I was interested in finding out the reasons why many people support capitalism, so I made this thread.
Capitalism is better at surviving the negative side of human nature than communism & delivering better standards of living in those free countries where it is properly regulated without being drowned in red tape.
Capitalism has flaws in that humans are not omnipotent and cannot get rid of all suffering instantly. I use Captialism (although I dislike the word) as a means to an end. All I want is a world without coercion except where initiated by someone else. Turns out that social rights (being able to give my apple to John in return for his pear) demand economic rights (not having someone come and take our fruit). Don't get me wrong, I'm all for giving our fruit to those who need it more, but only on an individual level: people must make that decision, not governments. I don't see why the left has a monopoly on morality, all I'm advocating is moving that ethical action from the governmental level to the personal level. Sigh.
Because I think the idea if free trade, freedom of choice in a competitive market is a good thing and has no main competition. Sure the idea has flaws in some enacted areas but a truly capitalist country would be more anarchist in nature and I don't support that idea. Regulation of laws and an impartial judiciary are always needed for stability but freedom of choice in everyday life is needed for people to be free from any form.of tyranny.
#4. Most people in the world are better off with globalization than without, and this system does provide more incentive for progress...obviously this means that some people lose, but better that than everyone.
I don't think that just because global trade arose with capitalism, if we surpassed capitalism it would mean regional absolute Autarky. Indeed it's quite the opposite: scarcity can not currently be practically overcome in industrialized society without reallocation (trade) or resources from far away, and Marxism contends that socialism can not exist under conditions of scarcity - hence the reason non-Stalinist Marxists argue against "Socialism in one country". Socialism must be international, and therefore can only be "globalized". I do not agree with the statement that most people currently benefit from globalization, in fact I can think of a number of areas that would be better under feudalism.
Right there..>>>''this system does provide more incentive for progress...[/QUOTE]'' That does it for me. More incentive, more progress, more growth, work harder be rewarded, foundation of success. Makes us what we are, take that away and you might as well call us something other than America.
Add a sixth option: Because it is the only system that upholds and protects my right to live as I choose.
Capitalism is a tool to achieve wellbeing and happiness, that's the only reason I like it. One has to remember that capitalism isn't a goal in itself, but freedom and happiness is. It has to be somewhat restrained, otherwise the results may not always be good.
You're going to grow a lot more under capitalism because capitalism requires you to be your best in order to benefit. The stronger you grow, the more you benefit. I think it's important to always be growing.
Many people confuse capitalism as a political system, it is not. It is an economic system that allocates goods and services using markets. I support capitalism as it is the most efficient way to allocate goods and services. But one has to understand capitalism is not perfect and understand the distortions that are the problem of complete laisez-faire capitalism. For example, if a factory pollutes a river while making a product, that is a significant cost, but that cost is not shown in the price of the good. So that is an external cost that is incorporated into the way the capitalism is allocating good and services. The factory may end up making the least expensive product because of the pollution and growth economically, because capitalism is flawed by external costs. The solution is regulation, or setting constraints, like you can't pollute that river. That regulation IS capitalism because now the markets are not distorted by external costs. Captialism is not perfect, but it is an incredibly powerful tool and it can be used to achieve incredible things because of it's efficiency. It is overall the best economic system, but only when regulated to minimize the flaws caused by market distortions or immoral consequences.
I always look to see what would be the alternative to capitalism. The opposite of capitalism is socialism....is it not? Now choose which one you feel more comfortable having. I disagree with others here that say it isn't an ideology. Conservatism is Capitalism as Liberalism is Socialism.
I support capitalism because it pays for socialism, those who profit are taxed by the government to provide for the needs of others through redistribution of wealth. Without capitalism, no one would pay for the government expenditures.
That's not a fair comparison at all. -Conservatism in modern America isn't at all synonymous with Capitalism as an economic theory. It also encompasses totalitarian social theory led by big government. It also tends to be a country of government collusion with business and the military. Additionally, Conservatives have their own taxing and spending programs that are comparable in magnitude to that proposed by Liberals. I am talking about the modern formulation - that of Reagan and you. -Liberalism in modern America isn't at all synonymous with Socialism as an economic theory. Of course it depends on your definition, but by any definition the outcome is the same. They certainly aren't pushing workers control of the means of production. They want a European sort of welfare state, but that's quite different from straight up Socialism. Socialism isn't just government interference - it has a specific purpose. "One of the most baffling phenomena of fascism is the almost incredible collaboration between men of the extreme Right and the extreme Left in its creation. The explanation lies at this point. Both Right and Left joined in this urge for regulation. The motives, the arguments, and the forms of expression were different but all drove in the same direction. And this was that the economic system must be controlled in its essential functions and this control must be exercised by the producing groups." - John Flynn
Bit like a knitted hammer, then, or a cardboard icecream? What about the freedom and happiness of the untold millions it has murdered or enslaved?
who specifically are these millions murdered and enslaved by capitalism? Capitalism is an economic system, not a system of government. But I will be waiting for your list of those murdered and enslaved by an economic system that gives everyone the freedom to improve his station in life.
In all the colonies and in the United States millions were enslaved for profit, as you know, and vast numbers killed for objecting. In the wars for profit, World War One, for instance, millions upon millions were killed, as were millions more to save capitalism under Hitler in Germany during the earlier capitalist slump, or to establish State Capitalism after the vicious interventions in - for instance - the Soviet Union. Large-scale murder is one of the essential features of capitalism, man. Where have you been - Mars?
Capitalism is simply freedom. The only reason someone would support another system over Capitalism is because they desire equality over freedom. Freedom and equality are mutually exclusive.
Everyone is free under capitalism. Name someone who wouldn't be free under capitalism. The only thing that might be considered a restriction on a free capitalist would be any and all regulations/taxes a behemoth government puts on them or their business(es). They call it 'free market' capitalism for a reason...cause they're 'FREE'.
In a world where Capitalism partially exists, in a world where the labor of Capitalism is consumed by government, it is easy to see the ill-effect of Socialism. Those who are not free under Capitalism are caught within the Socialist beast that is a parasite devouring the host, Capitalism.
Capitalism will always win because humans always want to be better than other humans and, much as you may try, you just can't beat what the Almighty Allah designed into us. Socialism, in its many forms, tries to make equal something that can never be equal. That means it's doomed to fail ever time.
