Where is capitalism going?

Question

Is it working? Is it sustainable? What will we do after it and what will the world be like? Your insights and thoughs please!

Answer 1

I think Capitalism has many forms. What we see in America and most parts of Asia is an unfettered ungoverned free market system that has a tendency to be highly expolitative.

The problem with Capitalism and capital is that it has no morals of its' own- capital functions preuly to seek more capital.
Thus in a society where morals dictate issues of justice, fair play, non-monopolistic trade practices, a fair wage, price fixing/hiking etc- it must be regulated.

Capitalism functions best when regulated and harnessed for the benefit of all society rather than the elite few who control.
Capitalism is not really a political dogma or even an ideology it's more of a phenomena. Any trade can be described as capitalistic- therefore even under communism aspects of capitalism were widespread.
It has existed since man traded in some form or another and it will be with us perpetually, I am sure, in some form.

I think in the future we're all slowly moving to an minimally regulated US-style version of capitalism and unfortunateoly we are giong to see increasing in non-competitive monopolies and hugely powerful businesses.
An example- the US Dow Jones company is acticvely purchasing international stock markets- how then can the stock market be regulated fully? Wil there be more insider trading?
Another example HSBC- purchasing the largest share in the huge Chinese state bank OCBC- a move to consolidate and capture a captive market in China.

I think capitalism works best when there is a huge dynamic vital variety of companies competing rather than a few highly influential corporations.
Additionally- small to medium business employs far more people than the large business sector. And it pays more tax.

But the huge but is- large corporations as individual entities pay more money to political parties.
So what we need is a total ban on party funding- it could all easily be provided from tax revenue. This would move to ensure the government acts in the best interest of its tax base which is small to medium companies- which employ the most people- and then we would see far less exploitative and highly questionable behaviour from corporations.
A prime example being US Halliburton- with one foot in the White House- calling shots, influencing decisions they are making billions of dollars.
Ban this kind of corrupt funding- the Halliburtons and BP's will be forced to compete.

Answer 2

I don't think we have capitalism anymore. The degree to which government promotes and subsidizes private business makes our system a form of "corporate statism" comparable to those examples found in Latin American dictatorships and certain European nations during the 1920s and 30s. We do not have a free market - we don't even produce goods and services here anymore. We artificially support our markets with huge tax breaks for the largest "competitors," selective contract awards, and outright kickbacks. Retiring administration officials routinely take positions in the private sector in return for favors granted during their tenure in public office. Under capitalism, this would be considered graft. Eventually, corporate statism is bound to fail, because it doesn't reward hard work, or meet the needs of the public. It causes wars, in order to funnel taxpayers' money into the hands of the defense contractors who typically prop up the leadership of a corporate state. Italy and Germany had to be defeated by the Allies, but in Latin America, right-wing governments more often fall to revolutions. Predicting what will happen to the U.S. is difficult, but I hope we can solve the problem non-violently, and settle into a regulated form of capitalism with social safety nets, like they have in most other modern, industrialized nations, such as Canada, Britain, Holland, Sweden, etc. That's where capitalism went.

Answer 3

Remember the "Golden Rule" he who makes the gold, makes the rules. It takes money to make money. I hate to inform you of this but capitalism as an economic system works and has worked for over 4 centuries. Socialism on the other hand has lasted a little over 1. If you study the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of capitalist countries you'll find that they have much stronger national economies than socialist countries. Contrary to socialist belief there is no such thing as a "free lunch" any book about economics will tell you that.

Answer 4

Do you mean Capitalism or Democracy?

Capitalism is simply the act of making money through whatever means. In fact the modern ideology of capitalism is from the British Empire. Saddam had the purest type of Democracy since he was willing to do anything and EVERYTHING for his own profits. That is capitalism my friend.

Answer 5

look up "the fabian society" they layed down a plan to control the world with one government back in 1772 in england and a lot of past and present day leaders in politics today around the world are members of this group. there story is on the net ".yours granpop"

Answer 6

It's going to the corporations. And no, it's not sustainable in it's present form.

Answer 7

Use to be ' to hell in a handbasket', but these days gas is too expensive to go that far and potatos on the couch cannot afford chips either.

Answer 8

its sustainable only if the electorate understand tax and spend extremists like the pelosi reid regime are out to destroy it. confiscatory taxes to fund failed welfare spending schemes and retreat through cut and run to a non forgiving enemy are definitely not ways to preserve the strength and future of the united states.

Answer 9

The rich get richer and the poor can just lump it.

Answer 10

capitalism is going cos we are all using small letters instead of using the shift and caplock keys