Why People Hate Capitalism

[Greg]

An explanation on why people hate capitalism

I ran across this interesting article by Bruce of Stone Marmot. (They're a "nouveau retro pop-rock" band... whatever that means.)

The article basically says people hate capitalism because it's an accurate representation of society.

Capitalism is the most democratic economic system there is, for every time you spend a dollar, or refrain from spending a dollar, you are casting a vote. That is why so many people hate capitalism, because, with capitalism, the world people live in is the sum total result of each of their individual actions.

Unfortunately, most people vote for what is convenient, cheap and easy. Sometimes that's not what's particularly best for the word. We're "voting" everyday for the things we rail against.

People refuse to see how they are contributing to the very problems they are condemning. If each of us would clean up our own acts, many of the problems in this world would be significantly reduced, if not eliminated.

Some of his examples:

• People hate nuclear power, but they like cheap electricity.
• People hate wars over oil, but driving is so convenient.
• People hate telemarketers, but 1 in 50 of us respond (cable upgrade? charity? alumni association?)

I hear the author speaking to me and feel a twinge of guilt, but you know, driving is oh so convenient.

[Will]

I agree with that to a certain extent. I would add that we don't live in a pure capitalistic society. What we really have is corporatism--where free competition is stifled by corporate dominance of our political institutions.

In a truly capitalistic society, we wouldn't be giving out subsidies to oil companies.

[davoscat]

nouveau retro pop-rock

That's a lot of twists and turns Greg.

[Greg]

Originally Posted by davoscat

nouveau retro pop-rock

That's a lot of twists and turns Greg.

Yes. Yes, it is....

[beansac]

Honestly, I'm not quite sure. Capitalism says that if you wanna live your life, do it! What is wrong with that? A book I recommend is "Free to Choose" by the Nobel Prize winner, Milton Friedman, who singlehandedly introduced free markets to South America.

[rstlne]

I think it's because people want something for nothing and capitalism doesn't let you get away with that very often, whereas government is always there with handouts.

[Gootsy]

That's a pretty good read. Makes some good points, but I think it's a lot more complicated than that.

Hmmm, it reminds me of a quote, "Propaganda is to Democracy, what violence/war is to a dictatorship. " Something like that. And since Capitalism = democracy... hehehe.

[Gootsy]

*ghetto edit* I thought about the quote, and I think it's not "violence or war". It's "...fear is to a dictatorship".

Hmmm now I want to find the exact quote .

[rolltimer]

I don't hate capitalism, at least, not as defined by Wikipedia: "where the means of production are privately owned and operated for profit." Who should I want to have ownership rights--the government? Not my government or anybody else's for that matter. And if it's not privately owned by individuals or privately owned by corporations (made up of individual and corporate stockholders), it has to be government owned. Capitalism means I can be an owner. You can be an owner. And who doesn't do what they do, whether they work for an employer or work for themselves, for a profit? Your profit for your production as an employee is your paycheck. People will use less resources, if and when, it becomes profitable for them to do so. If electricity equals nuclear power equals bad, are you really going to shut off your electric heat pump this winter and watch your children turn blue from the cold? Going to quit your job because you've got to burn some foreign oil to get there? No, you'll find ways to cut back, save some money because you're frugal and it is profitable for you if you can do so.