General Discussion

Laelth

(32,017 posts)

54. Sigh. Capitalism is NOT a dirty word.

Thu Mar 6, 2014, 03:35 PM

Mar 2014

In my world, a liberal is a capitalist who seeks to shield capitalism from its own excesses and who hopes to channel capitalism's productive energy into a system and society that creates wealth for all. Capitalism is certainly better than socialism--i.e. state ownership of all property.

Ultimately, capitalism works, and it works well, but it works better when liberal laws are in place to insure that all citizens benefit from it (and not just the wealthy few at the top).

It is serious error for liberals to disparage capitalism. Liberals are capitalists. We just want a sane, just, and humane capitalism.

-Laelth

Edit:Laelth--reposted as a new OP.

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let's make capitalism a dirty word [View all] xchrom Mar 2014 OP

Got an alternative? brooklynite Mar 2014 #1

crapitalism. pansypoo53219 Mar 2014 #2

Like this! calimary Mar 2014 #5

Well Played [background sound of polite golf clap] BodieTown Mar 2014 #25

Perfect! Cleptotalism. grahamhgreen Mar 2014 #105

Something that doesn't do this: Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #14

Got an alternative? brooklynite Mar 2014 #16

Yes, something that doesn't do this: Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #17

So, no then... brooklynite Mar 2014 #18

Yep, I do. But you'll hate it. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #20

Never said I didn't have issue with it... brooklynite Mar 2014 #29

"seems like the only economic structure to work with" TBF Mar 2014 #97

capitalism does not ipso facto qazplm Mar 2014 #36

Yes it does. Starry Messenger Mar 2014 #58

Hmmm... Veilex Mar 2014 #75

What is "properly managed" capitalism? nt TBF Mar 2014 #98

"Properly managed" capitalism is like riding a hungry tiger....... socialist_n_TN Mar 2014 #110

Thanks for your contribute, Ayn Rand! WhaTHellsgoingonhere Mar 2014 #111

85% tax from all sources (gross not net) after first billion. aquart Mar 2014 #33

Too Gentle Treant Mar 2014 #39

I'm fine with that. Or we could knock 5% off each of your levels and compromise. aquart Mar 2014 #42

Do you? YoungDemCA Mar 2014 #45

A political system that isn't controlled by the ultra wealthy and corporations. Enthusiast Mar 2014 #64

Democratic Socialism pscot Mar 2014 #70

Got an example where it works? brooklynite Mar 2014 #72

I do... Veilex Mar 2014 #78

No idea what you're talking about... brooklynite Mar 2014 #82

Look back to the Economic Security Act of 1935. Veilex Mar 2014 #84

I would say that Social Democrary is NOT Democratic Socialism brooklynite Mar 2014 #85

Perhaps I should add some clarification... Veilex Mar 2014 #88

Europe. Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2014 #22

Europe does capitalism right. nt hack89 Mar 2014 #30

Imagine having a cop in boardrooms making sure they stay legal. Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2014 #50

And with real workers next to the cop. nt hack89 Mar 2014 #51

the alternative is a more creative imagination... LanternWaste Mar 2014 #23

You like Reagan/Rand trickle up economics? n/t sabrina 1 Mar 2014 #59

Regulated Capitalism! BlueJac Mar 2014 #65

Yep, common ownership of private property and the use of our resources to benefit the many. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #67

Regulated capitalism, with a slice of socialism to guarantee a minimum standard of living. tclambert Mar 2014 #68

"Regulated capitalism, with a slice of socialism"... Veilex Mar 2014 #81

Here's an idea... ReRe Mar 2014 #71

Regulated capitalism The Wizard Mar 2014 #73

yeah.. 2banon Mar 2014 #93

Heavily regulated capitalism with a truly progressive tax structure and adequate social safety net. HughBeaumont Mar 2014 #108

It is already a dirty word in my book. PowerToThePeople Mar 2014 #3

Well, they sure did it to the word "liberal." I think payback is CERTAINLY in order! calimary Mar 2014 #4

Also CEO Springslips Mar 2014 #6

lawyers huh? qazplm Mar 2014 #38

To bring it back to what my point is I say this: Springslips Mar 2014 #57

What do you call a thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? The_Commonist Mar 2014 #104

Not CEO. Overpaid CEO. aquart Mar 2014 #44

No, all CEOs. Springslips Mar 2014 #61

I wasn't parsing. aquart Mar 2014 #92

Well, the computer you're typing on... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #7

this is perhaps the ultimate expression of the Stockholm Syndrome.... mike_c Mar 2014 #9

OK, name me the other system that would... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #11

that's true.... mike_c Mar 2014 #32

so IOW qazplm Mar 2014 #40

frankly, I think the key to making a social democracy work long term... mike_c Mar 2014 #43

You can't "manage" capitalism without cprise Mar 2014 #46

Capitalism has to be VERY heavily regulated to work, and has to be balanced with populist loudsue Mar 2014 #10

That part we've figured out... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #13

WE'VE figured it out FiveGoodMen Mar 2014 #55

Like Sweden? That would be my model. nt hack89 Mar 2014 #31

Sweden, even Germany & France....even Great Britain is better off than we are. loudsue Mar 2014 #34

But those regulations have been undone over the past several decades.... YoungDemCA Mar 2014 #47

That's for sure. The republicans infiltrated our party after the Powell Manifesto edict loudsue Mar 2014 #53

Are you the type to buy a computer every time yours gets slow? Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2014 #26

Do they have to lie in the first sentence? snooper2 Mar 2014 #8

Let's stop demonizing tools Vox Moi Mar 2014 #12

stop qazplm Mar 2014 #41

Corporatism? OilemFirchen Mar 2014 #48

I'd rather see rrneck Mar 2014 #15

You're going to need a new planet with a much, much MineralMan Mar 2014 #19

Capitalism is easily the best system LittleBlue Mar 2014 #21

How do you earn a living, xchrome? MineralMan Mar 2014 #24

Dunno about xchrome, but... TreasonousBastard Mar 2014 #28

Well, I didn't really expect an answer. MineralMan Mar 2014 #37

And for technology to progress... yawnmaster Mar 2014 #91

Ahem, ReRe Mar 2014 #80

I think I'll wait for xchrom to answer. MineralMan Mar 2014 #87

Okey-dokey ;-) ReRe Mar 2014 #90

How about using the German word? "Kapitalismus" KansDem Mar 2014 #27

"But... But... But it's natural I tell you!! It's been here forever!! Got an alternative??11?" Democracyinkind Mar 2014 #35

What's wrong with having workers own the means of production? Maedhros Mar 2014 #49

No issue with this as long as they take the risk OnlinePoker Mar 2014 #95

That's another thing that needs to go: commodities markets based on speculation [n/t] Maedhros Mar 2014 #100

At this point the corruption in capitalism is worse than Phlem Mar 2014 #52

Sigh. Capitalism is NOT a dirty word. Laelth Mar 2014 #54

How about we just stop confusing "capitalism" with laissez-faire policies, cronyism... Silent3 Mar 2014 #56

Pragmatic Capitalism vs. Fundamentalist, Laissez-Faire Capitalism is the winning argument C0RYH0FFMAN Mar 2014 #60

What you're missing... Springslips Mar 2014 #69

The right didn't do, it is what it is and it didn't start in 1950 TheKentuckian Mar 2014 #107

Who let the Marxist in?! illachick Mar 2014 #62

a mixed economy is probably the best we can do now LiberalLovinLug Mar 2014 #63

HEY CAPITALIST! bobGandolf Mar 2014 #66

Capitalism is fundementally flawed. Oakenshield Mar 2014 #74

I like where your going with that. Phlem Mar 2014 #79

It was dirty from the start. DeSwiss Mar 2014 #76

There you go, DeSwiss! ReRe Mar 2014 #86

Kick for Bucky dreamnightwind Mar 2014 #102

Thanks to Wall Street, it already IS a four letter word! Rex Mar 2014 #77

But if we tried to set up an alternative system, Zorra Mar 2014 #83

Ah. sibelian Mar 2014 #94

K&R ReRe Mar 2014 #89

Don't have to...already a filthy word...like the 'filthy rich'! Rex Mar 2014 #96

This reads like a right-wing caricature of left-wing idiocy, I'm afraid. Donald Ian Rankin Mar 2014 #99

There is good and bad in capitalism as applegrove Mar 2014 #101

Not possible. n/t cherokeeprogressive Mar 2014 #103

We need to have a completely new system... N_E_1 for Tennis Mar 2014 #106

No let's make deregulation a dirty word. Initech Mar 2014 #109