General Discussion

aristocles

(594 posts)

63. Capitalism ... Simple

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:07 PM

Mar 2013

Private ownership of the means of production and the distribution of goods motived by profit.

A cobbler is a capitalist.

You're taking practices you don't like and making them the terms of your definition.

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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