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disagree, I think capitalism works but only for a period of time and our time is coming to an end. The trouble with capitalism is that it is all based on debt and the people who have the most to start with naturally get the produce of the debts. Capitalism is just a machine the slowly brings wealth from bottom to top. We need to be free people but we also need to learn to do things for each other rather than just doing things for ourselves and yes that is hypocritical coming from me.
Originally posted by crimvelvet
reply to post by michael1983l
disagree, I think capitalism works but only for a period of time and our time is coming to an end. The trouble with capitalism is that it is all based on debt and the people who have the most to start with naturally get the produce of the debts. Capitalism is just a machine the slowly brings wealth from bottom to top. We need to be free people but we also need to learn to do things for each other rather than just doing things for ourselves and yes that is hypocritical coming from me.
"The trouble with capitalism is that it is all based on debt...
Where in hades did you ever come up with THAT???
You are describing the fractional Reserve Banking system. It is the economic system that KILLED capitalism deader than a door nail. Fiat Fairy Dust money will always drive out wealth based money and that is what we are seeing today.
To put in REAL simple terms that you can understand Capitalism is BARTER. Person A takes his wealth (seed ) and produces more wealth (bread) which he can trade for the wealth produced by person B and C etc. In all cases CAPITALISM depends on the individuals RIGHT to own property, the means of production AND the fruits of his own labor.
I disagree, I think capitalism works but only for a period of time and our time is coming to an end. The trouble with capitalism is that it is all based on debt and the people who have the most to start with naturally get the produce of the debts. Capitalism is just a machine the slowly brings wealth from bottom to top. We need to be free people but we also need to learn to do things for each other rather than just doing things for ourselves and yes that is hypocritical coming from me.
headline]Rent-A-Grandma? Nothing like 'experience,' firm says.
....A Los Angeles-based employment service that specializes in providing senior women for domestic staffing needs has just launched a national franchise program.....
The service provides carefully screened women age 50 and over for roles including child care, elder care, housekeeping, cooking, estate management, pet sitting and other domestic staffing jobs.... www.csmonitor.com...
Small businesses losing out to red tape
...cities and states stifle new small businesses at every turn, burying them in mounds of paperwork; lengthy, expensive and arbitrary permitting processes; pointless educational requirements for occupations; or even just outright bans. Today, the Institute for Justice released a series of studies documenting government-imposed barriers to entrepreneurship in eight cities. In every city studied, overwhelming regulations destroyed or crippled would-be businesses at a time when they are most needed.
Time and again, these reports document how local bureaucrats believe they should dictate every aspect of a person's small business. .... if that means that businesses fail, or never open, or can operate only illegally, or waste all their money trying to get permits so they have nothing left for actual operations, that's just too bad....
Along the way, the dreams of individuals are repeatedly crushed:
•In Chicago, Esmeralda Rodriguez tried to open a children's play center, paying rent month after month while she waited in vain for the government permits she needed to open her business. After a full year of bureaucratic red tape, she finally exhausted her life savings and closed down for good.....
•Los Angeles places enormous and pointless restrictions on home-based businesses... in Los Angeles, they had better make sure they don't use their garage, manufacture or sell any products, advertise or violate any of the other myriad laws. Many businesses end up operating illegally, scared to grow their business for fear that the next knock on the door could be a regulator.
•In Miami, an accidental loophole in state law allowed jitney van transportation services to flourish briefly. As soon as Miami-Dade County got the opportunity, however, it shut down the new jitneys and ensured no others would open by requiring any new business to prove it wouldn't hurt its competitors. It even allowed those competitors to object to any new businesses, which is like allowing Burger King to veto the building of a new McDonald's.
•In Milwaukee, Nasir Khan spent tens of thousands of dollars renovating an abandoned hot dog stand and getting permits, only to have them withdrawn when a local alderman intervened. The politician wanted something nicer than a hot dog stand at that corner, and apparently it was better to have no business than one he didn't like....
•In Washington, D.C., hundreds of people have waited more than a year to take the required class and test to become a taxi driver. Rather than encourage these individuals to create jobs for themselves, the city has simply stopped offering the class and test.
When governments actually get rid of barriers to entrepreneurship, new businesses open almost immediately. Indeed, removing even a single law can unleash entrepreneurial energy and create hundreds of jobs. Mississippi finally got rid of its requirement that African hair braiders get government-issued cosmetology licenses to practice or teach. The result? A single entrepreneur — Melony Armstrong — trained dozens of women to braid hair and open their own businesses.
America was once known as the Land of Opportunity. It could be again, but not until state and local officials get out of the way of entrepreneurs trying to fulfill their dreams of new business and new prosperity for themselves and their families.
www.usatoday.com...
Well succesful capitalists that accrue large amounts of cash choose to maximise that cash by giving it back to the people they took it from except they have to pay it back plus interest.
Despite these constraints, which worked sporadically and unpredictably, the benefits of capitalism were widely diffused. Luxuries quickly were transformed into necessities. At first, the luxuries were cheap cotton clothes, fresh meat, and white bread; then sewing machines, bicycles, sporting goods, and musical instruments; then automobiles, washing machines, clothes dryers, and refrigerators; then telephones, radios, televisions, air conditioners, and freezers; and most recently, TiVos, digital cameras, DVD players, and cell phones.”
“Capitalism,” a term of disparagement coined by socialists in the mid-nineteenth century, is a misnomer for “economic individualism,” which Adam Smith earlier called “the obvious and simple system of natural liberty” (Wealth of Nations). Economic individualism’s basic premise is that the pursuit of self-interest and the right to own private property are morally defensible and legally legitimate. Its major corollary is that the state exists to protect individual rights. Subject to certain restrictions, individuals (alone or with others) are free to decide where to invest, what to produce or sell, and what prices to charge. There is no natural limit to the range of their efforts in terms of assets, sales, and profits; or the number of customers, employees, and investors; or whether they operate in local, regional, national, or international markets.
Originally posted by objectivist
reply to post by michael1983l
Capitalism has created the highest standard of living ever known on earth. The evidence is incontrovertible. The contrast between West and East Berlin is the latest demonstration, like a laboratory experiment for all to see. Yet those who are loudest in proclaiming their desire to eliminate poverty are loudest in denouncing capitalism. Man’s well-being is not their goal.THE PROBLEM IS CAPITALISM HAS BEEN PERVERTED AND ITS THE SOCIALIST COMMUNIST IDEALS THAT GET INTO THE MIX AND DESTROY IT
Originally posted by canselmi
I can see your point, but I have an issue with:
"Well those that get lucky..."
Luck may have a little to do with it, but hard work, determination and risk-taking play larger roles. Of the few rich people I know, none of them at this moment are sipping martinis on a yacht or at the golf course. They are at work. They were here before I got to work and will still be here by the time I get home.
Originally posted by SirMike
reply to post by doctornamtab
Well, when you figure out something that doesn’t involve either of the two and lets people not work for necessities, let me know.
Originally posted by GeorgiaGirl
At no time in HISTORY has a country has so much prosperity as the United States of America in recent decades. YES, even today, with the economic struggles we are facing.
Here is a snippet from www.econlib.org..., which talks about what has happened:
Despite these constraints, which worked sporadically and unpredictably, the benefits of capitalism were widely diffused. Luxuries quickly were transformed into necessities. At first, the luxuries were cheap cotton clothes, fresh meat, and white bread; then sewing machines, bicycles, sporting goods, and musical instruments; then automobiles, washing machines, clothes dryers, and refrigerators; then telephones, radios, televisions, air conditioners, and freezers; and most recently, TiVos, digital cameras, DVD players, and cell phones.”
The problem isn't Capitalism. The problem is the something-for-nothing mentality. Also, the idea that we are all "slaves" because of Capitalism. Give me a break. WHEN in HISTORY have people NOT had to WORK to meet their basic needs?????
Also, the idea that we are all so altruistic that we would do what we LOVE for free. Come on, now, seriously???? I love my job, but I would NOT do it for free. I'd be a stay at home mom if I wasn't paid for my job. Or would stay at home moms be outlawed?
It's called FREEDOM, people.
The problem with our system is that we are not currently practicing pure Capitalism. Even my 13 year old can grasp these concepts.
There will ALWAYS be people with more wealth than others. Always. If we redistributed every asset in America and started over from scratch with a level playing field, some people would squander their assets and others would re-amass wealth.
“Capitalism,” a term of disparagement coined by socialists in the mid-nineteenth century, is a misnomer for “economic individualism,” which Adam Smith earlier called “the obvious and simple system of natural liberty” (Wealth of Nations). Economic individualism’s basic premise is that the pursuit of self-interest and the right to own private property are morally defensible and legally legitimate. Its major corollary is that the state exists to protect individual rights. Subject to certain restrictions, individuals (alone or with others) are free to decide where to invest, what to produce or sell, and what prices to charge. There is no natural limit to the range of their efforts in terms of assets, sales, and profits; or the number of customers, employees, and investors; or whether they operate in local, regional, national, or international markets.
Every one of you who thinks that we could do better in a different system is seriously naive. I would love for you to name an example of a system that has worked out better for everyone within the system. Go ahead.....crickets....
If we could go back to a nation that followed the Constitution and had a limited Federal government, with fewer handouts, more emphasis on personal responsibility, and less meddling by the politicians, we would all be better off.
Here is a really good example of how "Progressive" legislation has really hurt the poor working class and completely KILLED capitalism.
Originally posted by CherubBaby
reply to post by michael1983l
You know Michael Capitalism may have it's problems but can you give an example of a better system ?
Also I think the crooks and cheats have degredated the system and it isn't Capitalism's fault completely.