How to Improve Capitalism

[untermensche]

If you want to fix capitalism you actually have to know it's flaws.

You have to read some Marx, not ignorantly dismiss him.

He explains many of the inherent flaws of the system.

The exploitation of labor, the mis-allocation of resources, the tendency towards periodic collapses.

He names many more.

 

[NobleSavage]

Socialism born out of the rubble of capitalism that forces revolution has a much harder time starting than a socialism that is the natural result of people cooperating in a more civil manner. Shaw did not think we had to take all the capitalists out and shoot them. I agree with Shaw. But capitalists on the other hand go to backward places and kill millions for profit. They cheat and manipulate currencies and property that should never be considered theirs. I have seen a general deterioration of our educational system, our transportation system, our energy generating systems and our overall status in the world under the kind of unbridled capitaistic greed that has run rampant in this country for the last 30 years. I really disagree with you, Axulus.

You know, there have been many socialist community projects in the US? The US military did not invade or try and destroy them; they collapsed because of their own unworkability. Check our Robert Owen and New Harmony. I can find a big list of others if you like. I think Henry Ford also tried out some utopian ideas and he had problems making them work so he started doing stuff like making sure his workers were not violating curfew or engaged in an immoral lifestyle.

Fast forward to today and people are still making various types of "better" communities. The great thing is you are free to NOT join. Maybe you could find one here you like: http://www.ic.org/directory/intentional-communities-by-country/

 

[dismal]

We know too much, you can't put the genie back in the bottle, which is why you will almost certainly not see a first world country abandon it in your life time

First world?

Is there even much chance of it happening in the second or third world anymore?

When was the last time we had a country go full commie? Cuba or North Korea 50+ years ago? These have worked out so well people around the world will want to emulate them? Where are the budding revolutions? Where are the budding revolutionaries? Probably joining ISIS these days...

The tide has been running in the other direction for decades. Except maybe among 10+ year university graduate students with beards and sandals. The bitter clingers.

 

[untermensche]

The tide has been running in the other direction for decades. Except maybe among 10+ year university graduate students with beards and sandals. The bitter clingers.

Yes and as we look at the Middle East we think, what a wonderful tide.

 

[dismal]

The tide has been running in the other direction for decades. Except maybe among 10+ year university graduate students with beards and sandals. The bitter clingers.

Yes and as we look at the Middle East we think, what a wonderful tide.

Yes, the Arab spring.

Not sure what this has to do with the topic. We're not talking about religious fanatics this time.

 

[untermensche]

Yes and as we look at the Middle East we think, what a wonderful tide.

Yes, the Arab spring.

Not sure what this has to do with the topic. We're not talking about religious fanatics this time.

I was talking about what the capitalists have done there. From the Shah to ISIS.

To not see it takes a certain blindness.

 

[noble brown]

At the bare bones of capitalism there are inherent traits that will always create productive, economic and social tensions between institutions and the individual. There there is a balance by it is a very tedious and precarious one. But this all depends on what it is you think an economy's function is...

 

[dismal]

Yes, the Arab spring.

Not sure what this has to do with the topic. We're not talking about religious fanatics this time.

I was talking about what the capitalists have done there. From the Shah to ISIS.

To not see it takes a certain blindness.

I would have thought you were an ISIS fan. They're probably the closest thing to a commie revolution the world has going these days.

 

[dismal]

But this all depends on what it is you think an economy's function is...

Well, fortunately that's an easy one since it's definitional. An economy's function is to allocate limited resources to the meeting of human needs.

 

[ksen]

Slavery produced wealth and jobs. My family had cradle to grave job security under slavery.

The economy of the USSR produced wealth and jobs. Did the average soviet citizen see that wealth in his own pocket? No, but the same can be said of many American citizens today with regard to American wealth.

TEST TAKING HINT #78

Beware the use of absolute words like ONLY, NEVER, and ALWAYS. These words usually make a statement FALSE.

We know too much about how capitalism increases standard of living, life expectancy, wealth, innovation and education. No non-capitalist country has ever come close to matching it. We know too much, you can't put the genie back in the bottle, which is why you will almost certainly not see a first world country abandon it in your life time, unless something catastrophic happens to where suddenly people forget the lessons of history.

What's the most capitalist country in the world?

Does it also lead the world in "standard of living, life expectancy, wealth, innovation and education?"

If not, why doesn't it if capitalism is best at creating these things?

 

[AthenaAwakened]

Slavery produced wealth and jobs. My family had cradle to grave job security under slavery.

The economy of the USSR produced wealth and jobs. Did the average soviet citizen see that wealth in his own pocket? No, but the same can be said of many American citizens today with regard to American wealth.

TEST TAKING HINT #78

Beware the use of absolute words like ONLY, NEVER, and ALWAYS. These words usually make a statement FALSE.

We know too much about how capitalism increases standard of living, life expectancy, wealth, innovation and education. No non-capitalist country has ever come close to matching it. We know too much, you can't put the genie back in the bottle, which is why you will almost certainly not see a first world country abandon it in your life time, unless something catastrophic happens to where suddenly people forget the lessons of history.

Original quote

Capitalism whether we like it or not, is the only system that works. The only system that produces wealth and more importantly, jobs.

Is capitalism the ONLY system that produces wealth and jobs? Not better jobs or more wealth. Is capitalism the ONLY system?

 

[untermensche]

I was talking about what the capitalists have done there. From the Shah to ISIS.

To not see it takes a certain blindness.

I would have thought you were an ISIS fan. They're probably the closest thing to a commie revolution the world has going these days.

I notice you dodge the point.

We have ISIS thanks to the destruction of Iraq by capitalists.

What a wonderful tide we ride on.

 

[noble brown]

Capitalism is the only system that works at creating wealth and jobs.... Hmmm
The function of an economy isn't to create wealth, so I would say that it doesn't work. And capitalism doesn't create jobs at all. This is only an illusion. It restricts access to and allocate jobs. Mature capitalism is a fail as an economic system. Pure capitalism is exploitive and undemocratic.

 

[dismal]

I would have thought you were an ISIS fan. They're probably the closest thing to a commie revolution the world has going these days.

I notice you dodge the point.

We have ISIS thanks to the destruction of Iraq by capitalists.

What a wonderful tide we ride on.

Wait, I thought Iraq was the capitalists.

Or are you saying Saddam was one of you? I can see some shared views there.

 

[untermensche]

I notice you dodge the point.

We have ISIS thanks to the destruction of Iraq by capitalists.

What a wonderful tide we ride on.

Wait, I thought Iraq was the capitalists.

Or are you saying Saddam was one of you? I can see some shared views there.

When their ideas are shown to be idiotic you see people squirm and dodge like this.

What a great tide we ride on though.

 

[dismal]

Wait, I thought Iraq was the capitalists.

Or are you saying Saddam was one of you? I can see some shared views there.

When their ideas are shown to be idiotic you see people squirm and dodge like this.

What a great tide we ride on though.

I wouldn't say you're squirming so much as ducking the question.

Was Saddam a capitalist or not?

 

[untermensche]

When their ideas are shown to be idiotic you see people squirm and dodge like this.

What a great tide we ride on though.

I wouldn't say you're squirming so much as ducking the question.

Was Saddam a capitalist or not?

What does that have to do with the creation of ISIS by capitalists?

 

[Trausti]

What does that have to do with the creation of ISIS by capitalists?

 

[untermensche]

What does that have to do with the creation of ISIS by capitalists?

I suppose the children are trying to say something.

No destruction of Iraq, by capitalists, no ISIS.

It isn't hard to understand.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Slavery produced wealth and jobs. My family had cradle to grave job security under slavery.

The economy of the USSR produced wealth and jobs. Did the average soviet citizen see that wealth in his own pocket? No, but the same can be said of many American citizens today with regard to American wealth.

TEST TAKING HINT #78

Beware the use of absolute words like ONLY, NEVER, and ALWAYS. These words usually make a statement FALSE.

We know too much about how capitalism increases standard of living, life expectancy, wealth, innovation and education. No non-capitalist country has ever come close to matching it. We know too much, you can't put the genie back in the bottle, which is why you will almost certainly not see a first world country abandon it in your life time, unless something catastrophic happens to where suddenly people forget the lessons of history.

A first-world country that abandoned capitalism would cease to be a first-world country.