Why Do People Hate Capitalism

[TheRealFolkBlues]

Immigrants come here because America is the "land of OPPURTUNITY", not the "land of welfare".

Critics claim capitalism hurts the poor. But capitalism actually helps the poor if they are willing to work hard.

If capitalism fails, how come China/Russia saw prosperity ever since they abandoned communism?

[littlekuribohrulz20]

.............

[Henriksson]

Why are you pretemding that there is only Capitalism and Communism? Socialism is the third way option.But capitalism actually helps the poor if they are willing to work hard.

If you work hard you're supposed to be rich.

[Chidori]

People hate capitalism because generally the human race complains to much.

[Palis]

people hate capitalism when it doesn't work for them. also, like chidori said, they always complain and strive for some sort of change. such is the way of the world.

[atemssoulmate]

I'll dare to take a stand here. (shakes in fear at the possible flames, esp. from rightwingers - you know who you are!)

Unbridled capitalism ultimately can't work since it is essentially nihilistic* in that it's ultimate goal is the accumulation of money. Howevermuch people protest, the capitalist's god is mammon, ie. money. Just look at the cathedrals built to the new god - the megamalls.

In a human society, the ultimate goal ought to be higher than that - like world peace or global enlightenment, or at least a world in which all can live a life of quality without fear of starvation or unecessary death (by such as things as curable diseases, violence, etc.)

Captialism also encourages totalitarianist governing styles. The countries that transnational corporations like best are those with as few civil rights as possible since the workforce is easier to control and manipulate. Hisotry has lots of examples if you don't want to look too closely at today's examples. To go back to nihilism, corporations are essentially amoral since their primary function is to generate maximum profits for the shareholders. Therefore, their existence has no higher meaning or goal.


I think that's enough of a start to let the spittle fly.


*definition: Nihilism (from the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical position which argues that existence is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value. Nihilists generally assert some or all of the following:
1. Objective morality does not exist; therefore no action is logically preferable to any other.
2. In the absence of morality, existence has no higher meaning or goal.
3. There is no reasonable proof or argument for the existence of a higher ruler or creator.
4. Even if a higher ruler or creator exists, mankind has no moral obligation to worship them.

[killshot]

I am in favor of a capitalist economy, yet I can not find any fault in your argument. Although everything you said is essentially true, what do you propose we have in place of capitalism? I think that a capitalist society with a small amount of regulation by the government is a better system than socialistic one. Money can be used as a motivator to provide excellent service and low prices for the consumer, where as an economy run by the government has no need for excellence, because government services are the only option available.

Also, world peace and global enlightenment could quickly be attained if there was a buck to be made from it. The only problem is that chaos seems to be more profitable.

[Henriksson]

Also, world peace and global enlightenment could quickly be attained if there was a buck to be made from it. The only problem is that chaos seems to be more profitable.
The last sentence you made rendered your first sentence pointless.

[atemssoulmate]

I live in a socialist country (Sweden) where the welfare of the people takes a much greater place than making a buck (or a crown, as it is here). Full health care is provided to everyone with only nominal fees for doctor's visits, etc. Prescription medicine is heavily subsidized and there's a yearly limit for how much you are allowed to pay. If you reach the limit, all medicine after that is free. Pensions are livable on. Unemployment insurance works. Children up to 18 receive free dental care including braces, etc.

I could go on, but I won't bore you. On top of this Sweden has one of the highest living standards and longest longevity rate in the world. Socialism works, actually.

[TheRealFolkBlues]

Too bad Sweden has a much different culture than a America.

That and the European Union save its ass.

[Underling]

desu

[littlekuribohrulz20]

to be honest, most of us don't give a damn!^__^

[atemssoulmate]

that's your loss

[killshot]

Just out of curiosity, how is the education system set up in your country? One of the primary reasons I am against socialism is the effect government control has over the american school system. More often than not, public schools in the United States are garbage. Other countries that enroll students in private schools, where schools have to compete with one another to stay in business, almost always out perform american students.

Socialism may work well in other countries, but I am not sure it would work in the United States. Americans have always been money driven and I don't see that changing in the near future.

[atemssoulmate]

The schools are OK. A lot of the courses are goal-steered, like languages. That means the syllabus isn't set externally which allows teachers and students to cover the content they want. Is nice.

A lot of students who go to an American university skip the first year because the standard in America is that much lower. Sorry. Even in Canada (I was born and raised there) we know that American schools have a lower standard. As an example, ages ago I wrote the SAT and, even though I left much of the American history section blank because we didn't cover it much, 97% of the test takers scored worse than I did. That result convinced me not to go to an American university.

[Sophie]

Hating Capitalism is the new black.

[Henriksson]

Hating Socialism is the new black.

See, I can do that to.

[atemssoulmate]

I see what you did there. I am in awe of your cleverness. Too bad you spelled too as to.

[Henriksson]

My dad kinda summed up economical systems pretty well once. He admitted that capitalism is arguably the best at distributing resources, keeping the economy going so to speak. But he also said that Capitalism was inferior to Socialism in raising people's standards of living, among other things. Capitalism as a system is meant to raise as much money as possible with regards to nothing, which is bound to fail. Capitalism can be good in a limited sense, but Socialism is the best system for what REALLY matters.

[Henriksson]

The European Union saved Sweden's ass...? Sorry, but that's just ignorant.

[atemssoulmate]

The European Union saved Sweden's ass...? Sorry, but that's just ignorant.
You're right, Henriksson. Actually, Sweden is constantly saving Europe's ass, since we pay out more to the EU than we get back.

[Underling]

desu

[Henriksson]

Like the Eastern European countries, the Balkan and Ireland? <img src='/images/emoticons/smiley2.png'>