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In reply to the discussion: Capitalism is NOT a dirty word. [View all]Laelth
(32,017 posts)182. I don't disagree with you.
I have serious ethical problems with the fact that everything in a capitalist society is a commodity to be bought and sold. How to escape this model, however, eludes me.
My point was that until we devise a reasonable and reachable alternative, we're better off working within the system we have. Highly regulated capitalism, it seems to me, is the best we can do at the moment. That, actually, is why I call myself a liberal.
-Laelth
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So trashing it publicly will get the slower students to re-think it and do what exactly?
LionsTigersRedWings
Mar 2014
#12
So you would like to see what to OP talks about, Capitalism with liberal laws in place to
LionsTigersRedWings
Mar 2014
#25
Have you considered it's the political apparatus and not the economic apparatus that's to blame?
kristopher
Mar 2014
#85
I don't think it would make much if any difference in our propaganda drenched society
Fumesucker
Mar 2014
#235
See? You're trashing socialism. It's not black & white. That is why people need to re-think
loudsue
Mar 2014
#32
I think a lot of people throw around the word "socialism" without knowing what it means.
Laelth
Mar 2014
#47
Liberal socialism (like they have in some European countries) is just liberalsim.
Laelth
Mar 2014
#117
Capitalism is an unjust means of dividing resources. That seems pretty "dirty" to me.
MNBrewer
Mar 2014
#6
I would agree, and that lack of critical examination has gotten us to this paradise, called
MNBrewer
Mar 2014
#16
Sharecropping (a concentration of wealth) has been a major feature of capitalism.
cprise
Mar 2014
#254
Its core value of reducing everything, including humans, to a commodity can be explicitly rejected.
rug
Mar 2014
#218
When exploiting the earth and the people to fashion unnecessary comforts to be...
NoOneMan
Mar 2014
#20
See? That's just ignorant as hell. Like it is supposed to be some dogma that everyone can live by.
loudsue
Mar 2014
#36
worker control of the means of production was the norm before the industrial revolution....
mike_c
Mar 2014
#174
that's not at all what I said, but you're also demonstrating quite a bit of misunderstanding...
mike_c
Mar 2014
#351
I was wondering that myself, but I thought maybe I'd just missed the memo.
Dark n Stormy Knight
Mar 2014
#207
I'm more of a democratic socialist. Though one fellow writer describes it as "Left Libertarian"
villager
Mar 2014
#186
Very interesting post, JHB. And you can see how they were able to successfully
loudsue
Mar 2014
#269
What are liberal laws? I don't see the word 'regulation' in your post, is that what you mean?
Avalux
Mar 2014
#31
The point is that the use of public resources has to go towards benefiting the whole.
NuclearDem
Mar 2014
#113
"There is a difference between "private property" and "personal property". Most important post ^ n/t
Catherina
Mar 2014
#375
an oligarchy that meets the needs of all the people." is perhaps the most fanciful statement ever
TheKentuckian
Mar 2014
#370
You think the oligarchs are the office holders? No wonder we have a failure to communicate.
TheKentuckian
Mar 2014
#378
Well, if the oligarchs are beyond election then I'm missing the "how" to get benign ones
TheKentuckian
Mar 2014
#380
That was well written and you know what? I substantially agree with you.
TheKentuckian
Mar 2014
#382
Some times I pray that armies of true Progressives would become business owners
bluestate10
Mar 2014
#250
I thought we had pretty much all agreed on a mixed approach by now?
ForgoTheConsequence
Mar 2014
#48
I don't say that something that hasn't been tried should never be tried...
brooklynite
Mar 2014
#116
I really had no idea the northern European countries were small settlements
nadinbrzezinski
Mar 2014
#121
It's not a fantasy word, it's a political PHILOSOPHY, not a hard-wired SYSTEM.
sibelian
Mar 2014
#80
I don't think anyone equates "Public Sector" with "socialism" as an economic structure.
brooklynite
Mar 2014
#98
Cool! I'll check into these. It's looking to me as if capitalism can only lead in one direction
Sarah Ibarruri
Mar 2014
#112
Also, theoretically, capitalism will always result in monopolies in the end
laundry_queen
Mar 2014
#157
Good thread and post. Trashing capitalism is cool, particularly if you don't understand it...
Demo_Chris
Mar 2014
#69
I agree. In the public debate, we need to talk more about ETHICAL Capitalism,
Common Sense Party
Mar 2014
#75
My suggestion is to transition away from capitalism, rather than accede to it.
Maedhros
Mar 2014
#308
"to limit the accumulation and concentration of capital," is essential!
Dark n Stormy Knight
Mar 2014
#199
But, when it combines with government to run the country it becomes Fascism. Which is a dirty word.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Mar 2014
#78
Yes, that's my understanding of the word fascism, or, "corporatism" as Moussolini called it.
Laelth
Mar 2014
#304
It's a dirty word when America decides it's policy is to promote it by murder.
Spitfire of ATJ
Mar 2014
#125
The Exxon Valdez spill was an avoidable accident, neccessary equipment was left
Bluenorthwest
Mar 2014
#315
The system I want needs no regulation to prevent the rich from abusing the 99%.
fasttense
Mar 2014
#279
But capitalism caused the Gilded Age as much as it has caused the current crisis.
fasttense
Mar 2014
#371
Laelth, a sane, just, and humane capitalism appears to be out of our reach.
Enthusiast
Mar 2014
#154
I am open to discussing your definition of socialism as soon as you produce it. n/t
Laelth
Mar 2014
#224
No offense, but it is true. I see that mistake made all the time here in Texas by RWingers.
Rex
Mar 2014
#212
I see that now and appreciate the elaboration, which makes (for me) your OP make a lot more sense.
Rex
Mar 2014
#326
Seems like a good time to post this. Didn't see it posted in this thread yet.
redqueen
Mar 2014
#213
From what I read above, some on the left might lop off your head for daring ...
JoePhilly
Mar 2014
#214
I mostly agree with you. It the fetishizing of unfettered capitalism that creates economic chaos
Bucky
Mar 2014
#232
The problem is that any criticism of capitalism is considered communistic by people who love
liberal_at_heart
Mar 2014
#274
All talk about the success of capitalism is based on a small exceptional period
TheKentuckian
Mar 2014
#275
That's like saying slavery is not the problem, it just needs better regulation.
grahamhgreen
Mar 2014
#285
Social democracy like they have in Western Europe is basically the best thing that's been tested...
Hippo_Tron
Mar 2014
#337