Capitalism doesn't and IS NOT working, it's destructive and creatives poor social incentives

a reply to: Not Authorized

We've lots of time to, governments should be funding scientists and engineers with goals to develop tech and develop the grid so that we don't have to war to get what we want. Imagine all of the funding on the military went to perfecting solar panel tech and distributing solar tech and non dependability tech for free?

But yet we are all suffering for little gain. You have countless empty homes ALONGSIDE COUNTLESS HOMELESS "for that".

a reply to: Wrabbit2000

I agree. But, take the type of currency into consideration. Different types promote liberty. Others, promote tyranny. The true system itself is neutral. Decouple them, they are not the same.

I too wished for prior resolution. But the simple fact is, we missed that opportunity.

This planet faces the greatest ecological disaster in our history, combined with the entire Western world being bankrupt, meaning no money is even available to attempt to fix the issues our environment is now faced with. And we have many issues that need resolution..

Chance of extinction within my lifetime is now very much in play, and the elite are more concerned with protecting their 1984 like world than acknowledge it.

There is time left, but not much.

I'm going back to paranormal forum back where the normal people are, lol.
Politics is more implausible than ghosts.

a reply to: Not Authorized

I think that's buying too far into the doom porn, personally. I mean extinction? The only events capable of bringing the planet to that are events we can neither predict nor control. Almost by definition, we're in the class of forces we're wee little arrogant beings to think we can harness for our own personal benefit. Good or bad.

I think the world is headed for hard times through the economies, yes. At least...most are. Not all. If you look hard at the world status for nations on debt? Some have gotten it far better than others. Unfortunately, we're about dead last on that lesson being taken to heart. Again, the system we have is like a Volkswagon welded over time to become a sherman tank. It's still a volkswagon in the end, and probably isn't moving far by the time all the junk is added on. We sure aren't...

Now I don't personally know or care about the rest of the world's solutions, or problems that need them right now. As you note, and I will agree with, time IS short for a tipping point. That'll be the point of generational loss of quality of life in America. We're on the edge of a serious drop down, IMO. Not there yet..but for Americans? The shock of not being able to get anything one has the whim for, at any grocery store for example..will be severe. True hunger is almost entirely unknown relative to hunger as the world defines it. That may change.

In terms of systems? I'm a Republican in the TRUE..not Political Party sense. The Political party or GOP has morphed into a sick abomination of what they once were.

I do believe in the Republic form of Government with 50 very different states that should and were MEANT to be left to their own devices within national sets of values as a general guide and the other specific points printed ..not 10th generation implied by things like a commerce clause so overburdened it really DOES carry the weight of a Government on it's wee shoulders. States rights would be a reachable and critical first step in our real future, IMO.

These are always fun threads to read.

I declare that I, Also, have a pet formula of my own to improve the lot of mankind.

In case anyone is interested, my plan requires a monopoly on the use of force (for compliance purposes, you understand). Beyond this, I promise that only really wonderful people will decide who gets to use that force.

I Promise. Trust me.

originally posted by: METACOMET
Beyond this, I promise that only really wonderful people will decide who gets to use that force.

I Promise. Trust me.

You mean much like today?

re: Money

I think we have a semi-socialist/capitalist/Oligarchy/dictatorship. We are ruled by our corporate and military industrialist overlords who have taken over our "two party" system that is really just a joke. Nothing gets done and except for a few small catch phrases like abortion and civil rights there is no difference. We then have a capitilist system set up so that everyone has the chance to be a millionaire. we really do and we also have a welfare state, and not just for individuals but for corporations, towns, cities, states etc. It's just a mess.

originally posted by: BlubberyConspiracy


You mean much like today?

Ah, then you understand the real-world consequences of such precarious circumstances.

a reply to: onequestion
Yes, to everything you said….but there is no system built upon lies…
otherwise, it's the same old, same old….
and many think they have the honest answer, but they still do not
for they've been told they can make it whatever they want, just through consciousness……and we are all one…..
and disparate threads about that contribute and spin the reality to make it what everyone chooses…

but still…..what is built upon a lie will fall.
tetra

a reply to: METACOMET

Do you not enjoy the benefits of government and society?
If it's anarchy you want, there's plenty nations TODAY that fit the bill.

originally posted by: BlubberyConspiracy
a reply to: METACOMET

Do you not enjoy the benefits of government and society?
If it's anarchy you want, there's plenty nations TODAY that fit the bill.

No matter how disastrously some policy has turned out, anyone who criticizes it can expect to hear: “But what would you replace it with?” When you put out a fire, what do you replace it with?

– Thomas Sowell

I don’t think that the problem is Capitalism, I believe that the idea is sound but if you don’t have the right check and balances to go along with the idea; you get what we have now. We are supposed to be able to count on Congress, the Supreme Court, and the senate to balance and keep control. Unfortunately no one is keeping them honest; it’s all about money and power for most if not all of them. One way I think that we could start trying to fix this broken machine (Capitalism) is to set term limits on Senators and Congressmen.

a reply to: Wrabbit2000

Thank you for your thoughts, I will consider them too. I'm not one for doom porn. Fun to read, but just not realistic. However, I realize how bad Fukushima could potentially be. Hence, I consider it a pretty big threat.

This is our only home. We do not yet have all the technology to clean the litter box. We need to be much more mindful.

Corporatism only happens with centralize government power to pick winners and loser.

Decentralize the government and corporatist can no longer cheat and use lobbyists.

That's why the oligarchy is afraid of the Tea Party and Libertarians because their message is limited government.

a reply to: onequestion

Capitalism is the animal that is fed by consumerism. As people complain about capitalism and the greed that accompanies the capitalistic system who really is to blame, but the consumer. If you are unhappy with the product or service you don't use it or don't buy it. The consumer feeds the capitalistic animal. There has been many a complaint about the wages Wal-Mart pays its employees, it is the consumer that validates the wage earners income through purchasing. Why would Wal-Mart management increase wages when customers buy at a rate that makes Wal-Mart worth Billions, it is the largest employer in the US, more than 1.5 million people, provides more food and goods to low income or no income citizens than the next 5 retail companies combined.

The system becomes skewed when government gets involved, in a ruse to protect the citizen through regulation, the government gains power at the expense of the taxpayer and the business. They take from both for the good of the people. This is where capitalism becomes distorted because the animal is leashed and controlled no longer by the consumer but by the power the consumer has invested in the government. The government then uses it's legislative power to grant favors, tax breaks, incentives, or regulation, fines, or taxation to control the capitalistic animal. Thus the consumer loses its ability to properly feed the animal and it withers away or becomes an uncontrollable behemoth.

There is no other system in the world that has done more good for the people of this planet than capitalism. It may have its warts, inconsistencies, and problems but if we could keep the government out of the business end of the business consumers could get back to feeding the animal capitalism and protect themselves from monopolies, high cost, and low wages.

Of course this takes an informed and educated citizenry involvement, and not the lazy uneducated involvement we see in politics and government today. It is and always has been up to the people to vote out bad government, and monitor the capitalist animal with their wallets.

a reply to: MarlinGrace

The government can do a few GREAT things now and quite easily too.

Basically patent incentive needs to be significantly shortened to just a few years.
Government can only touch industry/production to enforce safety standards (Re: FDA, Occupational Saftey, Product recalls)
Corporations are no longer people
Lobbying becomes illegal
Government taxes fund alternate grid development
Goods coming into the country have a tariff when U.S. citizens buy them which goes to public education and universities.

1. Competition and imitation will lead to better products, no monopolies based on stagnation due to pantented "rights to make money"
2. No government sponsored bail outs
3. Get that *&^& out of here
4. Bribery has no place in government
5. Goal incentivized science grants from government will reward scientists for demonstrating / meeting specifications set by the request (eg. more efficient solar, safer medicine etc)
6. Those who seek to sell "cheap labor" products to the U.S. will have negative effects on the economy reduced



Gold standard isn't important, a faith based economy works when you have a nation of 320 million.

Thought I'd post this link to express my views on this.

The problem with capitalism

a reply to: MarlinGrace
Using that logic, Big Business is also to blame for our corrupt politicians when they buy them. Big Business is to blame when they accept food stamps. Noone was holding a gun to theirs heads to do these things.

Form of gov't/social organization does not really dictate the intentions of the people or our leaders. Maybe the problem is beyond form of gov't/social organization.

originally posted by: CJCrawley
Indeed.

Any system that exploits the majority for the benefit of a few is to be condemned.

It's why America - the whole world in fact - is in such a dire mess.

The problem...what to replace it with.

The whole world is not in a mess. It may seem like that when your home country is in such a state, but there are other successful nations out there that are doing just fine. Better than fine. The USA will recover from it's current situation.