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People keep talking about how capitalism doesn't work, how poverty rate rises, etc.
But if you look at the statistics, everything is getting better.
74.1% of the poor households own a car - that's higher than the average household in Europe and Japan.
GDP per capita
Access to electricity, technologies penetration
Life expectancy
1850: 39
1900: 47
1950: 68.2
2010: 78.7
Motor vehicle deaths
Traffic fatalities in 2010 were the lowest since 1949! That's despite the US population grew from 149,188,130 in 1949, to 306,700,000 in 2009; the vehicle miles traveled grew (billions) grew from 424.46 in 1949 to 2,974 in 2008.
Crime rate
In 2009 America's crime rate was roughly the same as in 1968, with the homicide rate being at its lowest level since 1964.
The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer?
Home size
American's home size grew from an average of 983 square feet in the 1950s up to 2700 square feet in 2009.
The statistics you cite do not support capitalism. They only indicate the trend of consumption, which is what the US is based on. In fact, everytime you go to the store to make a purchase, a politician should be there to thank you in person, because if you don't spend, the system doesn't function.
The reason communism and socialism is seen as "the antichrist" in the USA, is because the multibillion-multinationals would lose their money to the state if they implemented it.
A state, if led by good morals, would do much more for its people than a free capitalist market whose god is the almighty dollar. Greed is as bad a king as any dictator.
A state, if led by good morals, would do much more for its people than a free capitalist market whose god is the almighty dollar. Greed is as bad a king as any dictator.
Peace,
brian
Everyone who has preached this has produced nothing but a hellish tyranny. Greed is good.
So now wealth is defined by cars and home square footage? The ability to live without a car is much easier in Japan and Europe. Their train system makes us look like we are in the 19th century. We also have a lot more land to say nothing of the equity we have in it which is worsening.
Speaking a cheap, what a cheap attempt to justify the "American way" , as if it can be regarded as free market capitalism anyway.
How does infant mortality and life expectancy match up? Oops.
What brought on this deep recession was not capitalism. Because the "investments" that Wall St lost control of didn't raise capital for companies to expand and grow with.
No, these "derivatives" had no connection to capitalism. They were nothing more than bets. Bets placed on a roulette wheel set up by Wall St shysters who knew the game was fixed.
Is there someone arguing that Capitalism doesn't work. Other than North Korea (Cuba is starting to alow some entrepreneurship) there aren't any countries that don't allow at least some private ownership to take place.
The statistics you cite do not support capitalism. They only indicate the trend of consumption, which is what the US is based on. In fact, everytime you go to the store to make a purchase, a politician should be there to thank you in person, because if you don't spend, the system doesn't function.
The reason communism and socialism is seen as "the antichrist" in the USA, is because the multibillion-multinationals would lose their money to the state if they implemented it.
A state, if led by good morals, would do much more for its people than a free capitalist market whose god is the almighty dollar. Greed is as bad a king as any dictator.
Peace,
brian
What about traffic fatalities and crime rate?
Capitalism made cars safer, reduced traffic fatalities.
Capitalism made goods so cheap, crime is not economical anymore.
You didn't cite up any capitalism failure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwynedd1
So now wealth is defined by cars and home square footage? The ability to live without a car is much easier in Japan and Europe. Their train system makes us look like we are in the 19th century. We also have a lot more land to say nothing of the equity we have in it which is worsening.
Speaking a cheap, what a cheap attempt to justify the "American way" , as if it can be regarded as free market capitalism anyway.
How does infant mortality and life expectancy match up? Oops.
I think life expectancy has a lot to do with obesity, food, life style, etc. Israel is ranked 4th in world's life expectancy, do you want to live in Israel? And by the way, life expectancy in the US is equal to Denmark. wait.. socialist Denmark? oops!
The only people for whom capitalism doesn't work are those who are basically uneducated, helpless, and lazy.
One of the great things about capitalism is that it's OK to fail and find your way back on your own, thereby strengthening yourself. Today's America is being taught that you can't fail. First, the government gets you started, and if you fail, the government rewards you with entitlements. What a pathetic way to live, imo. There is no pride.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ahigherway
In fact, everytime you go to the store to make a purchase, a politician should be there to thank you in person, because if you don't spend, the system doesn't function.
A state, if led by good morals, would do much more for its people than a free capitalist market whose god is the almighty dollar. Greed is as bad a king as any dictator.
Peace,
brian
You're talking about taxation. Totally separate subject.
If you're so hot on helping people, I'll give you my Paypal addy and you can help fund my business. Deal? Or would you rather go through the tax system so they can take their fair share?
A state, if led by good morals, would do much more for its people than a free capitalist market whose god is the almighty dollar. Greed is as bad a king as any dictator.
Peace,
brian
So to make a point, you inject a hypothetical morality into one system and not the other and use that to declare the first system superior?
The vast majority of private industry has good morals, though some certainly do not. Even when led by good morals, a state is simply inefficient.
What the "oops" in the thread title for? It's not necessary.
Capitalism just works.
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Oops - Capitalism works!
