Earlier Dan Wrote:
> Capitalism may not be a great system, but it is the best that has been
>devised by man thus far. And in its pure form, it is based on a worker
>being paid "an honest day's pay for an honest day's work". The capitalist
>(owner) who puts his/her money at risk investing it in what ever venture,
>deserves a reasonable profit for his investment and effort. A lot of
>people have attempted over the years to define "reasonable" in the above
>context and have come up short. I do not intend to go there myself.
>
I don't agree that capitalism is the best that has been devised so far. It
is certainly the most powerful. Capitalism has ruthlessly conquered any
system that has had resources to plunder. Some of these systems have had a
better way of existence than what capitalism is providing. We simply haven't
heard about, or thought about it, or cared to think about, because evidence
of previous cultures has been destroyed or pushed aside by capitalistic
public relations(PR). Plus, it's too cosy in our pleasant capitalistic
system to worry about such tedious details.
The reason you perceive capitalism to be the best system that has been
devised so far, is because it's great economic engines are being fueled by
consumption of natural and social capital. As long as we have natural
capital to consume and the waste generated by this system does not foul our
own nest, then the capitalistic system works(unless your one of those being
socially exploited)(ask the Ecquadorian Indians what they think about
capitalism).
However, when the natural capital runs out, and the filth of polution sicken
even the highest in the capitalistic system, then the ways of capitalism
will be laid bare, and the truth, will be known...capitalism is a failure too.
For any system to function, it first of all, has to be a democracy. We no
longer have that here. We have an oligarchy, or as Jim Hightower likes to
say, 'A cleptocracy...Government by Thieves".
Capitalism, socialism, communism and any other 'ism', will not work unless
it is based in democracy! The experiments based on Carl Marx's work were not
democratic, and they failed. But that does not mean that a democratic form
of socialism could not work.
And I'm not saying that is what I endorse. I think a democratic capitalistic
system, that is held accountable for it's action could be a very pausible
for of government.
But that is not what we have now! We have no accountability. The faster you
can exploit, the better.
Our world is being stolen undying mega-oligarchies, known as corporations.
With no concsience, only profit as a motive, and more influence in
government than my Senators, they become perpetrators of an irresponsible
form of capitalism that is degenerating into a form of tyranny that we may
be unable to recover from.
I hope I'm wrong...but I don't think so.
Greg
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