We need to move away from laissez-faire (a.k.a. predatory) capitalism.

[Cascadian]

This means those in the Democratic Party like Obama. No more free trade and no more bailing out banks. Ever since Reagan, everybody has had this illusion that if we give tax cuts to corporations and privatize everything, it will make America prosper. That so-called trickle-down theory. A theory that saw the beginnings of the end of the middle class. This belief was carried on by George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, George Jr., and now Obama via free-trade agreements and continuous lessening of the tax burden on the wealthy. I want to emphasize my contempt of Bill Clinton for embracing this notion of free-trade and this catering to the corporations that is still continuing to this day with Obama. I can expect such things from the Republicans but why should Democrats play that "me too" game? My contempt and anger is justified. The middle class as a whole will totally disappear within 5-10 years if the current trends continue. When will this attitude and actions end in our government to encourage such an overdose of capitalism?

We need to restore Keynesian policies or at least come up with a new, revamped free enterprise system. A system that benefits everybody from stockholders to the workers. I like the idea of cooperative capitalism or as it should be called "Capitalism with a human face." where the workers own a share in the company and have a say in the day-to-day operations of that company. A great successful example of that is the Tillamook Creamery in Oregon. The people involved have a share stake in the company and it is one of the most successful dairy companies in North America. America should also adopt a community based system called Mondragon. Mondragon is a loose federation of worker cooperatives in the Basque Community of Spain. It has been around since the 1950's and one of the most successful ventures in Europe. And best of all it does not involve any corporate fat cats at the top.Mandragon's business model is based on People and the Sovereignty of Labour, which has made it possible to develop highly participative companies rooted in solidarity and community action. I cannot think of a better, vital model for business in America and it is needed now more than ever.

To sum it all up, laissez-faire, Ayn Rand-inspired capitalism has hurt America more than it has made it thrive. Now if we can get our politicians interested in new ways of business (Cooperatives and Mondragon) then we can throw off this stupid, half-baked Free-Trade and trickle-down nonesense. Face it people! It is a success for only those on the top and a failure for all of us at the bottom. The only trickle-down I see are the rich urinating on us all. There's your trickle-down theory! Now we need to get Democrats on board to put an end to this!

John

[Cascadian]

1. I also would like to add the idea of apprenticeship and microloan programs.

For those who want to succeed in obtaining a skill and those who do want to start a business and get ahead in life. Both programs are successful too. Anything to advance people in this country is a benefit. It's good and sometimes necessary to think outside the box.


John

[Cascadian]

2. A couple of links on these topics and ideas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation


Institute of Cooperative Capitalism

http://www.ccus.info/


John

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I agree with you. We can all see that this economic experiment has failed.

It is time to look at other plans and theories for the economic future of the US.

With that said, I believe that we, the people, have the ability to make these changes on our own. We can refuse to participate as much as possible in this predatory capitalistic system. Buying from locally owned companies, supporting small business in our areas, using farmer's markets...all of these small steps can motivate more small businesses to set up shop. And we are the ones who would have to make community based systems work. We may not be able to stop this train, but we can rob it of fuel.

[BzaDem]

4. Oh yeah, Obama's a "laissez-faire, Ayn Rand-inspired" capitalist.

:sarcasm:

[Cascadian]

8. He's pro-free trade and bailed out the banks.

Explain why is that?


John

[AndyTiedye]

16. Bush Bailed Out the Banks

[stevenleser]

21. Not to mention that a Laissez-faireist would not bail out banks or the auto industry or

try to enact health care reform, or...

Obama is pretty far away from a Laissez-Fairist

[MadHound]

12. Actions speak louder than words,

One has but to look at Obama's actions to see the truth of that statement.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. There's going to be a problem with ANY economic system

that leaves the capitalists in charge. What we have today in this country is what capitalism IS in in purest form. And whenever capitalists are left in charge, they're going to fight for what we have now. Since they have all the money they have all the power. With all the power the capitalists get what they want. Which is close to what we have now.

Think of a Monopoly game. That's pure capitalism. One person winds up with everything and the rest bankrupt.

The only way the workers can benefit from capitalism is if they keep their foot on the throat of the capitalists BARELY allowing them to breathe. Any other way and we eventually wind up where we are now.

[AndyTiedye]

17. How Can You Call This Pure Capitalism With All the Corporate Welfare in the System?

[stevenleser]

23. We don't have anything close to capitalism in its purest form.

First of all, it is impossible to have anywhere near a pure form of capitalism, but that will take too long to explain.

Second, we have the military, post office, Americorps, Social Security, Medicaid, Unemployment, etc. We have millions of federal, state and local government workers. We have government owned roads, bridges, subway systems, etc. Just for starters.

A pure capitalist society would have none of those things.

[leftstreet]

6. You mean like...Regulated Capitalism?

:o

[Cascadian]

7. Well its better than out of control capitalism.

Like we have now.

John

[white_wolf]

9. All capitalism is predatory.

It is very difficult to tame a tiger, look what happened to Roy Horn.

[Cascadian]

10. Yeah but all tigers die.

I think capitalism is in a transition anyway. It's moving to oligarchism and do we really need that? Have all of this thrusted upon us.


John

[white_wolf]

13. So we replace the tiger with what?

A vampire? Actually the phrase "Unholy bloodsucker" does describe the corporations in our country.

[Cascadian]

14. So does sociopath. I don't want to end capitalism entirely but....

I think it needs to be caged and controlled. What already have is akin to a vampire and a succubus. Both on the loose and unchecked.


John

[Cascadian]

11. Also don't forget I want to see a return to Corporate Charters.

It's about time for some good old fashioned Teddy Roosevelt-style busting! It's just time to put an end to this new Gilded Age. It has been going on for far too long. The leaders and politicians need to end this as well as the people.


John

[AndyTiedye]

19. What Do You Expect Corporate Charters to Accomplish?

[white_wolf]

15. The whole system of capitalism is the problem.

It needs to be abolished and replaced with something else. We have tried reforming it in the past and while it did improve things for a time, those reforms were eventually undone and left us with the current system.

[AndyTiedye]

18. So Put the Reforms Back

It needs to be abolished and replaced with something else.

Like what?

[white_wolf]

24. Socialism. Unless someone can come up with a better idea.

[AndyTiedye]

25. A Mix of Capitalism and Socialism Seems to Work Best of Anything that has Been Tried So Far

If capitalism is to be completely abolished and replaced with socialism, that pretty much means that the government has to run everything.
That works well for some things, like health care, roads, mail, and mass transportation. Those are socialised in most countries.
It does not work so well when you need innovation. You get the "designed by a committee" effect.

There are numerous mixed economies that seem to take care of their people better than ours. Most of Western Europe for example.
Is there any country you would use as a model for socialism unsullied by any capitalism at all?

[white_wolf]

26. I'll admit there hasn't been any examples yet, but

I am watching Venezuela, though I'm still wary of Chavez's motives. However, I don't think the government needs to run everything in a socialist society. In fact it could be argued that the profit motive hurts innovation, since innovative products are often not funded in favor of "safer" products. Check out the open-source software community for an example. Also I reject the idea of that a centrally planed economy is necessary for a socialist society, I think that local factories/business ran by the workers could respond to the needs of the community much better than corporations or even the state. I hope that clears things up.

[Cascadian]

27. I have always admired the Social Democratic European system.

America should have that instead of this joke of system we find ourselves in now.


John

[AndyTiedye]

29. That Would be My Preference as Well

It seems to let the capitalists do what they are good at,
and let the government do what markets fail to do.

[BOG PERSON]

30. "a mix of capitalism and socialism seems to work best of anything"

you mean like what the soviets did? governing the country like it was one big monopoly enterprise?

[Cascadian]

31. I think he means Democratic Socialism that is or was practiced in Europe.

Or Social Democracy if you will. My personal preference as well.



John

[Cleita]

20. Didn't that bring on the French Revolution besides

the King and Queen being oblivious to the problems of their subjects? I think our modern capitalists should take note.

[Cascadian]

28. The same with the Russian Revolution of 1917.

When people are fed up and their backs are against the wall, they strike back. I would hate to see a bloody conflict among our people, but with the way things are going, we might get just that. I hope it doesn't happen.


John

[unblock]

22. what we have is WORSE than laissez-faire.

laissez-faire does involve letting businesses do pretty much whatever they can get away with, but it also involves letting businesses FAIL is they screw up.

actively intervening in the marketplace to protect business institutions while letting them get away with murder isn't laissez-faire, it's fascism.