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Capitalism is the economic engine that pays ALL the bills. If the socialists of the world were actually serious about their political beliefs they would just practice socialism amongst themselves and leave the rest of us alone. However, socialism is completely incapable of self-funding and is completely dependant on what it views as evil (capitalism) for revenue.
Nobody ever voluntarily participates in socialism. It's always done at the point of a gun. The social(ist) programs of the United States (welfare, social security, medicare, ect) would go bankrupt if Americans weren't forced to either pay taxes to fund those programs or face prison time for tax evasion.
Capitalsim isn't perfect but it isn't tyrannical. Socialism is.
What industry will want to compete with the government? Any current examples to offer us?
When you restrict or remove the profit from a commodity, shortages and increased prices are the result.
You need an econ 101 class.
I've taken Econ 101, I have a college degree.
I'm saying profit should not be the primary motive in a business. Salaries and profits should be controlled enough so that the rich -- poor gap is much smaller than it is today. Government regulation doesn't always have to lead to shortages or increased prices.
I could show hospitals in Mississippi and then use that to try to prove how bad America's healthcare system is. That doesn't mean every hospital in America is garbage. Cuba at least has universal healthcare -- that was the point I was trying to make. Universal = better than what we have. I never said Cuba's hospitals were better than ours.
Also, forget Cuba. What about:
What about Sweden, Canada, Norway, France, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Canada, the U.K., Germany, Brazil, Chile? All those countries have socialist or social-capitalist systems and they all (except Brazil and Chile) have higher standards of living than the US. Cuba is the exception, and if it was democratic, it would be on par with those countries. Stop touting the exception over the rule.
Its not better in Cuba which you tried to say it was.
Please show me a video of a hospital in America that compares to the ones I showed you in Cuba. I bet you didnt even watch them
I could show hospitals in Mississippi and then use that to try to prove how bad America's healthcare system is. That doesn't mean every hospital in America is garbage. Cuba at least has universal healthcare -- that was the point I was trying to make. Universal = better than what we have. I never said Cuba's hospitals were better than ours.
Also, forget Cuba. What about:
What about Sweden, Canada, Norway, France, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Canada, the U.K., Germany, Brazil, Chile? All those countries have socialist or social-capitalist systems and they all (except Brazil and Chile) have higher standards of living than the US. Cuba is the exception, and if it was democratic, it would be on par with those countries. Stop touting the exception over the rule.
None of those countries have a higher standard of living than the U.S. Look at the housing they live in, the incomes they make, the prices they pay for food and gas. You are smoking some great drugs if you think they live better than us.
1. So wait, you like fascism? Because heavy regulation of industry like that is called fascism, where the government de facto owns the economy because of such heavy regulations
2.Half of maternal side of the family were born and raised in East Germany. They didn't have a car because there was an almost 15 year waiting period to get a Trabant, and the people that did have it, the car was horrible and was terrible quality. Same went for the infamous Yugo. Both cars built by state-owned enterprises
The problem with liberal Americans is that you they not personally related to anyone who lived through the tyranny of collectivist government. You don't know how the other side lived, and the only thing you have to bank on are the warm, cozy writings of Marx who talked of a collectivist society where no government existed (and yet liberals on here make fun of Libertarians for wanting limited government!), but the reality is that will never happen. No one ever gets a free lunch. Quid pro quo
Who said I was a liberal?
East Germany? Yugoslavia? Marx? This is not 1985. What about all the "collectivist governments" that have worked, such as Sweden, Norway et. al. I could trot out some of impoverished capitalist countries like Hong Kong, Iran and Malaysia, but that wouldn't be fair, would it?
The fact is, capitalism creates great wealth, but it also creates great poverty.
we haven't had anything close to capitalism in 70 years, and even then it was not close enough, ... the OP just shows how much knowledge the average person lacks
The definition of Capitalism - is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit. Decisions regarding supply, demand, price, distribution, and investment are made within a free market. (from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism)
The definition of a free market - is a market in which there is no economic intervention and regulation by the state, except to enforce private contracts and the ownership of property. (from - Free market - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )
Ya, I'd be embarrassed if I created such an ignorant OP as well.
None of those countries have a higher standard of living than the U.S. Look at the housing they live in, the incomes they make, the prices they pay for food and gas. You are smoking some great drugs if you think they live better than us.
They all have higher HDI ratios than us, they have healthcare and unlimited unemployment insurance, living wages. No, there are no uber-rich fat-cat billionaires there, but there are also no destitute impoverished people either.
Capitalism = great wealth AND great poverty. A capitalist system cannot work without both of these extremes.
Capitalism sucks. Period. I know that may sound shocking, but it's true -- at least of unregulated, laissez-faire "free market" capitalism. It screws the poor and middle class out of a decent living, while enriching the corporations that send our jobs overseas and making the fat cats even fatter. It is a disgusting, evil system based upon greed and avarice. It is based on the lust for more, more, MORE while stopping at nothing to feed that desire.
In a capitalist system, corporate execs will slash thousands of American jobs to add a few pennies to their annual bonuses. They will send skilled jobs to China and Cambodia, laying off American workers and forcing children to work in sweatshops for pennies per day. These soulless organizations will sell out American workers to save a pittance, reaping record profits while we grow more and more desperate. If people here are fortunate enough to keep their jobs, they'll see their wages slashed, pensions cut and benefits scaled back. When unions try to stand up for workers rights, the government moves in to bust the unions in the name of "saving money" (look at what's happening in Wisconsin). However, raising taxes on the rich and corporations is out of the question. The government gives corporate behemoths tax breaks and exemptions and even bailouts while cutting essential services like education and unemployment benefits. It is disgusting.
It's not just about jobs either. Take healthcare. A man works hard, goes to college, and gets a good job with health benefits. If he loses his "good job," he'll be out of luck, becoming one of the millions of uninsured Americans. At least in almost any other developed country, you don't have to worry about lacking health insurance because you lose your job. Also, what of all the people with pre-existing conditions - the private health insurance companies look for ways to deny them.
People keep talking about "high taxes" and how they don't want to pay taxes. I really don't get this. I'd rather pay higher taxes and get better services than save money on taxes and have to fight the corporate machine to get essential services like healthcare. I'd rather tax the living crap out of the rich and corporations to ensure everyone gets a free education, a living-wage job, a home, unlimited unemployment insurance and guaranteed access to free or very low-cost healthcare and prescription drugs.
You should realize that the Government is the SOURCE of our problems.
First, look at the currency. The Government controls the issuance of currency through the Fed, which is private in theory but created by Government (and Government has a role in running it).
Look at the deficit and debt. Government gave this to us. Look at the drivers of debt moving forward: Social Security and Medicare. Again, Government gave them to us.
Who takes 50% of what you earn? Government? Add it up: federal income tax, fica tax, medicare tax, state income tax, county/local tax, RE tax (factored into your rent if you're a renter), sales tax, gas tax, utility tax, internet/communications/phone tax, auto registration fee and the list goes on. Add in the cost of regulatory compliance as well.
Who guarantees student loans such that tuition keeps rising? Government.
The value of the market is that it balances risk and fear. Sure, you can offer a job at 50 cents/hour (assuming no minimum wage law), but you won't get a good person to fill the position. Then, you'll raise it until you find the right worker. Same with what you charge; you can charge $10K for a notebook computer, but nobody will buy it so the price is lowered accordingly. Companies do not have incentive to overcharge and rip people off b/c their own bottom line will suffer, as another company will be able to provide the product or service for a more reasonable cost.
If you raise taxes ad infinitum, things will be far worse than they are now. Taxes are a disincentive towards production and risk taking.
They all have higher HDI ratios than us, they have healthcare and unlimited unemployment insurance, living wages. No, there are no uber-rich fat-cat billionaires there, but there are also no destitute impoverished people either.
Capitalism = great wealth AND great poverty. A capitalist system cannot work without both of these extremes.
I'm saying profit should not be the primary motive in a business. Salaries and profits should be controlled enough so that the rich -- poor gap is much smaller than it is today. Government regulation doesn't always have to lead to shortages or increased prices.
News flash: There isn't one single business anywhere in the world that ISNT in business to turn a profit.
Another news flash: The ONLY reason anyone works for a company is because they want a paycheck. That's called personal profit. Without that motivation the economic world does not exist.
That's economics 101
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