General Discussion

chickypea

(30 posts)

20. Human Beings are Inherently Selfish

Wed May 16, 2012, 12:19 PM

May 2012

Controlled capitalism can exist. I have no problem with someone making money, as long as they are not doing so on other people's backs.
In Europe, there is a different model of capitalism which insures that people are well paid for their labors, and CEOs do not earn 500% more than the average worker.
I lived in Switzerland, yes, the home of the rich, and there is no real poverty there. Most people would be considered "upper middle class" by American standards- there is no want.

Our brand of capitalism works on exploitation and greed. That is NOT good for society, and needs to be changed/destroyed!

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

81 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Should capitalism exist for the benefit of the individual or the benefit of the people? [View all] kentuck May 2012 OP

Jesus wasn't a Supply-Side Trickle-Down capitalist. matmar May 2012 #1

Jesus was neither a capitalist or a socialist. former9thward May 2012 #22

socialism did. HiPointDem May 2012 #46

Well it didn't. former9thward May 2012 #48

There are many definitions of socialism. Which one are you using? HiPointDem May 2012 #58

Nah tralala May 2012 #53

The existence of class society doesn't mean that socialism didn't also exist. HiPointDem May 2012 #57

It all depends on your demographic. ananda May 2012 #2

In other words.. kentuck May 2012 #5

For the benefit of the individual badtoworse May 2012 #3

Would that be a fair return on investment? kentuck May 2012 #6

It depends on the level of risk taken badtoworse May 2012 #8

Are you talking about physical risk? kentuck May 2012 #10

I'm talking about financial risk, i.e. the risk of losing all or part of your investment. badtoworse May 2012 #19

Sort of like going to Vegas and gambling? kentuck May 2012 #21

Not really. Many investment risks can be studied, understood and possibly hedged badtoworse May 2012 #24

So there is less risk involved in investing than in gambling? kentuck May 2012 #26

In my opinion, yes. badtoworse May 2012 #34

So the owner of the casino is taking less of a risk....? kentuck May 2012 #39

That's obvious. badtoworse May 2012 #41

Do you think the casino owner is a "typical" capitalist? kentuck May 2012 #42

Does the private equity manager have any of his own skin in the game? badtoworse May 2012 #44

+1. and that's the case for a lot of big capitalists, it's opm all the way. HiPointDem May 2012 #47

A lot of them do though and a savvy investor should ask that question. badtoworse May 2012 #52

They are private equity managers because they get private investment.... kentuck May 2012 #56

I would say that is probably true badtoworse May 2012 #60

In a casino... discntnt_irny_srcsm May 2012 #50

They're not mutually exclusive goals scheming daemons May 2012 #4

I think this is a poorly-worded question malthaussen May 2012 #7

I disagree. kentuck May 2012 #9

+100% mazzarro May 2012 #11

Government's purpose: most good for the most people. Democrats_win May 2012 #12

Why not both? RevStPatrick May 2012 #13

I'd be far happier if we could evolve TBF May 2012 #14

Capitalism is a system and a historical process. Starry Messenger May 2012 #15

corporations existed. a lot of america was originally "settled" by corporations. HiPointDem May 2012 #51

Yes, I almost put that in, but then got lazy and just put "really" Starry Messenger May 2012 #61

Yes, and I don't know what the answer is -- I suspect that investment in the chartered companies HiPointDem May 2012 #62

Yep, they were never intended for "the general welfare" Starry Messenger May 2012 #65

Considering that the Buttonwood Agreement that formed the NY Stock exchange occurred HiPointDem May 2012 #66

I'm not sure how accurate he is, but Thom Hartmann has argued that... white_wolf May 2012 #69

I've heard that too, but I haven't studied it so deeply, though I've tried to at various times. HiPointDem May 2012 #72

The Individual is the basic unit of bourgeois ideology tralala May 2012 #16

Maybe we will see how wonderful all the utopian ideas are when Greece collapses and they can set up dkf May 2012 #17

It not like Greece is in the middle of an economic boom... kentuck May 2012 #18

That's not exactly the reason Major Nikon May 2012 #27

Sorry... kentuck May 2012 #28

No problem Major Nikon May 2012 #32

No problem. kentuck May 2012 #33

Bashing the socialists this time, huh? TBF May 2012 #31

Human Beings are Inherently Selfish chickypea May 2012 #20

......................... tralala May 2012 #25

switzerland can have "no poverty" because it profits from poverty outside its borders. it's not HiPointDem May 2012 #54

Actually, the argument that human are inherently selfish is debatable. white_wolf May 2012 #71

I think it should exist for the benefit of the individual. raouldukelives May 2012 #23

There will always be those who exploit others. Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #29

If that were the only option... kentuck May 2012 #30

What would the other options look like? Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #36

There are different forms of socialism... kentuck May 2012 #40

Anything more detailed? Nuclear Unicorn May 2012 #43

This link might help? kentuck May 2012 #45

See here for a list of options tralala May 2012 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author tralala May 2012 #35

............................ tralala May 2012 #37

The right to property comes from John Locke actually. Spider Jerusalem May 2012 #38

The whole premise of the "safety net" is that some will fail and need charity. That premise is HiPointDem May 2012 #55

Equality of opportunity doesn't mean equality of results Spider Jerusalem May 2012 #59

You can't? HiPointDem May 2012 #63

No, you can't Spider Jerusalem May 2012 #64

ah, the old resort to human nature. yet humans do lots of things that aren't organized HiPointDem May 2012 #67

This is faster: Starry Messenger May 2012 #70

Human nature? white_wolf May 2012 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author tralala May 2012 #68

The short answer: no limpyhobbler May 2012 #73

Follow the profits. GeorgeGist May 2012 #74

Capitalism belongs on the scrapheap of history. Vidar May 2012 #75

I think your interpretation of the Fifth Amendment is flawed. cherokeeprogressive May 2012 #76

True, though the limitations set are often considered enumerated rights TheKentuckian May 2012 #77

Capitalism should be abolished. Odin2005 May 2012 #78

Our problem in this area is a matter of tradition, ideas, and our aversion to change. Egalitarian Thug May 2012 #80

Capitalism is amoral rucky May 2012 #81