Is American cut-throat captialism good for humanity?

Question

We act one way (with greed) in business and then the opposite in community (sharing) and charity(caring). Is this a good holistic approach?

I love you Lori. :) This is not hate speech. Just a quesiton to explore ourselves and our individual actions when combined with the many.

Answer 1

ah, capitalism is not another word for greed. Let us define capitalism as the ability to make a profit in a free-market, doing whatever one wants to do. I someday want to grow blueberries and sell them at farmer's markets- yes, it's true. I could grow the blueberries and sell them at what it cost me to buy the seeds, fertilizer, protective mesh, and price out my labor, but if I keep breaking even, what is my motivation for selling those blueberries- which are hard to find grown locally or in-state? If I was retired, and didn't need any extra income, sure I might do it out of charity. If I put the price a little over what my operating costs were, and I make 10 to 15 dollars that day selling my blueberries, THAT is very good motivation for me to keep supplying blueberries to the farmers market. If I charge too much for my berries, people wont buy them, which is what is wonderful about a free market.- it regulates price. (btw if you let government regulate the price of things, it all goes downhill from here, see the '70's gasoline price controls or the country of Russia under the economic principle of socialism- yikes!) Profit is not an evil word my friends, it is a good incentive in business and economic practices- we all have to make money to pay our bills and buy necessities- its a fact.
However, this is not a good incentive or practice in community and charity, as these are done "not for profit"- and not for personal gain, but out the kindness and goodness of our hearts. In conclusion, practicing "capitalism" in business and "socialism" in our personal lives is a very holistic approach to having a great society and nation.

Answer 2

Capitalism is not a perfect system.

It's simply better than anything else humans have come up with.

Now that things are becoming more globalized, both the good and bad sides of capitalism are being seen more clearly.

The economy is healthy, but at what cost?

Many of the poor can now work for a fair wage worldwide, but where will this lead?

Capitalism is not perfect, but it's the best we've got so far.

Answer 3

I see a lot of good and bad being said here, overall capitalism is good. The negatives come from large corporations who cheapen the value of life and labor in order to make big profits. On an individual basis American's are good people with a high moral code, who have reaped the benefits of a capitalist society. A few of the large corporations are the ones who put capitalism in a negative light, this is a problem that still is being addressed and will continue to be addressed until the public feels that these corrupt individuals and companies are brought to justice.

Answer 4

Absolutely! All progress humanity has made can only be traced to greed, and capitalism is the freedom to be greedy. It may not always be greed for money, but greed for self-satisfaction. Workplace safety is essentially the greed of the masses calling out for a better environment.
Without greed, why would someone invent a computer and then mass-manufacture it? That's hard work! And when you look around, humanity is better off than it's ever been before. Entire nations are literate, democracy is flourishing (compared to other eras), and the people who are worst off in the world are doing better or equal compared to the people who were worst off 500 years ago. All of that's due to technology and freedom, which are both based in greed (one for money and one for satisfaction).
Consider, for example, that new straw they came out with that can purify a year's worth of water that will soon be easily and cheaply available in places that don't have a safe water supply. The guys that made those didn't throw all that time and money into it for humanity.

Answer 5

The entire premise of your question is biased.

You cannot be convinced in this because you already have an opinion, which is that American capitalism is bad.

Capitalism is akin to true freedom. Here we judge you by who you are, not by what your father did for a living. Here, there's a chance to make a life, to be your own master, not a slave to the caste or whims of your superiors.

However, capitalism depends on conscientious application of Christian principles. A so-called capitalist who takes advantage of others is no capitalist...he's an opportunist, practicer of usury, predator to the honest in heart. A capitalist who elevates the world by bringing a wider array of products into people's lives at prices they can afford, it is he who elevates humanity.

For example, consider Volkswagon: Originally, their premise was to provide a car for the people, one that everyone could afford. Now, they focus on flashy, shiny objectification of Fahrvergnuegung at the expense of availability.

A man must not give something away to be good for humanity. What you perceive as greed may actually be envy towards those whose vitality and thrift enabled them to succeed where you have fiscally failed.

Do not project your anger on an institution. Capitalism is only as perfect as the people who practise it.

Answer 6

As you obviously don't have a clue about the charitable donations made by Americans (which are the highest in the WORLD), perhaps you should actually take the time to figure out if what you are saying is true before you spew out something stupid like this.

I'd say that that makes American capitalism the BEST for humanity and humanitarian causes.

Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charitable causes last year, setting a record and besting the 2005 total that had been boosted by a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the Asian tsunami.
Donors contributed an estimated $295.02 billion in 2006, a 1% increase when adjusted for inflation, up from $283.05 billion in 2005. Excluding donations for disaster relief, the total rose 3.2%, inflation-adjusted, according to an annual report released Monday by the Giving USA Foundation at Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-25-charitable_N.htm

Giving historically tracks the health of the overall economy, with the rise amounting to about one-third the rise in the stock market, according to Giving USA. Last year was right on target, with a 3.2% rise as stocks rose more than 10% on an inflation-adjusted basis.

"What people find especially interesting about this, and it's true year after year, that such a high percentage comes from individual donors," Giving USA Chairman Richard Jolly said.

Individuals gave a combined 75.6% of the total. With bequests, that rises to 83.4%.

As volunteers, Americans rank #2....only behind Australia...offering more than just money, but of themselves. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_mem_of_vol_org_cha-lifestyle-members-voluntary-organisations-charity

Facts are facts. I don't see YOU offering any REAL facts...just hate speech.

Answer 7

America's capitalism has burst its box and tethers , and is OUT OF CONTROL... It started at the Boston tea party...

America is now spending Life's support system's resources for Money, trampling all life in its way, leaving none but a wake of death and destruction, and christinsanity...
Essentially religion's money is spending life, till there is nothing but treasure on this little ball of floating space-rock covered with tons of the half buried sun bleached bones of our extinct species...

If we don't quickly learn to live without Money, soon Money will have eaten us all up...

Answer 8

There is such a thing as "cut-throat capitalism"; however, most capitalism is definitely "good", "above-board" and to be admired.
Your question points to a lack of understanding of the system. Get some good books on capitalism; even some old college texts and STUDY it.
American capitalism, by itself, has lifted the entire world out of its dark ages.

Answer 9

No, not really. Because, really, our social work and charities have very paltry results in comparison to how much we bring down others and the environment. Due to capitalism, we have children-run sweatshops scattered all over the world, we have people in our own country who work three shifts a day and still can't make ends meet, the planet is slowly turning into a giant curry...

Answer 10

There is nothing at all wrong with capitalism. Without this drive for profits there would be no business. Without business there would be no jobs and we would all be living in abject squalor.

The profits that are generated from capitalism allow taxes to be paid which, in turn, allow less fortunate people to be assisted. No taxes = no public spending.

For the alternative, you have to look no further than Stalinist Russia.

It is down to those of us who have enough, or more than enough, to choose to use our wealth to assist our communities or to provide charity.

Please look at the amounts of humanitarian aid provided by your "cut-throat" capitalist countries and also look at the altruistic donations made by some of the USA's richest men (Bill Gates for one). Without the profits he has made in business, there would be no donations would there?