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Consider that Capitalism is the Real Problem

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Many of his parables centered around entrepreneurs that hired workers.
Absolutely - not to mention that he took the 1 talent away from the lazy person and gave it to the one who produced the most.
 

sayak83

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Short term profit making over long term wealth generation is the real problem. The challenge is to incentivize steady investments into long term projects that pays dividends over multiple generations when both political and industrial establishments are subject to quick turnovers.

With regards to socialism, what produces so much faith in public wisdom when events like Brexit and Trump elections occur?
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21 How does the average Christian interpret this statement? Surely not literally eh? That would be....problematic, wouldn't it?
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
Didn't Jesus say ''Give everything you have to the poor and follow me, if you would be perfect'' doesn't sound compatible with capitalism to me.

Actually, the context is of the person whose heart was on things and his invitation to be in the full-time ministry (some say to be one of the future apostles).

There was another case, Zaccheaus, to which he didn't tell him to give everything to the poor. He voluntarily gave half of what he had to the poor and continued being a capitalist -- but an honest one with a heart.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
There was another case, Zaccheaus, to which he didn't tell him to give everything to the poor. He voluntarily gave half of what he had to the poor and continued being a capitalist -- but an honest one with a heart.
I laughed hard at that, thanks man.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
Actually, the context is of the person whose heart was on things and his invitation to be in the full-time ministry (some say to be one of the future apostles).
Naturally, lol. I believe you. ;)
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I am still laughing. Don't worry I am sure the Bible is meant to be taken literally. I am sure you are right about what Jesus's intention was.
ROFL... Yes... Heaven forbid we actually read what is written in context and what he said after. :D
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
ROFL... Yes... Heaven forbid we actually read what is written in context and what he said after. :D

2 Peter 1:20
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Go on then, demonstrate the context you allude to so confidently.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
The Rich Young Man
(Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

16Just then, a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’d

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifee or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
Show me your context...I see nothing to substantiate your twisting of the alleged word of God.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
The Rich Young Man
(Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

16Just then, a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”

17“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied, “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

18“Which ones?” the man asked.

Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’d

20“All these I have kept,” said the young man. “What do I still lack?”

21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

22When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27“Look,” Peter replied, “we have left everything to follow You. What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifee or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
mark 10: 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

KEEP mining... you just might make it
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
It's cool, though, I am a capitalist myself, I don't think Jesus thought it through, some of us have kids to feed, etc.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
mark 10: 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

KEEP mining... you just might make it
LOL Whatever, I am an atheist, that will NEVER change. Not until the last proton decays will I become a theist of any kind, I'd of course probably be dead by then.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member

Yeah, but look what they came to:

nodoz.jpg


There's the downside of capitalism. Of course any kind of drug prohibition is anti-capitalist, but it's a lost cause to try to enforce, since capitalists find other ways to make their profits even from illegal substances.

But since capitalists are inconsistent in their views and mostly support drug prohibition and similar regulations on people's choices, then that opens them up to further government interference in what they do. That's one of the primary issues with capitalism, since it's inconsistent. Not to mention their practices of using strike-breakers and other means to try to bust the unions - that also indicates strong anti-capitalist tendencies, since capitalists should believe in an individual's freedom of choice and right to negotiate their own contracts. But when they demonstrate that they don't believe in these principles, then they have betrayed their own ideals and show themselves as hypocrites.

By the way, on the subject of Cuba, what were capitalists doing in Cuba prior to the revolution that generated so much anger and resentment among the people as to trigger a revolt in the first place?

godfather-part-2-the-1974-006-al-pacino-lee-strasberg-00n-kjo.jpg


Besides, most immigrants to America came from capitalist countries, not communist countries - and many of them had to endure much longer journeys than 90 miles.

Mexico is a capitalist country from which people risk dying of thirst while crossing burning deserts just to get the heck out of that place. Same for other capitalist paradises like Guatemala and El Salvador. According to the principles of capitalism and globalism, these people should be allowed to cross into the United States unfettered and unrestricted. But as we see, more inconsistency and hypocrisy from capitalists on this issue.


I'm not saying there's not a better system possible but it has been the most successful.

It's been successful because it relies on greed, and self-interest is human nature.

I would suggest that it's not a matter of a "system." I think that's the mistake that both capitalists and communists make, since for them, the "system" is the be-all and end-all. There's too many faulty assumptions that go with that point of view, since it assumes that the favored "system" can be plugged into any society, nation, or culture, and expect to work the same way each time.

What ever economic system folks come up with has to content with human self interest to be successful. Anything else will be overcome by greed.

Ideally everyone's greed balances out in capitalism. The reality is people's own greed can be used against them. So you go into debt and over extend yourself.

Even though capitalism is based on greed, greed eventually defeats it as well.

Greed is a major issue, yes, although I don't think humans are all the same when it comes to what is described as "human nature." It's not just greed, though. Some humans also have a strong will to want to feel better than others, which would explain such disparities in wealth. It explains why some capitalists live high on the hog in extreme opulence while their workers live in squalor. This is simple ego gratification on the part of the capitalists, purely emotionally derived. There's no logical or rational justification for such disparities, nor does it make society more successful or productive.

If anything, it makes a society weaker, more vulnerable, and less stable - which is why the US military has had to work overtime to protect these weak, vulnerable governments from internal dissension and/or outside enemies. Strictly speaking, if capitalism was so great and successful, then South Korea and South Vietnam would never have needed US assistance against their communist rivals in the north.
 

Corvus

Feathered eyeball connoisseur
Strictly speaking, if capitalism was so great and successful, then South Korea and South Vietnam would never have needed US assistance against their communist rivals in the north.
That doesn't make sense. Their communist rivals still have access to weaponry and soldiers. Backed by China, as N Korea was and still is.
 
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