Capitalism: Anyone else feel this way

[tablemtn]

Just as most folks would not be fond of burglars in their home.

You'd think so, but look at all the companies that tripped over themselves in the 80's and 90's to get a foothold in the "China market" - I can't really think of any companies of any size which boycotted China "out of principle," or which pulled out in protest due to intellectual property issues.

[GregW]

The primary goal of any established business is to destroy any semblance of a market by monopolizing the trade. Monopoly, even if only temporary under patent protection is the way to the big profits. Once a corporation becomes large and profitable enough it uses its money to buy government protection from competitors.

[OICU812]

Originally Posted by yeahboy79

Capitalists Who Fear Change | Laissez-Faire Bookstore

From the article:
"This is why business is always running to government for protection. Kill this crazy new technology! Stop these imports! Raise the costs on the competition! Give us a patent so that we can clobber the other guys! Impose antitrust law! Protect me with a copyright! Regulate the newcomers out of existence! Give us a bailout!"
"Capitalism is not for wimps who don’t want to improve. If you want guaranteed profits for the few rather than prosperity and abundance for the many, socialism and fascism really are better systems."

Improve or Die. that should be the motto. If you are a big company, keep getting better or the little guy will replace you. The difference it seems like today is that the little guy gets sued out of existence before they get started. Just look at RIAA, MPAA and any entertainment industry. People wanted MP3's, no DRM, streaming music and video and look how long it took them to come on board...but not before suing youtube, napster, dvr's, netflix, DVD copying software, and the list goes on. I read an article last week about how HBO is not going to offer HBOgo to people unless they have a cable account..leaving all those people who cut the cord already and want to give HBO money for online streaming no options other than to pirate the shows. Why did HBO do that? Because it cuts into profits they get from cable companies.

couple those instances above with ridiculous patents given out and small startups are toast before they even get started. Maybe that would help the economy if these small shops are given the chance to flourish

I think you were describing "capitalists for fascism" in your first paragraph.

[DiogenesofJackson]

I don't understand why so many of you have made statements, or implied it, that capitalists seeking government protection is unique to America. Actually, this has historical basis. John Locke, for example, structured his political philosophy--his ideal system of government--as one that would protect life, liberty, and property. Property was a relatively recent construction in Locke's day and he wanted a government that would secure people's rights (that is their liberty) to acquire more and more property (before this only monarchs gave property rights to certain individuals, like nobles and manorial lords, the latter of which leased property to tenants or vassals). At its very basis, classical liberalism (which is attributed to Lockean ideas and which serves as a basis to the U.S. Constitution) is a governmental system or political philosophy that has been designed to coddle business owners. Naturally, today's corporations run to the government for protection and they've been doing it ever since the days of global colonization in the seventeenth century (before a United States government existed).

[pknopp]

Originally Posted by NJBest

I asked you a question and was hoping you could respond with an answer rather than asking me to consider an option.

Your question was answered.