Capitalism is destroying the planet. What is a better system?

Answer 1

True Capitalism no longer exists. Today's modern economies are regulated by governments. The Federal Reserve System, and the Treasury Department determine the availibility of money in the economy of the USA. Our economy is consumer driven, which makes the case for a consumption tax.

Overpopulation is destroying the planet.

Answer 2

Please do not be influenced left wing politics, which is a top down system, whereas, what we need, is a bottom up system (Capitalism & Democracy) Left wing governments have failed over and over again. I wonder how many more times that message will have to be repeated? The planet can look after itself, it has done so for five billion years, and will continue to do so whether we are here or not. All systems have to contain checks and balances, but capitalism has stood the test of time; it embraces democracy, competition, freedom of the individual to express and improve himself. All the other systems tend to be oppressive and restricts the individual from improving himself. Without this motivation nobody benefits, look at Communist Russia: they were all equally poor.

In general terms, under a capitalist system, the so called rich, only get richer because they have worked for it, or taken chances, so that; if the rich are getting richer, the less well off are also getting relatively better off. That is how it works, we have to have a system that complements human nature, so that we are motivated. We should not forget that there are far more business failures than successes. We are competitive by nature and lets not overlook the fact, that it is not only the Captains of Industry that make money, arguably, footballers, pop stars, actors et. al. make large amounts of money from less effort. But they never seem to be criticised.

Left wing politics creates an illusion of fairness, (in the eyes of the naive), in the sense that it focuses on sharing out the cake: trouble is, they have shot the baker.
Lefties use their politics like a demolitions expert uses a wrecking ball: ie. they know that it is useless as a way of running a country, but it is useful for bringing governments down (Anarchy). The politics of envy helps them in their quest, because all they really want is power, and are unable to achieve it, because their attitudes are the wrong ones to be successful in a capitalist society. That's why it appeals to many academics.

I agree that pollution needs to be controlled very carefully, but that would be true under any system. Green issues, particularly global warming, has been politicised and taken over by anti-capitalists and other groups, to the extent that their pronouncements cannot be trusted. Contentious opinion given out as fact, aided and abetted by the left wing media.

Was it Churchill that said, "Democracy is the worst of all systems", except for all the others. Capitalism can only flourish in a democratic society.

As I have stated above, pollution has to be checked, but if we are destroying the planet, it is not the fault of capitalism. Any system would require manufacturing industry, which would be just as likely to produce pollution and global warming as any other system. It is the checks and balances that are important. What about Chenobryl? the Russian nuclear disaster which occured a few years ago.

Answer 3

Capitalism, or free enterprise with minimal government intervention, seems to be the prevailing economic system in the world at the moment. And, on the other hand, income gaps are increasing dramatically, people are dying due to starvation, pollution is increasing and some say threatening environment in such a way as to cause terrible damage.

First of all, are we really in a free enterprise system with minimal government intervention? Think of the bargaining/threatening at the WTO, the subsidies in 'free trade capitalist economies' that will not go away, the 'your bananas are too curved to be bananas' barriers to trade, the 'your exports of cars are too high, my industry will collapse, so put a stop to it' arguments, the 'open up your sectors else you will not be allowed to join'... Is this minimal government intervention? No. Is this free enterprise? No.

Furthermore, many people assume free information flow and free competition under capitalism.

Is that the case? Why do PR companies command such high fees? Because spin-doctoring/propaganda/interpretating information is very important; hence creating a section of people who know what is going on, and the rest don't, internet or not.

Furthermore, with such huge conglomerates nowadays, helped by their respective governments, is there fair competition, or are our markets dominated by only a few (oligopoly)?

Bottomline, the system we are experiencing is not the capitalist system economists learn in school. The difference in types of firms, information availability and government intervention point to a very different system, where the entrenched powers will generally get stronger and the others generally have to submit.

A realistic better system would only occur when we, as consumers and labour, take it into our own hands to acquire proper information, think about it, and make decisions based on what we want. For example, I might decide to stop buying products from a company if the CEO is paid way too much (remember a chunk of the price I am paying goes to him/her), or the company dumps its wastes all over the place. As an individual, I make no difference, but if enough people act like me, then declining profits will give some cause for thought.

With active consumerism, we can change things.

But if we are all too lazy to do anything and wait for others to move, then the system will never change because those apparently in control will not relinquish it. (I say apparently because we have the power, but they use it.) And it will be the result we deserve.

Answer 4

I agree. A good starting point for answering your question (there is, of course, no simple or straightforward solution) may be found in the following sources. We need to get back in touch with our roots--back to our senses, back to the earth. Tribalism, I believe, is the way to go. It's not just capitalism that's destroying the planet--it's the whole androcentric, Western-imperialist, dominator culture (exemplified most acutely in the United States, but manifest throughout the world). Capitalism is a problem, sure, but the true root of all this evil lies in the delusion that we are all somehow separate from the living earth, and each other, and the universe in which we live. Ego--that's the problem. We need nothing short of a revolution in consciousness--and a tribal society (which is more of what we really need) will begin to take effect only when it is clear in our collective consciousness that we are all in this together--that the planet's health and survival is our collective responsibility. Beyond revolutionizing our very sick social structures, we need to look towards healing the planet. The shamans and other members of tribal societies have a thing or two to teach us about caring for our planet, and each other. Ego is the disease--capitalism is but a symptom of a much more deeply-rooted cancer. Any system leading towards tribalism and Buddhist principles of interdependence and compassion--these are the directions in which we, as a planet, ought to be heading.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Tribalism

http://deoxy.org/t_adt.htm#arc

Answer 5

Capitalism is NOT destroying the planet.

I also don't prefer to use the word "capitalism", which was originally a term of derision from Karl Marx, the founder of communism. I prefer to call it "free enterprise".

There is no better system, and even if one tries to install something different (such as communism), capitalism still exists in the background. It is not a system, as such, it is reality. People will always make trades and transactions that they believe are in their interest. You can't do away with that.

The idea of free enterprise is to allow people to make those trades without unreasonable government restraint. Any effort to do away with that will only impoverish millions and lead to mass starvation (as history has shown).

It isn't the economic system that destroys the planet. It is the choices that individuals make that are reflected in where we choose to spend our money. If you want to change the world, you need to educate individuals about making better choices for the planet. Changing the economic system can only lead to disaster.

Answer 6

I don't think there is a better system, but capitalism cannot continue unbridled. Capitalism has distanced itself from morality and without some moral designation it runs over people. The dignity of the person isn't taken into consideration unless you are a stockholder. There is no knowledge of how an investment affects people on the other end. That distance is what becomes destructive because if people knew, they would change their actions. Knowledge is the real power. Hey, that's good I'll have to write that down. Oh yeah, I did.

Answer 7

Human beings are destroying the planet. Human beings invented capitalism and communism and kings and religions. In due time the planet will invent a new system that does not include human beings - as it has done before.

Answer 8

I dont think Capitalism is destroying the planet...as with the old adage "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil". It's not the idea of Capitalism, it's the inherent greed it has created.

As was seen in Russia, Communism is no cure, Capitalism bringing with it democracy at least...

A move away from such a hedonistic and selfish society to one of sharing the vast resources we waste is the only way forward...still with a drive to be competitive Capitalistic markets, but ones that share an off-shoot of their success to those who are struggling to compete at all...

Answer 9

Is it power that corrupts the man or man that corrupts the power I believe the point here is. Capitalism practised objectively is a system that works just as Socialism is to but unfortunately greedy megalomaniacs use the system to their own ends which screws everything up. The most ideal person to run a country is a person who doesn't want to do the job!! In short were screwed!!

Answer 10

Capitalism is NOT destroying the planet.

I'd be interested to know where you live and if you work a job or have government employment.