Resolved: The United States should abandon Capitalism

[el_bryanto]

Poll question: Resolved: The United States should abandon Capitalism

This is open to interpretation, but if I start defining it I suspect all be here all day trying to describe a post capitalism America, so I'll clarify it just this much - for the purposes of this poll a well-regulated capitalism with a strong safety net is still capitalism.

[patrice]

1. No, just provide it with some AUTHENTIC competition: Socialism. nt

[el_bryanto]

2. How do two economic systems co-exist? Or can they? n/t

[patrice]

5. I'm not certain why not . . .

unless there's a reason in how Socialism would soooooooooooo totally absorb the Capitalist market that not only would there be no authentic competition, but Socialism could suffer too by becoming too big too fast and, thus, affecting quality in such a manner as to make it no great deal for users no matter how inexpensive it is . . . ? ? ?

[el_bryanto]

8. It's just an interesting idea; but I guess the Public Option

would have, in effect, been a step in this direction. And a good idea in its own right.

Bryant

[bullimiami]

3. "capitalism" is not the problem. lack of regulation and enforcement of laws is.

any economic system can be screwed by corruption.

[el_bryanto]

4. Obviously there are plenty here would argue that Capitalism,

reliant as it is on human self interest and, well, selfishness, has a natural propensity towards corruption. How would you respond to that?

Bryant

[denverbill]

11. The problem is that human beings have a natural propensity to self-interest.

It is the best way to get the best results from people working.

It needs to be vigorously regulated though. Mergers need to be banned between any companies with more than say 5% market shares. Too big to fail should be broken up. A company making $10 million a year in profits can't pay its CEO $10 million/year. A company making $10 billion a year can easily.

[Rex]

6. No.

[Initech]

7. For profit schools, prisons, military, post office... It's way past time to jump ship.

[Scuba]

9. No, we should regulate it appropriately.

[hack89]

10. Should Sweden and Norway abandon Capitalism?

because their economies are based on "well-regulated capitalism with a strong safety net' and I wouldn't mind living in either country.

[el_bryanto]

12. Sometimes I understand why people vote Bullshit Poll - this one kind of baffles me.

We see a lot of posts arguing pretty explicitly for the abandonment of Capitalism. Why not take our temperature on this issue?

Bryant

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. In my experience, those who say this really mean corporatism. n/t