What does it mean to live in a Capitalistic system? what are some of the negative sides?

Question

and why is it that it encourages people to think only of themselves, either you make it to the top or you loose, why this kind of mentality?

sorry, english is not my mother tounge

Answer 1

Look at the article on Capatilism on Wikipedia.org for exact information.

I think capatilism was intended to inspire people to work hard and do their best. Now, though, just like any social system, it has become corrupt. Now, it's less about doing your best and working hard and more about doing whatever it takes to get to the top.

Answer 2

Thinking only for yourself is human nature... that's why Capitalism works. It is idealistic to think that we should all be treated the exact same way... we are not all the same, and we shouldn't be treated as such.

One doesn't have to make it to the top in order to be successful. It's not an all-or-nothing deal with capitalism. Many don't make it to the top, and would not consider themselves as a loser.

Capitalism rewards creativity. Capitalism rewards success. Capitalism rewards progress.

The downside is that some people work hard for something that ends up being unsuccessful. They may throw their life and money into a new business that does not grow, and eventually dies. It is hard for the individual to live through those kinds of events, but as a whole, society is better without having a business that is unsuccessful.

Answer 3

Capitalist societies encourage competition. Socialist societies encourage conformation.
The USA is a capitalist society and has worldwide respect for maintaining a good economy, and some kind of social support for the poor. We are becoming better at healthcare.
We were always advanced at education.
Socialist societies emphasize education, healthcare, and a democratic way of life. France is a good example of a socialist society, although their elections sometimes change regulations.
The Oriental countries are becoming more capitalist, especially in the electronics industry. They have entered new fields, including pharmaceutical products.
Capitalism involves taking chances, and in taking these risks, people do think of themselves, the fortunes they have to gain, and the price they pay if they lose.
A sad element of our capitalist society is it isn't carefully regulated. The death of Kenneth Lay (of Enron, not Frito=Lay) close to my birthday, grieved me, because he was one of the men chosen to take the blame for the bookkeeping practices of the company, Enron. I hear they are recovering. In a capitalist society, these risks are there, and these things can happen. In a socialist society, the books would be reviewed by a government regulations committee, and this would never have happened.
Many lives were enriched by Enron, and one husband and wife team, have alternating sentences to care for their family, so their children aren't abandoned to the system, parentless. There is compassion in the system, although some people are so motivated to succeed in our capitalist society, and spend years of their lives dedicated to this success, the failure isn't viewed in a matter of years, it is the end of the achievement of a lifetime.
I prefer capitalism, there is freedom, and I am so careful with bookkeeping.

Answer 4

the advantage of capitalism, is that it rewards doing things for others, making the society possible for humans.

Communism assumes you will get the best work out of people because they want to help others. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

It works great for ants and honeybees, humans just can't help underacheving and taking just a leeeeeeeetle more than they need.

The right way to become rich in a capitalist country is to provide a product that people need, and provide meaningful employment to lots of ppl.

The downside is that if people have their eyes only on the profit it is easy to justify horriffic things like $29 overdraft fees.