Capitalism

[Jonathan]

Capitalism - Most people in the western world view capitalism as simply the way the world works, something which has to be accepted and is just the "right way" to do things. Well sorry folks, but it ain't that simple. The entire culture and education system of the western countries is designed to indocrinate and brainwash the people into accepting the status-quo simply as a given.

Capitalism is a system of oppression, it is the means by which the strong control the weak, the rich keep down the poor. The great thing about capitalism of course is that it ensures that you can have a vagueish democracy (although to call most western states democracies is stretching the definition quite a bit) and yet still be assured of nobody who opposes capitalism ever gaining power. Since to gain election, especially in the US but also in other countries as well you have to become a whore to business and corparations. Just try to win an election without it. Even if you could gain enough money to campaign, it wouldn't do you any good. The propganda machine has been running for so long that serious left-wing ideals and support have become practically taboo. The idea of rebellion or challenging the system has been replaced by capitalists with yet more materialistic shit. Hate popular culture? Go and watch the multi-million dollar movie Fight Club! Listen to Slipknot! Hate that MTV crap? Check out these underground bands man! They never get on TV, we're soooo fucking the system by listening to them! Whatever you do though, don't actually go out and really try to make a difference...

If you do want to make a difference though, it'd take more than buying a new record or going to see a movie, or signing a peitition and its something most people will just never do.

[Crendowing]

Living with an anthropologist (my mom), I agree with you 100%. I hate the people that think we should "save" the people in some fascist country because of the government protocol. Again, it's the thick-headed Americans that are completely ignorant of other cultures.

When Woodrow Wilson stated that he wanted the world to be "safe for democracy", he was not implying that all countries should be assimilated into a democratic governement, but rather that democracy would be safe to exist where it currently rules. Unfortunately, people take it the wrong way even today.

My stepmother is a prime example of someone who takes it the wrong way. When she was married to her ex-husband, they were both living in the Philippenes (the ex was in the Air Force). One night at dinner table she mentioned how she saw child pornography on an open store shelf. She immediately declared it "wrong". Well, we in the U.S. may think so, but don't try telling other cultures that! Again, my mom's an anthropologist, so she of all people would know more than the average citizen.

[læmænt]

I want to Phillipenes!

[doomsick]

i think jonathan likes the new "religion and politics" forum.

[danarchist]

Money, so they say, is the root of all thats evil today...

Capitalism is a bullshit system created by the monarchies in the middle east and later revived by medival Europe and Asia. In a capitalist society, only those who already have a sound financial standing can get higher on the toetm poll. In most contries, this doesn't include many people. For example, in the US, only about 5-10% of the country can actually get much higher in status, and they already are the rich class. Most murders and all modern-day wars happen because of capitalism, if you think about it.

A true communism would be they way to go, without any money whatsoever, where everyone can get whatever the hell they want for free, as long as they don't slack off.

[Captain Red]

<=== Should speak for it's self.

[ShadyXMR]

HAIL COMRADES!

Saying that Capitalism only makes the rich richer and the poor poorer is equivalent to saying that guns kill people. Let's think, shall we?

First off, how about establishing the fact that THERE MUST BE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. That can come in many forms -- public education, adult education, etc. This form of Capitalism does not benefit only the rich. If you are educated, work hard, and MAKE THE SACRIFICE, you can become rich.

Don't use the argument that just because Bill Gates has 436030135 times as much wealth as I do that I am enslaved to him. Please, demonstrate the ways in which I am a slave to him and he my master. If I am educated (I am), and I am a hard worker (I am), and I make the right decisions, I can choose my place in society (Rich, poor). Granted, there are a proportion of the population that are poor beyond comprehension, and they can work hard and make sacrifices all they want, they won't improve their condition. Fine. Give them government assistance.

But punishing those who earn their money for some lower-middle class working family that is reluctant to work their way up is quite idiotic.

I consider the dominant alternative, and that is a government controlled economy. Under Capitalism, as long as fuckface companies don't form OPEC-ish alliances and screw the consumer, there is competition, and prices are low in order for the companies to stay in business. Under Socialism, there is ONE business. It's called the government. The government cannot go out of business. It can raise the prices as high or as low as it wants. There would be no alternatives to the government.

So, I'd prefer Capitalism IN THE FORM I PRESCRIBED, that is, Equality of Opportunity and assuming that people actually get off their asses to work and earn their own money rather than living off of Welfare and Food Stamps.

[pilottobombadier]

I thought we were saving people in the name of "democracy"...Um hello, we live in a fuckin' autocracy!! Capitalism is an economic system, nothing more. It's about free market, etc, and based on a concept of unlimited wealth. We, however are still stuck in the Mercantalist era, because the economy is still guided by the gold standard.

[ShadyXMR]

I thought we were saving people in the name of "democracy"...Um hello, we live in a fuckin' autocracy!! Capitalism is an economic system, nothing more. It's about free market, etc, and based on a concept of unlimited wealth. We, however are still stuck in the Mercantalist era, because the economy is still guided by the gold standard.

I have to say that I agree with you on the part of being only an economic system. That's just what it is, and it should stay that way. Unfortunately some perversions of this system make it fuck around with politics and government, which is bad (i.e. bribes). The economy and government, I think, should remain mainly seperate.

[m0l0t0v]

Capitalism doesn`t work!

We, in the richest parts of the world tend to belief that
capitalism really works. This is an illusion, being upheld
by the system itself. Capitalism does work for us, at the
'good' side of the world, but not for the other side;

800 million people today do not have enough to eat;
80% of all people don`t have a(n acceptable) home;
70% can`t read or write;
60% of all wealth is owned by 6% of the world`s population (all 6% living in the US)
1% has had a (higher) education.

Capitalism DOESN`T work for most parts of the world, that are being exploited and drained to death. Countries are spending more money on debts (to the West), than on food. Rich farmers in Third world countries export their food the West because they pay more.

The rich ARE getting richer
and the poor ARE getting poorer!
This is simple ecomomics;
YOU PAY(have) MORE, YOU GET MORE;
YOU PAY(have) LESS, YOU GET LESS.

The only way this can change, is if the world undergoes
great economical and social changes.
Capitalism cannot promise us these things. We should look for a new system...

COMMUNISM is the ONLY system that can make these promises.
If communism will deliver is a question only time can tell.

[Red_Warrior]

Unfortunately there are no real true democracies.... or communist countries. Most humans can't rule themselves because of varied opinion and indescision. It's a vicious circle, so there'll never be a good, free, semi-uncorrupted government.

[Ralphis`]

who cares