Opinion of Capitalism

[H. Ross Peron]

Basically the question here is do you believe that some form of capitalism (ranging from anywhere from the laissez-faire Austrian School to Scandinavian social democracy) is the best economic system or at least to paraphrase Churchill, "the worst economic system except for all the others"? If you think so vote for the first option, if not vote for the second.

FE for me (Social Market Economy/Ordoliberalism)

[politicallefty]

FE in the context of a social democracy.

[Leftbehind]

Obviously HE.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Obviously HE.

[DC Al Fine]

FE in the context of a social democracy social market economy.

[Arturo Belano]

Obviously HE.

[TNF]

Horrible Economics.

We have now the power to end hunger, want, and privation for every last human being on the planet and yet we continue to instead allow a few people to scrounge all the benefits of our material progress while much of (if not most of) mankind lives ignorant and poor. Capitalism has outlived its usefulness to the human race and should, as all the systems that came before it, be discarded. We have outgrown it as a species and the time has come for us to move toward a social order based upon co-operation and justice.

[Goldwater]

Obviously FE.

[DC Al Fine]

the time has come for us to move toward a social order based upon co-operation and justice.

This sort of sentiment is why I will never be socialist despite sympathizing with some of their aims. There's just not enough cynicism about human nature.

[TNF]

the time has come for us to move toward a social order based upon co-operation and justice.

This sort of sentiment is why I will never be socialist despite sympathizing with some of their aims. There's just not enough cynicism about human nature.

I'm cynical about some aspects of human nature and not cynical about others. It's not entirely black and white, and I have no presuppositions that we're all going to be able to get along just fine and dandy if capitalism is substituted for socialism. The challenge is to funnel those disagreements and that self-interest into something that helps others, rather than puts a boot on or keeps a boot on the others' neck to satisfy one's individual needs and desires.

[bedstuy]

FE.  For me, the measure of a good economic system is whether it maximizes the aggregate welfare of society.  Capitalism serves that purpose the best because markets are the only way to efficiently distribute most goods and services.  Efficient distributions of good and services lead to surpluses.  Surpluses create resources for government to regulate, keep markets efficient and redistribute resources to create a fair society.

[TNF]

FE.  For me, the measure of a good economic system is whether it maximizes the aggregate welfare of society.  Capitalism serves that purpose the best because markets are the only way to efficiently distribute most goods and services.  Efficient distributions of good and services lead to surpluses.  Surpluses create resources for government to regulate, keep markets efficient and redistribute resources to create a fair society.

Socialism can do markets too, y'know.

I don't entirely disagree on the use of markets to distribute goods, but I do disagree entirely with the way that markets are used in the here and now. Honestly, I think any successful variety of socialism is going to have to have some kind of market mechanism for the distribution of goods for some period of time.

[Maxwell]

Obviously FE.

[TDAS04]

With certain restrictions, freedom economics. 

"Worst except all the others" is correct.  Capitalism is flawed, but the absence of capitalism would be worse.  Personally, I think that American Capitalism is a little too much (too few protections for the desperately poor), but it's better than societies with the opposite extreme. 

[Rooney]

Capitalism is an excellent economic system and the only kind I would ever want to live under. Shortages are rare and abundance is celebrated. Even in the midst of challenging economic times a person can still afford quality food and living spaces. There are no long lines for water bottles or toilet paper. Capitalism allows for a high standard of living. In fact, in allows for the expectation of a high standard of living. The fact that a good life is something to be expected by so many millions of people is the real testament to the success of capitalism. 

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

It is the only moral economic system.

[Leftbehind]

Capitalism is an excellent economic system and the only kind I would ever want to live under. Shortages are rare and abundance is celebrated. Even in the midst of challenging economic times a person can still afford quality food and living spaces. There are no long lines for water bottles or toilet paper. Capitalism allows for a high standard of living. In fact, in allows for the expectation of a high standard of living. The fact that a good life is something to be expected by so many millions of people is the real testament to the success of capitalism. 

lol shame it hasn't for the rest of the world.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Shortages are rare

That's meaningless when most people worldwide are unable to access the more than ample supply of decent healthcare/nutritious food/good education which is being hoarded by the ruling class. The crops produced in the USA and Europe could end starvation in Africa and South Asia right now, but instead most of it goes to feed cows and pigs. And that a fifth of American children are below the poverty line and millions are working full-time and still are in poverty while big corporations are raking in their biggest profits ever and we'll have trillionaires within half a century is simply criminal.

[free my dawg]

This thread in a nutshell:


Also FE

[Mechaman]

A truly immoral system.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Obviously HE.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Obviously FE.  It's better than the alternative after all.  Socialism looks good on paper, but it's a disaster in practice.

[Peter the Lefty]

HE.

[Marnetmar]

Freedom with proper oversight.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

A term with too much baggage.  I'm rarely clear on what people mean when they use the term, except that they are comparing it positively or negatively with something else that is also very often vague.