Calling all anti-capitalists...?

Question

Why do you dislike capitalism? What is a better system and where is it implemented and working well?

Answer 1

Al Cracka - The nature of capitalism is that it's free and unregulated. So, your argument doesn't make any sense. Obviously, you do have a problem with capitalism. It'd be like if I said, "I have no problem with socialism, except for the redistribution of wealth." As far as companies doing "anything" to maximize profits, that's why we have laws against force and fraud. So, nobody, including companies, can do just "anything." If a company lies to you, that's fraud. If you're injured, the company is legally culpable. If you don't like the bovine growth hormone or anything else, then you're able to spread information and boycott. There's nothing more free market than a boycott.

Nick F - Capitalism doesn't result in monopolies. Monopolies result from government protection of certain industries and companies. When the government grants legal and exclusive privilege to an organization or a person or a company, in addition subsidies sometimes, that's a monopoly. In the free market, with no protections, no tariffs, and no subsidies, companies are always in danger of collapsing. In a free market, nobody is absolutely immune from market fluctuations. But if the government artificially shields you and subsidizes you, then you can stay alive a lot longer than you should. This is when monopolies emerge - NOT in a free market. Examples of monopolies: medical licensing, legal licensing, roads, government-run municipal services, etc.

correrafan - Actually, Lord Acton said that, not Nietzsche. As I pointed out in my last paragraph, it's just the opposite. ALL competition does not lead to a monopoly. And how could you possibly know that? Obviously, even a casual look at current events and history would prove that that's untrue. A "balanced economy" is when a government protects industry from competition through subsidies, tariffs, and other legal privilege, resulting in some companies being bigger and more powerful than they should. Monopolies occur when the government gets involved in the economy, not when companies are left out in the wild.

Answer 2

capitalism does not exist anywhere in the world actually

at best it's a blend of capitalism and socialism

pure capitalism just results in worker exploitation and monopolies, the government has to intervene to keep it competitive

the USA for ex. is not capitalist, it's heavily regulated capitalism with some socialism

if you had any understanding of economics, you would know all this

Answer 3

Well, the Republicans have been bragging about the economy in their new system of government subsidized corporatism- but I'm not convinced it's better than a free market.

Answer 4

I have no problem with Capitalism...I have a problem with unregulated Capitalism, as companies will do anything to maximize profits, causing injury and death to innocent people who use their products....look up bovine growth hormone and then go drink a big glass of milk.

Answer 5

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." -- Friedrick Nietzsche

Unless regulated, ALL competition eventually ends in monopoly. Under monopoly conditions, buyers pay more, and get less, than in a competitive market. (Economics 101)