Will global capitalism come to an end?

I am curious how many of you think we might see the end of global capitalism as currently understood. The upheavals in the Middle East these past few days are what has made me start contemplating this possibility, which I would have likely scoffed at ten years ago, say. But there are many more reasons than the recent events to think a tectonic shift might be in the works -- consider the fact that we are nowhere near out of the woods from the 2008 crisis, and another crisis this year that could be even worse is possible if not probable. And feel free to look at even longer-term factors, too, if you wish. They certainly come into play.

Anyway, I'm basically simply curious as to what you geniuses think could replace capitalism, if anything, and when such a change would occur, if ever.

Capitalism is of course an economic system, but I think it is also a political system (or rather, it underpins politics), and in a real sense ending of capitalism would properly be a political event rather than a solely economic one, IMHO. That's why I'm putting this thread in this forum rather than the financial meltdown forum.

In the interests of keeping things interesting and preventing this conversation from sliding into an ideological mud-slinging festival identical to quintillions of others on the net, please keep the following in mind:

- I am not advocating the end of capitalism, just speculating about the possibiliy, so don't jump down my throat and start pinning a Che T-shirt on me.

- I'm more interested in whether you think it might happen (and if so, how/when) than whether it should happen. Yes, these are very different things

- Stretch your noggin and recall that there are other possibilities besides "capitalism" and "socialism." So I hope this doesn't turn into a boring old anti-socialist-strawman barbeque. Could there be any other forms besides capitalism and socialism? If so, how do you see them playing out.

-Anyone bringing cheezy partisan politics tropes into this (i.e., posts bashing contemporary polarizing figures such as Obama and/or Palin, etc.) will earn my withering scorn. The issue is clearly much larger than the petty four-year puinch-and-judy show of US electorial politics, and it's always much more interesting to try to look beyond such frippery.

Discuss.

I certainly hope capitalism doesn't end. It has been the only true beacon of hope, freedom, and prosperity in it's previous history. Capitalism accomplished more in it's short two hundred year period then any other country in history and has given more technology and raised standards of living beyond any other society. The reason capitalism is failing is not because capitalism doesn't work but because marxists and progressives want to destroy it and purposely ruin the system to prop up a dictatorship with promisses of a better life. They always result in the same thing though.. Oppression and murder.

Capitalism isn't the problem. It's the people who have been systematically ruining it's ideals.

It will end. But I don't think it will be a total destruction. More likely, our society will adapt to a stripped down shell of capitalism. There may be a system of collapses as the structures of societal class crumble and fade. What we will see are pockets of the actors of what is left of the capitalist political stratum do whatever they can to hold on to what society will eventually take back - which is the harshness of capitalist stratification. The market system will be similar to what we see now, but without the liquidity that lets it operate smoothly, possibly causing sharp bouts of inflation and deflation, often regionally, as a centralized system fades away.

That's my long term prognosis.

Capitalism WILL NEVER DIE.

Ask anyone in the former Soviet Union if capitalism was not rampant there.

The only thing keeping the USSR afloat at the end was the black markets. Heck, I see the black markets popping up all over now in the US.

What do you think that 1099 deal was in the "supposed" health care bill was? Do you actually think it was something noxious? Do you actually think that the government does not want a dime of every nickel spent?

Pffft, capitalism can never be stopped. It basically is the fair trade between two individuals. Do you actually believe that government will become sooooooo powerful and prevalent that they will be able to see every transaction?

Capitalism WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED, unless of course you kill everyone.

Capitalism is bad and will end soon. It's a self destructive system that makes the poor poorer and the rich richer, it takes the power from the people and gives it to the industry. It tells us we are free, but we are not. We have to work and consume until we die or we are useless bad people for the political system. Earth and nature are suffering from this and I am pretty sure every single man and woman on this board thats under the age of 70 will see the end on capitalism. And for sure - I am just waiting for it, you know why? Capitalism made us to become monsters instead of sensitive spiritual people. And believe me a 6th handy will make you not 1% happier. Get it or ignore it. Greez Cushy

I hope so, Capitalism serves only the few, not the many and feeds mankinds worst trait, Greed.

My god the two posters above me couldn't be more wrong. Keep getting brainwashed from the likes of van jones. Capitalism doesn't serve the few, regulation and destruction of a free market system DOES. That's what happened in this great capitalist system of ours. Even people like Bill Gates openly admit if he had started microsoft 20 years earlier he never would have accomplished what he was able to 20 years later. Because the LAW HAD BEEN SUBVERTED under our noses to help the few. It wasn't capitalism that did that it was sleeping men and woman in this country that allowed international interests to take over capitalism and systematically destroy it through social welfare and debt. If the country had listened to the founding fathers we wouldn't be in this mess. They warned us about it, it's part of WORLD HISTORY because it's been repeated SO MANY TIMES.. One of the reasons America was started was to escape all that TYRANNY of masked "social welfare" as a purpose for taxation, and eventually as a vehicle to change political systems.

reply to post by silent thunder


Capitalism will lead the way out of this economic mess.
Socialism does not work.
Just ask Stuart Varney at Fox Business. He is from England.

Originally posted by silent thunder
Capitalism is of course an economic system,

It really depends on the definition perceived over what capitalism exactly is. Capitalism as it stands for the majority of the world, where by there is a market consisting of private traders and businesses, a market that consists of regulations, that current platform of capitalism that we see in most western nations will not be going anywhere. It is an essential economic system, one that has developed over the centuries, it is the only workable system at our level of civilization at current. I do not believe that system is going anywhere, not atleast for some time, and I do hope so. I cannot think of any other system that is suitable.

Now when you ask many conservative ATSers over here about their views of capitalism, in particular, the libertarians, you will get this idea of a free market. A private economic system that has little to no regulations where government only enforces a limited set of laws such as fraud, and everything, including healthcare, is completely privatize. This idea of capitalism has never come to existence and never will, it is an unworkable system and the attempts to move further towards the idea of free market capitalism has ended in disaster. This idea of capitalism ended before it ever began.