In Defense of Capitalism & Free Markets

[AgainstTheMachine]

Wow ... capitalism thrives? and where are all the middle class manufacturing jobs? ... We don't even make blue jean fabric in the USA any more

 

[orogenicman]

Wow ... capitalism thrives? and where are all the middle class manufacturing jobs? ... We don't even make blue jean fabric in the USA any more

Competition, dude. It's the capitalist way. You didn't know this? Hmm.

 

[dahermit]

As conservatives are quick to point out, our government is one of the strongest in the world, if not the strongest. Yet capitalism thrives.

No, "corporatism" thrives (ala "Food Inc."), with government favoritism, subsidies, etc. The small capitalistic concerns are forced from business and corporations thrive at the expense of the American people.

 

[orogenicman]

No, "corporatism" thrives (ala "Food Inc."), with government favoritism, subsidies, etc. The small capitalistic concerns are forced from business and corporations thrive at the expense of the American people.

So don't favor them or give them subsidies. They will still thrive. I can live with that. Can you? Or are you afraid we can't stand up to fair competition?

 

[GenSeneca]

No, "corporatism" thrives (ala "Food Inc."), with government favoritism, subsidies, etc. The small capitalistic concerns are forced from business and corporations thrive at the expense of the American people.

Very well said. I would only add that the politicians and poiltical parties that confer these favors on corporations equally thrive at the expense of the American people. Corporate campaign donations are used to legally bribe politicians and political parties into giving the largest donors a legislative advantage over their competition and it can even buy them political protection from government oversight and watchdogs groups.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or preventing the free exercise thereof; it should be clear to all of us why it is in everyones best interest to prevent the partnership of Church and State. The American people face the same kind of threat with the partnership of Corporation and State but too few of us are demanding the same "wall of separation" be put into place.

 

[GenSeneca]

Balderdash. A "strong government" is the antithesis of capitalism

As a political philosophy, capitalism calls for a strong government strictly limited to protecting individual rights.

further, the idea of capitalism, merely an economic system, violating individual rights, is like saying gravity needs a strong government so it won't violate individual rights.

Capitalism is a political philosophy, the Free Market is the economic system of Capitalism. It is the anti-capitalists who claim that Capitalism and Free Markets can manifest themselves into physical forms in order to violate individual rights. The purpose of having a strong government strictly limited to protecting individual rights is to punish and/or prevent individuals from violating individual rights.

 

[GenSeneca]

Yet capitalism thrives.

What exactly do you consider "Capitalism" to be?

 

[Rick]

As conservatives are quick to point out, our government is one of the strongest in the world, if not the strongest. Yet capitalism thrives.

Go get de-toxed from the koolaid - US under obozo is rapidly declining into a libfascist state - calling it "capitalist" is a real howler. One thing I'll say for obozo - he kep his word in saying that he would "transform" america.

 

[Rick]

Very well said. I would only add that the politicians and poiltical parties that confer these favors on corporations equally thrive at the expense of the American people. Corporate campaign donations are used to legally bribe politicians and political parties into giving the largest donors a legislative advantage over their competition and it can even buy them political protection from government oversight and watchdogs groups.

Corporations play the game that leftwingers have created - it's that or perish. I'm all for ending government's role in selecting the winners and losers in the marketplace.

 

[Rick]

As a political philosophy, capitalism calls for a strong government strictly limited to protecting individual rights.

The problem, obviously, is using the ambiguous phrase "strong government". What does that mean? An expansive government? A government with an endless growing volume of regulation and taxation? Look at what you're saying - "strong government strictly limited" - a self-contradiction.

 

[GenSeneca]

The problem, obviously, is using the ambiguous phrase "strong government". What does that mean? An expansive government? A government with an endless growing volume of regulation and taxation? Look at what you're saying - "strong government strictly limited" - a self-contradiction.

Strong as in the opposite of weak and ineffective. Strong as in fully capable of fulfilling it's obligation of protecting the individual rights of all Americans.

 

[orogenicman]

As a political philosophy, capitalism calls for a strong government strictly limited to protecting individual rights.



Capitalism is a political philosophy, the Free Market is the economic system of Capitalism. It is the anti-capitalists who claim that Capitalism and Free Markets can manifest themselves into physical forms in order to violate individual rights. The purpose of having a strong government strictly limited to protecting individual rights is to punish and/or prevent individuals from violating individual rights.

Do try to get your definitions right.

"Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of production are privately owned and operated for a private profit; decisions regarding supply, demand, price, distribution, and investments are made by private actors in the market rather than by central planning by the government; profit is distributed to owners who invest in businesses, and wages are paid to workers employed by businesses."

 

[Rick]

No, "corporatism" thrives (ala "Food Inc."), with government favoritism, subsidies, etc. The small capitalistic concerns are forced from business and corporations thrive at the expense of the American people.

You seem to grasp that it's >>GOVERNMENT<< involvement in the market (favoritism, subsidies) that causes the problems, but "capitalism" (which encompasses no such involvements) is blamed. As is always the case, from the Great Depression, to the S&L crisis of the 1980s to the present recession, >>GOVERNMENT<< is the cause.

 

[orogenicman]

You seem to grasp that it's >>GOVERNMENT<< involvement in the market (favoritism, subsidies) that causes the problems, but "capitalism" (which encompasses no such involvements) is blamed. As is always the case, from the Great Depression, to the S&L crisis of the 1980s to the present recession, >>GOVERNMENT<< is the cause.

So goverment REGULATION caused the housing collapse, the banking collapse, the stock market collapse? I think not. De-regulation and corporate Greed in those sectors caused the current economic decline, not the government.

 

[Rick]

So goverment REGULATION caused the housing collapse, the banking collapse, the stock market collapse? I think not. De-regulation and corporate Greed in those sectors caused the current economic decline, not the government.

You are just regurgitating slogans and talking points inseminated into your brain with no intellectual contraception available to you. Without a doubt, all were caused by market distortions created by the liberal/left.