General Discussion

MyshkinCommaPrince

(611 posts)

21. Hmm.

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 02:21 PM

Mar 2013

I think our current model of corporate capitalism is dehumanizing. Richard D. Wolff has some interesting thoughts on a model of cooperative capitalism. A form of capitalist system which allows people to have some control over their own lives might not be too horrid. A well-regulated system which reins in the worst excesses and allows people to be people could perhaps provide more good results for society than bad.

The model of cutthroat competition, success at any cost, and anything goes as long as you can get away with it is just plain rotten. The corporate model in which even well-intended participants are required to do destructive or hurtful things for short term profit is no good. The model requiring continuous growth at full speed is presumably unsustainable in a closed system with limited resources. The way we're doing it now is just no damned good. But perhaps some variant form of capitalism could be better.

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Is Capitalism inherently dehumanizing? [View all] Taverner Mar 2013 OP

yes NJCher Mar 2013 #1

Well Russian communism didnt seem particularly humanizing. dkf Mar 2013 #2

I'm not asking about Soviet Communism. I'm asking about Capitalism. eom Taverner Mar 2013 #4

My point is there is no system that is inherently humanizing or dehumanizing. dkf Mar 2013 #7

Surely you jest... daleanime Mar 2013 #13

The death knell then for all sports and games. n/t aristocles Mar 2013 #14

...... daleanime Mar 2013 #15

No. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #3

So is murder. eom Taverner Mar 2013 #5

I disagree. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #12

Violence is central to human nature RZM Mar 2013 #64

Now *there's* a revealing post (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #16

You've been conditioned to approve of capitalism. It's not some unstoppable force of human nature. Ed Suspicious Mar 2013 #26

Bullshit. Capitalism isn't a part of human nature any more than feudalism is. baldguy Mar 2013 #36

Why do you think capitalism is basic to human nature? nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #54

Of course it is dehumanizing me b zola Mar 2013 #6

No, but its tricky quinnox Mar 2013 #8

How could it be? redqueen Mar 2013 #9

Consider what you are to most employers Taverner Mar 2013 #24

None of the people working for me are just objects. NCTraveler Mar 2013 #29

So you're the exception. You get a gold star. Taverner Mar 2013 #32

It is actually exactly what you stated. NCTraveler Mar 2013 #34

I said most companies treat employees like objects Taverner Mar 2013 #40

A reality check from the Small Business Administration aristocles Mar 2013 #10

Thank you. Only about 5% of Americans are capitalists. Mika Mar 2013 #71

Do the Swedes, the Norwegians, the Swiss and the Germans feel dehumanized? Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #11

I don't get your point about the North Koreans. Good economy or bad? aristocles Mar 2013 #18

I guess one way to address the OP's question is as follows: Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #20

If NK was a socialist, or communist state, it might compare well Taverner Mar 2013 #25

The question was about capitalism. Nye Bevan Mar 2013 #35

The only thing that makes capitalism unwieldy is there are too many people practicing it. randome Mar 2013 #17

Wisest comment so far olddots Mar 2013 #45

No. It's about how you control that capitalism LittleBlue Mar 2013 #19

I don't think one can "bell the cat" Taverner Mar 2013 #33

Hmm. MyshkinCommaPrince Mar 2013 #21

walmart vs costco. if you shop at either, you support "capitalism" of one sort or the other nt msongs Mar 2013 #22

No more than any "system" is Recursion Mar 2013 #23

Reducing people's ability to live and the power over their own lives to a sum of their money... killbotfactory Mar 2013 #27

No, but Commericalism is. Rex Mar 2013 #28

Do people need each other? Should they? el_bryanto Mar 2013 #30

It can be dehumanizing, just as it can be rewarding. NCTraveler Mar 2013 #31

Capitalism does not take need into consideration. All it cares for is profit. Taverner Mar 2013 #41

Incorrect. Capitalism considers many human needs and cares for them. NCTraveler Mar 2013 #42

By law, the only thing a corporation is concerned with is the stockholders Taverner Mar 2013 #43

You have an extremely limited view of corporations. NCTraveler Mar 2013 #44

You have failed to define your terms and adequately flesh out an argument. Your OP is too narrow. KittyWampus Mar 2013 #53

American capitalism yes... Kalidurga Mar 2013 #37

Unregulated capitalism moondust Mar 2013 #38

Project the NEED for profit, that's the NEED itself, out to its nth degree; that would be a patrice Mar 2013 #39

Unregulated, Unchecked Capitalism Is Far More Than Dehumanizing. It's flat out immoral. Yavin4 Mar 2013 #46

As always, there is no easy answer aristocles Mar 2013 #56

Jobs going overseas has nothing to do with regulations or taxes. Yavin4 Mar 2013 #58

Regulations and taxes make the cost of doing business here too high. aristocles Mar 2013 #59

The "high cost of doing business" is a subjective measure Yavin4 Mar 2013 #68

"Workers of the WORLD, unite!" is still a good idea. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #60

Cottage industries, small businesses, proprietorships, start-ups Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2013 #47

Thank you! n/t aristocles Mar 2013 #48

NO- Not ONLY has capitalism produced the greatest wealth and lifestyle enrichening ever in history, cbrer Mar 2013 #49

I get this, but "the market" is no check on this problem with capitalism, so . . . ? patrice Mar 2013 #50

A truly free market has never been tried in the USA cbrer Mar 2013 #55

Yes. It rationalizes human well-being as a secondary benefit of profit. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #51

No. It's an economic system that allows private ownership of property. It's inherently individualist KittyWampus Mar 2013 #52

Yes. But, not as much as cannibalism. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2013 #57

...you can't eat money... L0oniX Mar 2013 #61

Yes. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #62

Capitalism ... Simple aristocles Mar 2013 #63

No, I'm not. But thanks, new guy. Starry Messenger Mar 2013 #65

Okay. aristocles Mar 2013 #66

A Cobbler is a Capitalist Only If He/She Owns Capital Yavin4 Mar 2013 #67

So let's kick this again........ socialist_n_TN Mar 2013 #69

Yep. I'd say 75% of the people who responded don't know what a capitalist is... Taverner Mar 2013 #70