Capitalism

[Wraithspine]

Capitalism in itself isn't bad the problem with it is that people who have money want more and are less willing to dish it out. Let's say, on WAGES which are god awful low. The gap between the rich and the poor is now wider than its ever been in any period in history. Don't argue I have a picture of a guy with a McClaren Mercedes made of WHITE GOLD!!! I can barely afford to pay for my necessities, let alone people who are on the streets and starving and this guy has a car with no purpose but to show how god damn rich the bastard is. This is where the problem in capitalism lies. Money attracts money and the rest of us are left with the meagre scraps we can gather. I will support any system of government that promotes both kindness and generosity to your fellow human beings whilst also allowing people the opportunity to become rich without being either bastards.

 

[Shynobee]

Capitalism = good.

It promotes pride in ownership, personal success, and hard work. It also punishes the lazy, which is something I try to do as often as I can.

 

[Davrel]

Yes. Anything that rewards people for not being lazy or stupid wins in my book.

Paris Hilton.

 

[Shynobee]

No absolutely no. Those of you who claim that Capitalism is better and we shouldn't try Socialism because it wouldn't work in a real world, think of this. It might not work because we live in a Capitalistic world, and you are not willing to try to make it better.

Or, maybe capitalism works because it gives people what they want, a chance to shine, be successful, and have pride in what you do, rather than having everything done for you.

But your right, socialism works so well for all the countries that use it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/04/greece_bankruptcy_hovers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela

 

[Shynobee]

3) The same pyramid scheme applies to individuals. Individuals who have come into a lot of wealth do not wish to lose it, but still do not want others to gain it. They see it fit to try to fool everyone else that it is a free economy and that anyone can become rich, but never allow any empathy or logical action as it goes against their goals of always being better than everyone else. They feed off others being less fortunate.

This point seems flawed, based on the fact that new, very, rich people pop up every day. Capitalism allows for anyone with talent to be successful. No one said it would be easy, and it rarely is.

You make it sound impossible to become wealthy, because of the big mean rich people, but that is simply not true. The Stock market, for example, allows people to become very wealthy very quickly, when done right. People start their own buisnesses and become millionaires, (Bill Gates?) And not all rich people are greedy bastards. Warren Buffet, who I believe is still the wealthiest man in the world, (I could be wrong, he might be #2 or 3) has lived in the same, small, middle class home his entire life, and his will lays out a plan to give like, 95% of his wealth away when he dies.

Basically, you are looking at the idea of Capitalism in a very pessimistic way. Yes, it is hard to make money, and there is always a lot of risk involved. People find ways around to laws and screw everyone over, (current economic crises anyone?) but the economy ALWAYS bounces back. ALWAYS. If you try hard enough, you can be successful in a capitalistic economy. And I'd much rather have that slim chance than no chance at all in a socialistic economy.

 

[tjarne]

No absolutely no. Those of you who claim that Capitalism is better and we shouldn't try Socialism because it wouldn't work in a real world, think of this. It might not work because we live in a Capitalistic world, and you are not willing to try to make it better.

Or, maybe capitalism works because it gives people what they want, a chance to shine, be successful, and have pride in what you do, rather than having everything done for you.

But your right, socialism works so well for all the countries that use it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/04/greece_bankruptcy_hovers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela

WTF THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE SOVIET UNION?!

/of sarcasm
You seriously claim that a nurse in Prag is less worth than one in Stockholm? Just because he/she earns less money? Don't come and say anything else, if you believe the capital should decide that's exactly what it means.

Also it won't be equal for everyone in capitalism, some will still be born poor. And rich won't let anyone share the cookies.

Sorry for caps and such, but you seriously don't think I know of the soviet union?

 

[Fulax]

Capitalism is morally and economically superior to socialism in every way.

 

[AssButt]

Someone else put it best when they said that capitalism is flawed in the same way that gravity is flawed. Sure it produces a lot of undesirable results and can be very unforgiving at times but it's nature. Humans are not a communistic species as we have a very strong sense of self.

One day we may live in a Marxist society but with the technology of today, it is simply impossible. A Marxist society would be one where the concerns of today have not only been solved, they will have been rendered irrelevant. It would be a society that is unimaginable today just the same as the internet was unimaginable back in 1889.

 

[Kair]

3) The same pyramid scheme applies to individuals. Individuals who have come into a lot of wealth do not wish to lose it, but still do not want others to gain it. They see it fit to try to fool everyone else that it is a free economy and that anyone can become rich, but never allow any empathy or logical action as it goes against their goals of always being better than everyone else. They feed off others being less fortunate.

This point seems flawed, based on the fact that new, very, rich people pop up every day. Capitalism allows for anyone with talent to be successful. No one said it would be easy, and it rarely is.

You make it sound impossible to become wealthy, because of the big mean rich people, but that is simply not true. The Stock market, for example, allows people to become very wealthy very quickly, when done right. People start their own buisnesses and become millionaires, (Bill Gates?) And not all rich people are greedy bastards. Warren Buffet, who I believe is still the wealthiest man in the world, (I could be wrong, he might be #2 or 3) has lived in the same, small, middle class home his entire life, and his will lays out a plan to give like, 95% of his wealth away when he dies.

Basically, you are looking at the idea of Capitalism in a very pessimistic way. Yes, it is hard to make money, and there is always a lot of risk involved. People find ways around to laws and screw everyone over, (current economic crises anyone?) but the economy ALWAYS bounces back. ALWAYS. If you try hard enough, you can be successful in a capitalistic economy. And I'd much rather have that slim chance than no chance at all in a socialistic economy.

Life is not a gamble, and well-being does not come from subjective wealth.

 

[AssButt]

No absolutely no. Those of you who claim that Capitalism is better and we shouldn't try Socialism because it wouldn't work in a real world, think of this. It might not work because we live in a Capitalistic world, and you are not willing to try to make it better.

Or, maybe capitalism works because it gives people what they want, a chance to shine, be successful, and have pride in what you do, rather than having everything done for you.

But your right, socialism works so well for all the countries that use it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/04/greece_bankruptcy_hovers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela

WTF THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE SOVIET UNION?!

/of sarcasm
You seriously claim that a nurse in Prag is less worth than one in Stockholm? Just because he/she earns less money? Don't come and say anything else, if you believe the capital should decide that's exactly what it means.

Who's to say that the nurse in Prag is doing just as good of a job as the one in Stockholm? Maybe the one in Prag has less resources to work with or less motivation if they are getting paid less for doing the same job.

 

[Valkyrie101]

Yes. Of course there has to be regulation, but ultimate with capitalism work = profit. This contrasts with socialism, where work = profit but no work also = profit. Anyone else see the inherent flaw here?

And for the record, capitalism does not make the rich richer and the poor poorer. Making the poor poorer is a socialist conspiracy theory, which is actually in no one's interest since the poorer people are the less money they have to spend, ergo the more profit the rich make.

 

[Valkyrie101]

The reasons Capitalism is the dominant system is:

1) It had a 1500 year head start. People have been taught to be greedy for over a millennia.

Sorry for the double post, just saw this. Capitalism does not teach people to be greedy, people are greedy by nature, bred into us by millions of years of evolution. This phenomenon can also be observed in non-capitalist, even communist economic models, which is why they're so fucked up.

 

[Kair]

The reasons Capitalism is the dominant system is:

1) It had a 1500 year head start. People have been taught to be greedy for over a millennia.

Sorry for the double post, just saw this. Capitalism does not teach people to be greedy, people are greedy by nature, bred into us by millions of years of evolution. This phenomenon can also be observed in non-capitalist, even communist economic models, which is why they're so fucked up.

I see not being taught not to be greedy as being taught to be greedy.
We are not animals, we are capable of rational thought. We should act accordingly.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Capitalism is morally and economically superior to socialism in every way.

Except for the way capitalism leaves poor people to rot while rewarding people for being already successful.

 

[tjarne]

The reasons Capitalism is the dominant system is:

1) It had a 1500 year head start. People have been taught to be greedy for over a millennia.

Sorry for the double post, just saw this. Capitalism does not teach people to be greedy, people are greedy by nature, bred into us by millions of years of evolution. This phenomenon can also be observed in non-capitalist, even communist economic models, which is why they're so fucked up.

Which is why we should not have any person or group to be in control. Because people are naturally greedy especially when given power. The power should be with the people and not with the Capital.

 

[tjarne]

Capitalism is morally and economically superior to socialism in every way.

Except for the way capitalism leaves poor people to rot while rewarding people for being already successful.

And lets not forget rewarding for being born with rich parents or the right place. Few people are getting rich from nothing.

 

[BlackStar42]

Yes. Anything that rewards people for not being lazy or stupid wins in my book.

Paris Hilton.

You sir, win.

 

[tjarne]

No absolutely no. Those of you who claim that Capitalism is better and we shouldn't try Socialism because it wouldn't work in a real world, think of this. It might not work because we live in a Capitalistic world, and you are not willing to try to make it better.

Or, maybe capitalism works because it gives people what they want, a chance to shine, be successful, and have pride in what you do, rather than having everything done for you.

But your right, socialism works so well for all the countries that use it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2010/04/greece_bankruptcy_hovers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela

WTF THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED THE SOVIET UNION?!

/of sarcasm
You seriously claim that a nurse in Prag is less worth than one in Stockholm? Just because he/she earns less money? Don't come and say anything else, if you believe the capital should decide that's exactly what it means.

Who's to say that the nurse in Prag is doing just as good of a job as the one in Stockholm? Maybe the one in Prag has less resources to work with or less motivation if they are getting paid less for doing the same job.

Or maybe it is that the average salary is lower in Prag than in Stockholm? And that's because economical gain determines the worth of each country's currency. Or are middle Europeans lazier than Scandinavians? I think not, most nurses I have meet have been very dedicated.

 

[Fulax]

Capitalism is morally and economically superior to socialism in every way.

Except for the way capitalism leaves poor people to rot while rewarding people for being already successful.

Or, maybe in a capitalist system there would be 'voluntary charity'. The capitalist is willing to give his own money to help the less fortunate, the socialist would rather steal other people's money to help them. Interesting how socialists always claim the moral high-ground on that one.

Although, I suppose in a socialist 'economy' there would be far more poor people who needed helping.

And lets not forget rewarding for being born with rich parents or the right place. Few people are getting rich from nothing.

First of all, how is stealing the rich parent's money morally superior?

Second, your statement is not true. I forget the exact stats, but the majority of America's millionaires were not born into rich households.

In the free-market, there is one way of making money: by producing goods that people want to buy. Yes, some people, Steve Jobs for example, will become very rich, but they can only do so by giving people what they want - iPods. To put it another way, one person can only become better off by making another person better off. That is a basic truth of trade.


Not that any of this really matters. The fact it, socialism as an economic system cannot work.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Capitalism is morally and economically superior to socialism in every way.

Except for the way capitalism leaves poor people to rot while rewarding people for being already successful.

Or, maybe in a capitalist system there would be 'voluntary charity'. The capitalist is willing to give his own money to help the less fortunate, the socialist would rather steal other people's money to help them. Interesting how socialists always claim the moral high-ground on that one.

Although, I suppose in a socialist 'economy' there would be far more poor people who needed helping.

Well when poor people need help and not enough give to charity then someone has to be made to give unfortunately. Taxes aren't "right", but they are "less wrong" than letting someone starve.