I find that I often bump heads with a few posters around here when I go on periodic rants against capitalism. I've also seen others do the same, and sometimes, arguments over this topic can become quite heated and vitriolic.
In my own experience, I have seen this neverending argument about "capitalism vs. socialism (or communism)" for pretty much all of my life. In the U.S., particularly during the Cold War era and various Red Scares, support of capitalism has been almost mandatory - otherwise one might be seen as some kind of "commie" or "traitor" to America. It's practically a religion to some people, and they argue in support of capitalism with such passion and extraordinary faith that their chosen system is the best that life will ever be.
I'm not necessarily interested in a rehash of the same old debate. But I'm somewhat interested in what drives people towards one side or the other, particularly those who seem inordinately passionate about the subject as to become angry in the course of some debates. I recognize that this is a serious issue over which wars have been fought. People just don't let it go. This can be just as deadly as religion or race or nationalism or any other issue that people fight over.
I can explain where my passion comes from and why I have such a dim view of capitalism and capitalists. I see too many poor people, people living in substandard conditions - or some without any homes at all. I see a lot of boarded-up businesses, people being laid off. Some of those who have jobs have to work two or three of them, and they struggle. They're tired, stressed out - many are depressed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown - anxious over the lack of money, high costs, bills, rising food prices, insurance costs.
So, they're being stuck with low wages and benefits and high costs to where they can barely make ends meet. The irony is not lost on a lot of people when they see those paying the low wages and charging those high costs are living in far better circumstances and have more wealth than they know what to do with. The reason why people end up with low wages and high costs is because someone with more wealth and clout than they do decided "I want more money." Not because they actually "need" it, but just because they want it, and just because they can.
People who fancy themselves as "experts" on economics can spew out all the BS about "markets" they want, but it doesn't change the fact that situation exists because some human being said "I want more than I deserve," and therefore everyone else must live on less. And they'll use every con game, every trick in the book, every political ploy - and if all else fails, brute force and naked aggression. We were ready to nuke the entire world in the name of the principle of "I want more than I deserve."
That's the essence of capitalism, as I see it. I think that's absolutely infuriating and outrageous that they do what they do.
At this point, I'm sure there will be those who will chime in and say "well, the socialists are much worse - look what they do," and they'll point out irrelevant historical examples from far-off foreign lands which have absolutely nothing to do with America. I hope we can avoid that for this discussion.
Our system is cracking. There's a lot of squabbling and angst, and some people are just going completely off the deep end into utter insanity. Something has to change.
I guess I just don't understand those who argue from a pro-capitalist viewpoint. Where does the passion and fire come from that feeds their stance?
In my own experience, I have seen this neverending argument about "capitalism vs. socialism (or communism)" for pretty much all of my life. In the U.S., particularly during the Cold War era and various Red Scares, support of capitalism has been almost mandatory - otherwise one might be seen as some kind of "commie" or "traitor" to America. It's practically a religion to some people, and they argue in support of capitalism with such passion and extraordinary faith that their chosen system is the best that life will ever be.
I'm not necessarily interested in a rehash of the same old debate. But I'm somewhat interested in what drives people towards one side or the other, particularly those who seem inordinately passionate about the subject as to become angry in the course of some debates. I recognize that this is a serious issue over which wars have been fought. People just don't let it go. This can be just as deadly as religion or race or nationalism or any other issue that people fight over.
I can explain where my passion comes from and why I have such a dim view of capitalism and capitalists. I see too many poor people, people living in substandard conditions - or some without any homes at all. I see a lot of boarded-up businesses, people being laid off. Some of those who have jobs have to work two or three of them, and they struggle. They're tired, stressed out - many are depressed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown - anxious over the lack of money, high costs, bills, rising food prices, insurance costs.
So, they're being stuck with low wages and benefits and high costs to where they can barely make ends meet. The irony is not lost on a lot of people when they see those paying the low wages and charging those high costs are living in far better circumstances and have more wealth than they know what to do with. The reason why people end up with low wages and high costs is because someone with more wealth and clout than they do decided "I want more money." Not because they actually "need" it, but just because they want it, and just because they can.
People who fancy themselves as "experts" on economics can spew out all the BS about "markets" they want, but it doesn't change the fact that situation exists because some human being said "I want more than I deserve," and therefore everyone else must live on less. And they'll use every con game, every trick in the book, every political ploy - and if all else fails, brute force and naked aggression. We were ready to nuke the entire world in the name of the principle of "I want more than I deserve."
That's the essence of capitalism, as I see it. I think that's absolutely infuriating and outrageous that they do what they do.
At this point, I'm sure there will be those who will chime in and say "well, the socialists are much worse - look what they do," and they'll point out irrelevant historical examples from far-off foreign lands which have absolutely nothing to do with America. I hope we can avoid that for this discussion.
Our system is cracking. There's a lot of squabbling and angst, and some people are just going completely off the deep end into utter insanity. Something has to change.
I guess I just don't understand those who argue from a pro-capitalist viewpoint. Where does the passion and fire come from that feeds their stance?