supply so they could forecast deflation, inflation, employment, etc. Some Alakazams would work for the central bank using very complex economic models (and that central bank would be better than the Federal Reserve.)

    Also, the Alakazams solve the economic calculation problem render most "Austrian" criticisms of the socialist state meaningless.

    In the Pokémon world, the government would be so efficient, that it seems that the government is fairly small. I suppose the taxes there might be in the 50% of GDP so it could fund what it funds.
     
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    Agent Cobalt

    Proud U.S. Army Soldier
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    ribozyme said:
    The Alakazams can do complex linear algebra (for multiplying matrices and finding inverses) and do complex differential equations instaneously along with processing various input data. For example, they could simulate the effects of quanitative easing, changes in short-term interest rates, and changes in the money supply so they could forecast deflation, inflation, employment, etc. Some Alakazams would work for the central bank using very complex economic models (and that central bank would be better than the Federal Reserve.)

    Also, the Alakazams solve the economic calculation problem render most "Austrian" criticisms of the socialist state meaningless.

    In the Pokémon world, the government would be so efficient, that it seems that the government is fairly small. I suppose the taxes there might be in the 50% of GDP so it could fund what it funds.
    Click to expand...
    Ok, you sound like you *really* want the Pokemon world to be socialist. I say really because if this was just a question you had, you wouldn't be thinking in depth about how to ignore basic economic laws through magical foxes to impose a specific economic system on a fictional world if you didn't desire it. I mean, come on, you're pumping out paragraphs of fanfiction from nowhere but in a tone that suggests you either believe this to be the case or wish it were so-
    If Pokemon Were Real topic said:
    I would like it. It would be like living in a socialist country such as Denmark or Sweden.
    Click to expand...
    If Pokemon Were Real topic said:
    I do not think most people would work in the Pokémon world. Delia Ketchum probably lives off of the socialist government there getting stipends. It is unlikely that the Pokémon would attack humans though because they do not do it often in the anime. They all seem to get along.

    On the bright side there will be no poverty or homelessness there.
    Click to expand...
    Seriously, you're going into other topics and quoting people and acting like Pinkomon is a fact. I mean, dude, the guy you replied to in your second post didn't even post in this topic but you're throwing it at him anyway like he's going to have any clue where you're coming from? Like, dude.

    LOL, maybe the title of this topic should be changed to "The Pokémon world is a socialist paradise!" and moved to fanfiction or something. :laugh:
     
    Esper

    Esper

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    coolcatkim22 said:
    But Alakazams can't talk...
    Click to expand...
    Perhaps they type.

    While we're at it another explanation occurs to me. It's a bit far-fetched (and probably not the first time someone has proposed it), but might not the pokemon world be a religious community? Think about it. Pretty much everyone is a trainer. All anyone talks about is pokemon, everybody is nice and welcoming to complete strangers, pokemon centers give sanctuary to anyone, etc. It's slightly more plausible than completely ridiculous.
     

    Åzurε

    Shi-shi-shi-shaw!
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    Not to mention all the talk of rare pokemon being so heavily revered. In the cases of the Dimension Trio and the Nature Titans, they essentially have every reason too think of them as gods. Their heroes all seem to be trainers, and the creation story about Arceus as canon would probably make "religious" people, as it were, very pokemon-centric.
     

    Virtual Chatot

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    If we could use their powers, sure the government would be a lot more technocratic as, like said before, we could just use Alakazam and Metagross to process information on economics.
     

    GFA

    Mega Blastoise is my homeboy
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    Agent Cobalt said:
    The only thing I think would prove anything is a constitution..

    Still though, this world is based on the very real nation of Japan, which is still pretty capitalist. <=/
    Click to expand...

    Constitutional Monarchy...

    Anyway, what's wrong with capitalism? I agree that the competition is bad, but no-one will ever be able to create a working socialist state anyway. No, wait... I've mixed socialism with communism

    coolcatkim22 said:
    Mangas don't count ether.
    Click to expand...

    They most certainly do.
     
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