Occupy the Economy: Challenging Capitalism (Representatives, Dodd, lobbyists, lobby)

[pknopp]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

Pathetic! Thumbs up to the defintion of Capitalism when it is so obvious that it is not functioning as it was meant to. The Wall Street debacle was enough proof of that. It does not take a genius to understand what is happening in the USA, but then again, it at least takes an average I.Q., which is too much to expect from dumbed down rightwing sheep. It's no wonder Wall Street and Corporate America is laughing its collective a$$es of at fools like you and others that enable them. Suckers!

If it's not functioning as it was meant to that isn't the fault of capitalism.

[bnepler]

Sounds like your alternative is socialism. The real problem is greed, trust and the break down of morals in society.

[sickofnyc]

Originally Posted by pknopp

If it's not functioning as it was meant to that isn't the fault of capitalism.

and??? so??? Maybe if the subject is never broached, we cannot get to the root and clean the crap up. If something is not working, you fix it, you don't allow it to escalate by demanding more deregulation and playing into the hands of the entities that are turning it into an Oligarchy. You punish the offenders, not have them buy elections. The handwriting is on the wall. When money of astronomical proportions is pouring into elections, you know something is very wrong. We are cooked.

[jmking]

Originally Posted by bnepler

Sounds like your alternative is socialism. The real problem is greed, trust and the break down of morals in society.

Not to mention corporations are people too, with the ability to buy presidential candidates with unlimited amounts of cash. Moneys provided by a very few nameless, faceless few, who demand what in return?

[pknopp]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

and??? so??? Maybe if the subject is never broached, we cannot get to the root and clean the crap up. If something is not working, you fix it, you don't allow it to escalate by demanding more deregulation and playing into the hands of the entities that are turning it into an Oligarchy. You punish the offenders, not have them buy elections.

I think that there have been many calling for this to happen and really, I thought it would but it seems not. Corzine, Blankfein, Moynihan and a whole rash of others should be under indictment or already in prison but they aren't so Obama obviously doesn't care nor do I expect Romney to care.

What should I do from there?

The handwriting is on the wall. When money of astronomical proportions is pouring into elections, you know something is very wrong. We are cooked.

Why would you allow this money to influence you?

[sickofnyc]

Originally Posted by bnepler

Sounds like your alternative is socialism. The real problem is greed, trust and the break down of morals in society.

No, the alternative is true Capitalism, not the rigged type that has ensued here.

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

No, the alternative is true Capitalism, not the rigged type that has ensued here.

What is true capitalism?

[bnepler]

Ever wonder why some universities have dropped "business ethics" from their curriculum?

[Mircea]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

Some excerpts from a book that should be required reading for all Americans...

"Yet they are systematically excluded from participating in making those decisions."

That is a patently false statement written by a liar.

Anyone who desires to participate in corporate decision-making is free do so -- all they have to do is purchase stock in the corporation to have a voice.

You have to decide which is more important, you X-Box, or buying stocks.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

Why don't you utilize the dictionary function in your computer because you obviously do not understand the difference between an Oligarchy and true Capitalism.

Neither do you.

Corporations are communistic. Who owns the Capital/Corporation? The People, albeit only those people who have the wisdom not to throw away money at Starsucks, and instead use that money to purchase stocks in a corporation.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

Pathetic! Thumbs up to the defintion of Capitalism when it is so obvious that it is not functioning as it was meant to.

You are the one who does not know the definition of Capitalism.

Capitalism is a property theory attempting to explain who should control Capital -- ie the means of production. Capitalism also posits that the best and most efficient use of Capital is through Diversification & Specialization.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

The Wall Street debacle was enough proof of that.

No, the Wall Street debacle was proof that the Laws of Economics cannot be violated without suffering penalty, and that government interference in the housing market violated the Laws of Economics.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

and??? so??? Maybe if the subject is never broached, we cannot get to the root and clean the crap up.

You're incapable of correctly defining and understanding the problem, so no, you'll never find a solution.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

If something is not working, you fix it, you don't allow it to escalate by demanding more deregulation and playing into the hands of the entities that are turning it into an Oligarchy. You punish the offenders, not have them buy elections.

So, you're going to punish Clinton?

Clinton is the one who stuck a gun to the heads of the banks and forced them to make mortgage loans to people that Jesus Christ and Gandhi wouldn't have even given money to.

That resulted in the creation of Collateralized Debt Obligations and Structured Investment Vehicles.

Who elected Clinton? You should punish those people as well.

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

The handwriting is on the wall. When money of astronomical proportions is pouring into elections, you know something is very wrong. We are cooked.

Anytime you are so inclined, you may set up and register a non-profit corporation and work toward establishing affiliates in all States for the purposes of forming a grass roots movement that would authorize a limited constitutional convention by public referendum for the purposes of passing a constitutional amendment to restrict campaign contributions to only those voters eligible to vote in a particular election.

But I understand it's much more fun to do absolutely nothing and then whine about it.

Amused...

Mircea

Originally Posted by Little-Acorn

Capitalism is merely the free functioning of an economy without government interference or "help", other than enforcement of contracts and prosecution of fraud or coercion.

That is not the definition of Capitalism.

What you have defined is the Free Market Economic System.

Sorry, but Communist property theory and the Free Market Economic System are not mutually exclusive. You can have Communism and a Free Market -- the fact that no one has ever attempted that does not make them mutually exclusive.

Likewise, Capitalism and Command Economics are not mutually exclusive either: you can allow the private ownership of Capital while the Command Group -- the government, a bureaucracy, an oligarchy or some other entity sets prices for goods and services and also sets quotas or limitations on production, just like the Soviet Union did.

The United States uses Capitalist property theory in conjunction with an hybrid Free Market/Command Economic System that is largely Free Market -- but shifting slowly toward Command Economics.

I hope we have that straightened out.

Economically...

Mircea

Originally Posted by dv1033

Too bad your definition of capitalism has never existed so your conclusion about Democrats is invalid.

Too bad you know nothing of Philosophy.

Capitalism as s/he defined it is accurate. Consider the phrase "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The "Pursuit of Happiness" does not mean acquiring a large number of porno flicks, surfing the web and standing around Starsucks trying to look cool when you're not.

It means acquiring Capital --- read Locke, Bentham and others of the period.

Defining...

Mircea

[dv1033]

Originally Posted by Mircea

Too bad you know nothing of Philosophy.

Capitalism as s/he defined it is accurate. Consider the phrase "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The "Pursuit of Happiness" does not mean acquiring a large number of porno flicks, surfing the web and standing around Starsucks trying to look cool when you're not.

It means acquiring Capital --- read Locke, Bentham and others of the period.

Defining...

Mircea

Well by all means, provide some sources for your definition. As I think capitalism in it's rawest form would create many who will never achieve the pursuit of happiness.

However, are you sure you aren't just quoting the declaration of independence?