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Where would we be without capitalism?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Perhaps there would be more equality if we didn't have capitalism, but is that what we really want?
Imagine the sacrifices:
Technology - no computer or internet. That might lead to
somebody profitting!
Entertainment - no decent music. Record companies only seek
profit!
Luxury - no luxury cars. If some people can't afford them, then
nobody will have them
Freedom to choose - no body will stand in the way of Steelgate
and his mighty army of Marxists.


I know that this may seem puerile, but I starting to tire of "Socialism is good, it brings equality - capitalism is bad; Socialism is good, it brings equality - capitalism is bad; Socialism is good, it brings equality - capitalism is bad; Socialism is good, it brings equality - capitalism is bad; Socialism is good, it brings equality - capitalism is bad..."

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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I totally agree. Under communism, we would have nothing to aspire to. We couldn't have ambitions of being richer and more powerful if everyone was equal.

    I want a Rover 75 because it is better than the car I have at the moment. In Russia, if you want a car you have the choice of a Lada or a Lada. Here in our corrupt capitalist society you can have a Lada or a Rolls-Royce or a TVR or a Land-Rover. Of course you might have to work a bit harder to get a Royce than to get a Lada.

    Capitalism gives you the freedom to choose, rather than getting what you are given.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    No Mc Chicken Sandwich! :eek: Shit! This doesn't bear thinking about.

    Here endth my venture into Politics.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There have been and will always be endless debates about the pros and cons of socialism/communism vs capitalism. In an ideal world we would all share the same profit and enjoy the same living standards. In practice that's just about impossible: the former political choices have always resulted in poverty for everyone. And the latter unequivocally leaves a small proportion of the population amassing 80-90% of wealth, and the leftovers to everybody else.

    One statistic that never ceases to shock me is that half of the world's wealth is in the hands of about 350 people. Regardless of whether these people managed to build massive business empires out of nothing, there is no reason why anyone should own billions and billions of dollars when only a small fraction would be enough to give them an extremely high standard of living.

    Perhaps the best solution would be to embrace in a more inclusive capitalism (if such thing is possible) where profits are distributed more equally, from the chairman and directors to managers to all the way to the floor workers. Where excess profits are taken by the government and redistributed back to those who need help. And, wishful thinking, where we get rid of the stock market system, the root of all economic and social evils.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Basically I see it like this:
    You work, you get rewarded.

    So maybe you don't get rewarded in the same way or same amount as others, but in most cases you do profit in some kind of way.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Read "Guns, Germs and Steel". Pay attention to the evolution of bands, tribes, chiefdoms and states. Total socialism (Marxism) is an attempt to return to bands with states. It is unworkable and completely contrary to human social evolution.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Marxism is an outdated ideology anyway; it simply is not applicable to contemporary capitalistm.

    Besies, it is true that capitalism creates inequality. Nonetheless capitalism is the fairest economic system.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It creates inequality, but it could be worse.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How can you even argue a point either way?! I don't know! Perhaps we could borrow the machine from the TV show Sliders and travel to a parallel Britain that was truly Socialist then discover some major problem and spend seven seasons trying to get home. Or we could just get on with making the best of what we have now.


    And perhaps some day to some one that will make sense, and i won't have to keep retyping because I'll be able to spell some, and soem.
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Citizen_Bertie
    Perhaps we could borrow the machine from the TV show Sliders and travel to a parallel Britain that was truly Socialist then discover some major problem

    Not a bad idea, i've got a free period tomorrow, i'll do it then.
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