- Capitalism and Alternatives -

Re: middle-of-the-road

In Reply to: middle-of-the-road posted by Mike Bacon on July 04, 1997 at 01:09:47:

> And finally, capitalism is the best system, capitalism works when
> its participants operate in an honest, and responsible manner.

And what if they're like the Robber Barons that Mathew Josephson described in his book of the same name, thieves who steal their way to fame and fortune while paying nothing to those who build the fame and fortune "for" them? What if they achieve and maintain their state of wealth by military profiteering (like Ross Perot, for instance, Lockheed etc.) or by corporate welfare (Disney Corp., Archer Daniels Midland, all those sports teams who got stadium upgrades at taxpayer expense)? What if capitalism tends to benefit those who violate labor rights? Do you have a foolproof plan for keeping capitalism honest? You see, there's a sizable historical record that offers itself as evidence for those who think that capitalism is based on dishonesty and irresponsibility. I have no problem with the celebration of the wealth capitalism brings to humanity -- my concern is that this celebration of capitalism is used to justify social malfunction, moral turpitude, philosophical vacuity.

Follow Ups:

• Yes, any system can be abused Mike Bacon Bedford, TX USA July 16 1997 (4)
  • Developing Critical Consciousness About Capitalism Samuel Day Fassbinder July 20 1997 (0)
  • Developing critical consciousness about capitalism Samuel Day Fassbinder Pomona Valley Greens USA July 19 1997 (2)
    • With our input, we can improve the current system. Mike Bacon Bedford, TX USA July 20 1997 (1)
      • Improving OURSELVES is the goal -- once we're there we'll decide about the system Samuel Day Fassbinder Pomona Valley Greens USA July 20 1997 (0)