Do You Prefer Capitalism or Socialism?

I would agree that the system which builds resources is not only more sustainable, but of the most value to all involved.
One could use many analogies, but it's really quite simple. We are always competing in some way- with other people or businesses, with other nations, with life, trying to improve of condition.

The first requirement would be that each person do no harm to that effort- IF they will not act to improve it, at least don't act in ways that diminish it.
If you CAN'T contribute improvement, then it's rational for the system to assist you. If you WON'T contribute improvement, then it's irrational to subsidize you in any way.

One first needs to realize that a business IS NOT a social service agency that exists as a nanny to make you comfortable. Follow that with the fact that an employee of a business IS A PERSON IN BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES. Your employer is YOUR CUSTOMER, not your owner. He is buying your services for a mutually agreed on price, and you are free to sell those services anywhere you can at any price you can get. Just as you shop for the best value for anything you buy- so does your employer. He's doing nothing that you are not doing, and IF you are really selling your services for less than you are worth- why don't you find a new customer?

The differences are that where you find one customer and sell to him for years, the average business has to find thousands of new customers every year. While you get many extras and benefits paid for by your customer as fringe benefits, they get none from theirs. While they thank their customers for the business and work hard to please them every time, most employees never thank their employer, and often don't give a damn about their welfare at all. An employee could become an investor or part owner in most businesses, but that chance of gain also entails chance of loss... so most wont.
It's a long list but it all balances the same way- the employee has a very preferential position that is rarely appreciated.

The average new business has only a 50% chance of surviving for 5 years, a 10% chance of surviving 10 years. The owners have often put up everything they had to try. There is no unemployment; if you fail, you fail big-time. I know, I've been there. 53 years owning businesses has given me at least some understanding of how things work. IF you succeed, it is probably because you have become exceptional at what you do- and unlike being an employee there is always some other company coming after you if you appear to be making too much money.

A business exists by pleasing it's customers, producing what they want at a price they are willing to pay- and being efficient enough to pay all the bills and still make a profit. In return for that risk, they take all the risks, while employees take none.

Business does not "extract" value from workers- it tries to buy it, and often as not gets poor value and bad attitudes in return. A business is dependent on customers, and it is dependent on employees. IF you cannot find either one and still profit, you go bankrupt. If you do an average job of management- you make a living. A few will make outstanding money, in return for providing products or services the entire nation benefits from, and at the same time providing benefit and incomes to thousands of people- (employees) who are USING that business to deal with all the more complex issues of selling their services, so they don't have to.

The obvious answer when a person thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence- is to get on the other side of the fence, and help themselves to all that green "easy" money.
Nothing like walking in the shoes of those you criticize to give you perspective.

 

You missed a fact- that being that such systems invariably result in equality, in the form of poverty for all.

 

Trump left office with the LOWEST GDP of any modern President, and it was under 3.0% average even before Covid. And I remember
the conservatives howling on this site that a GDP under 3% growth rate was ABSOLUTE proof that Obama was a terrible President.

 

The GI Bill and The Homestead Act created middle class generational wealth. Both big government give-aways.

 

You missed something. Warpspeed was not dependent on it's performance- everyone paid for it, because of necessity. We will never know how much it costs, but you can bet it's outrageous. The primary issues that made it necessary were the government procedures that usually force drug development to take 10 years, and put the developers at great risk. By changing those rules and giving guarantees and protections to business, it was successful in the objective of speeding things up. That could happen with a thousand things right now, simply by reducing our regulations- which are the most extensive in the world about everything. Nothing to do with capitalism vs socialism, but a matter of improving efficiency by getting out of the way.

 

Nope, not at all.

 

That is 100% inane.

 

Capitalist greed sent most of our manufacturing overseas in search of cheaper labor and low wages with no benefits. Greed conquers all !!!

 

Nope.

 

Don't understand yet, or just enjoy being obstinate?
Go to Venezuela. I worked on a contract there for a month when socialism first began to disintegrate. Martial law declared the day I flew in, 500 people killed in riots in Caracas. That was 30 years ago, things have continued downhill. Their money is worthless, people are starving, even selling children to keep them alive.

Fact is that around the world, poor people are getting richer with the help of capitalism and the technological revolution. From 2000 to 2012, the rate of absolute poverty in the world fell by 50%. Unparalleled in human history. The fact some whine is just noise, not fact.

 

Because of what? And why does greater income inequality mean a shrinking middle class?

 

Of course you ignore everywhere else.

 

94% inane. The GI Bill????? It wasn't even a pipe dream when the middle class was created.

 

Might as well just ask if you prefer socialism or facism. It would be a more honest question.

 

Capitalism gave us chattel slavery. Prove me wrong.

 

Another question: do you prefer Haitian capitalism or China socialism?

 

I prefer capitalism with some socialism, but a capitalist system that will achieve a steady state economy with no economic growth that stays at sustainable levels, which we are way above at the moment. Energy that comes in is balanced with energy going out, with the economy no longer based on debt, but instead based directly on the exchange of energy.

 

You are confusing dictatorship, where THE GOVERNMENT has the ultimate power, which can be socialist or capitalist with different types of economy. In socialism the means of production are own by the state, in capitalism the means of production can be owned by private people.

 

The words "around the world" is ignoring everybody else? Who? martians? non-humans living on earth wearing human skins? Flying pigs? Or perhaps libs who think they are superior and exempt from the rules the rest of us live nby?

 

What's your definition of CAPITALISM?

 

Exactly!

Fifth Grade Knowledge.....


Capitalism; Private ownership of means used to produce and deliver goods and services

Socialism; Public ownership of means used to produce and deliver goods and services

NOTE: Republicans have long labelled K-12 public education as SOCIALISM, and they are CORRECT!

K-12 Public Education; Means used to deliver services; Public buildings, Public Financing, Curriculum, Books, Computers, Qualified staff.

QUESTIONS:

What about NASA?

What about the Government Agencies, Government Labs, Government Scientists who helped develop Moderna's vaccine candidate.....Private or Public ownership?

Sometimes Republicans are sooooooo phooken___________!

 

Gee Whiz ... I sure hope you don't actually think any of those things are 'socialism'. Because that would be funny!

 

What's your definition of capitalism?

 

It doesn't matter who owns the profit-driven enterprise (a bunch of shareholders/employees, or one person), if it's a profit-driven enterprise it's capitalism.

Socialism and Capitalism are ECONOMIC models, remember.

 

Enterprise for profit.

With a side of individual discretional wealth, rather than common purse.