Do people still think that capitalism and the free market are a good idea?

Question

Because I see the destruction and misery it causes and wonder how people can possibilly champion a system that feeds off our baser instints of greed and selfishness ?

Answer 1

Yes they are great ideas, just like communism is a great idea. It's just that they don't work so good in reality.

Answer 2

Destruction? Misery? In what way are these things caused by capitalism, and not by any other economic system?

Far from causing misery, capitalism creates wealth and prosperity. It should come as no surprise that the countries with the most economic freedom, like the USA, Canada, Ireland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, etc, are also the most prosperous. Countries at the low end of the economic freedom scale, like Cuba, North Korea, much of Africa, etc. are the economic basket cases where true "misery" really exists.

The beauty of capitalism is that it harnesses basic human nature. "Greed" as you call it is utilized in capitalism and makes it that in order for you to do well, you need to do well for others. You want to get rich? Great! But you've got to offer something of value like a new or better product or service to the public.

Check out the article I've linked to below that discusses the direct relationship between world poverty and economic freedom.

Answer 3

The free market is criminal because the strong rich countries like the U.S. and Europe do not practise FREE TRADE. They are protectionist(while allowing most manufacturing to outsource) They subsidize farmers obscenely. They follow only the rules they want. At the same time they force poor weak economies, farmers lucky to have a plow never ind all the high tech stuff of farms of the West, to follow the rule to the letter of the law. Any deviation can have punitive actions. These people are no longer allowed to eat the food they grow! It is for overseas markets then of course the U.S. dumps on them certain produce extremely cheap knocking them out of any competition.
Capitalism is a system that society glorifies and hails as hero's sociopaths. Great job Dunlop you put 1/4 million out of work that's great! We are only getting a glimpse of the impact all this has had on our most precious resources, totally neglected because every body is focused on Short term profits, Children suffer, infrastructure decays along with roads dams , Levi's.. You Know...Mary.

Answer 4

Capitalism is not perfect, but it is by far the most effective way of distributing out limited resources to the areas they are most needed.

How can you compare the historical track records of Capitalism and Socialism and then tell me that Capitalism causes destruction and misery?

Have you ever heard of the U.S.S.R.? How about the multiple starving countries in South America and Asia with state-run economies?

How many starving Capitalistic countries can you list?

Answer 5

Capitalisim is most compatable with human nature. All the other isims, comunisim, socialism, facisim, are not and therefore doomed to fail. When I think of all the destruction and misery caused by those following isims I wonder how anyone could ask such a damned fool question.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

take a look at last years GDP and get back to me...

Answer 8

I do

Answer 9

i do