Capitalism, is it really working?

1. 59

   nightwork4posted 13 years ago

   Capitalism, is it really working?
   
   is it working or is it on a path to failure?

   replyreport
2. 59

   Jeromeoposted 13 years ago

   Capitalism is Canabalizing the middle class, the capitalist pay the political class' campaign expenses and in turn the political class votes for legislation that benefits the wealthy.
   
   Can't go on like this mush longer everything has a breaking point.

   replyreport
3. 59

   slwadeposted 13 years ago

   ooooh I love it.......
   
   I do sociology at college and the main opinion appears to be that unless the working class rebel against the capitalists refusing to work or buy their products etc. then the capitalsts will carry on and make money out of anything. Even Prisons are a buisness for them as someone needs to provide the toileteries, the beds, the food, the trays to eat the food off etc. I find it incredible yet fustrating.
   
   At the momment working class are being brainwashed by the media etc. (ran by capitalists) and dont realise that the super cool material products advirtised are just more ways of exploiting and taking away their money.
   
   A true Marxist I would assume doesnt give in to these games the capitalists play and only buy essentials but we need to buy food from capitalists to survive. So maybe one day we as a society will just buy essentials what with the economy and so on and just keep a few capitalists running. But profits from things such as designer clothes will decline.
   
   I have just moaned and bikkered in this answer so I'll stop but I hope my blabbing helped you in some way hehe

   replyreport
4. 0

   BenjaminBposted 13 years ago

   Yes capitalism is working. The reason capitalism get's a bad rap and also part of the reason that it may just be on a path to collapse is because our education system does not teach fiscal responsibility and how consumers have the power to control a capitalist economy. Is this a surprise,no through lack of education the socialist are succeeding at churning out enemies of the empire so to speak.
   
   It's a simple equation that not many in America seem to get. Let's liken it to a social bookmarking site. When you buy a product or service for a given price you are basically giving feedback to a company that consumers are willing to pay that price. Once they receive overwhelming support (via sales) for that price then the market has been set.
   
   Here's where Americans get lost,instead of exercising their financial voting power they instead sit around and become angry at others for their own shortcomings and inability to afford the pleasures they want in life. Then the blame (which the blame game has been on a rise in America for decades via socialist brainwashing to avoid accountability) get's pushed on to big business or the government.
   
   How do you take a market back in a capitalist economy. So simple to do it's ridiculous,stop buying overpriced products and services. That's it,just stop buying. It won't take long for prices to drop when a business has no choice but to lower them or go out of business.
   
   I only fear that it is too late for capitalism because ignorance now reigns supreme and too much socialist activity has been infused into capitalism which muddied up the waters.
   
   This opinion comes from a poor man who has failed in every business endeavor and only owns what he could carry in 2 large duffle bags,but who understands that he would never want to live in any other form of economy. Socialism breeds mediocrity and acceptance of one's shortcomings,Capitalism breeds competition and a desire to better one's self. Without true competition any society is doomed to fail.

   replyreport
5. 71

   Mr. Happyposted 13 years ago

   I agree with Jeromeo and Slwade.
   I would like to comment now on Mr. BenjaminB's comment.
   He stated that: "Yes capitalism is working." Then, he wrote that: "our education system does not teach fiscal responsibility" and that "through lack of education ...". He clearly sees that capitalism is failing the American society - his statements prove that by saying the American system of education is failing. One cannot have a successful, uneducated society. That just goes against logic.
   I do wonder how many socialist countries Mr. BenjaminB has lived in, or did research about to say that: "Socialism breeds mediocrity and acceptance of one's shortcomings ..."? I have said this many times to many other people. Belgium is fine. Sweden is okay, so is Finland ... many European countries have some sort of a social-economic and political system in place and they are not fascist.
   The American corporate media-machine has done a good job of pushing its propaganda on the majority of the public and I do agree with Mr. BenjaminB: education is decaying and producing cannon-fodder.

   replyreport
6. 60

   joshhunt83posted 13 years ago

   Is anyone familiar with Jacques Fresco's alternative to capitalism? He talks about a Resource Based Economy where the human race strives for efficient use of the world's resources to ensure that the global population can be sustained. Unfortunately capitalism is based on maximising consumption and the planet literally can't sustain the rapidly increasing global population. In my opinion capitalism is working for a minority but is ultimately doomed to fail. Capitalism restricts human development because everything we do must be commercially viable.

   replyreport
7. 59

   The British Wayposted 13 years ago

   Path to failure - Now many know my socialist view point on this matter. However no political theory is perfect and capitalism is one of them. A society where people are pushed to be better than the other and how everything is based on how much we spend is doomed to fail at some point. Mainly due to wages not matching or being higher than the cost of living. If people can't afford to live, they won't buy unnecessary items and therefore economies will fall

   replyreport
8. 70

   nifty@50posted 13 years ago

   Capitalism provides opportunity, that is why illegal immigrants or undocumented workers( if you prefer) are pouring into our country. A hard working immigrant that can't even speak English can make a decent living here. China and Russia have started capitalist based economies after the complete and utter collapse of communism. All of the wealthiest countries in the world are based on capitalism and when a country is wealthy it's citizens enjoy a higher per capita standard of living. Our middle class enjoys a higher standard of living than just about every socialist country in Europe. Make no mistake, unbridled capitalist systems or over regulated capitalist systems have their problems, but it is to date the best economic system that mankind has produced thus far.

   replyreport
9. 61

   akuiglaposted 13 years ago

   Capitalism is walking hands in hands with God,on one side,and Devil on the other.

   replyreport
10. 40

    Regi B.posted 13 years ago

    Capitalism with rules is a wonderful thing, but then, I'm no economist.
    
    P.S.: Ayn Rand was brilliant and out of her mind at the same time.

    replyreport
11. 57

    ShangaBessposted 13 years ago

    It is the only thing that works . In it's pure form it is the only thing that challenges a person to improve.

    replyreport
12. 72

    kkndeposted 13 years ago

    I think capitalism is working for the one who can adapt to it or can take advantage of the weaknesses . For the others it doesn't. If you follow some simple rules on how to adapt or find the weaknesses and exploit them...you will be just fine.
    
    There are many things to say pro and against capitalism, but the fact is that, capitalism it's an ideal, just like socialism and others.

    replyreport
13. 61

    Colby Alanposted 13 years ago

    First, define capitalism. I mean: Does it have a moral component? Or is capitalism all about you getting money?
    
    I'm with Dave Ramsey and Zig Ziglar. Capitalism has a moral component. When you operate on that component (helping others to get what I want -- that's called "service") then it works. Otherwise, it works but not very well and not very long.

    replyreport
14. 60

    bigeddie06385posted 13 years ago

    To quote Larry Kudlow, "Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity". Amen

    replyreport
15. 72

    DonDWestposted 13 years ago

    Benjamin, that works great in theory and I mostly agree, but it's only theory. Boycotting/voting with your feet against a greedy business works when you have a choice to buy or not to buy that particular product. Let's take computers for example, computers are getting cheaper, if they ever get expensive I can refuse to buy them and make due without. Computers are a commodity, not a necessity. However, products such as housing we have little choice. Everyone needs shelter. The "free market" has literally CHOKED my generation out of the housing market with ridiculous prices across Canada. I have little choice but to fork over the cash via rent or a mortgage. This hurts other businesses as well because I have less disposable income to spend on their products. The free market has never worked for housing because land is a zero sum game (can't create more of it) and you have no choice but to buy, buy, buy. . .

    replyreport