The Sin of the Capitalism

[Socrates]

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' date='Jan 22 2005, 08:35 PM'] Thank you Aloysius! (Aluigi I suppose)

My experience of Capitalism has been entirely negative, and I've been on both sides of the fence. I've been the capitalist and the slave labourer.

I've had some discussions (and bitter arguments) with different people regarding capitalism and I've noticed that there seems to be a pattern for how people deal with it.
There seem to be people who respond to criticisms of capitalism in an emotionally charged way and often say things like, "there isn't anything better" or, "get with the real world man, this is the way it is, there isn't anything better", or, "capitalism is good, anyone can get rich if he just works hard" (this is a terrible lie). The common element of this category of reaction is what I might call the slave mentality because the responses reflect a person in slavery who has become content in this state. The emotional charge in the statements is because deep down the person knows they are not really happy with capitalism. Also this type of reaction has been most common (in my limited experience) among people in lower class situations.

Another type is the person who is materialy prosperous but who's life is really a struggle to overcome capitalism on its own terms. I don't know how many people I've met who are in this category. They believe that if they work hard and have some lucky breaks they can transcend the state of animal labour and attain a freedom from the shackles of the capitalist system. This is usually not a conscious thing by any means. The mentality is evidenced by the fact that the person works and makes plenty of money (they may be fairly well off or even quite well off) but there ultimate goal is some state that would seem to transcent the capitalism dynamism (for example retirement in a tropical paradise, perhaps buying a farm and being self-sufficient, etc..). So these people are content to play the Capitalism game because they envision an end to their labours which represents liberation from animal labour and the impersonal life structured around capital.

The third type is the person who simply embraces capitalism and who's life is driven by greed and money lust for its own sake. Scrooge would be the textbook example of this type. This is another way to resolve the tension brought about by life in a capitalism system, to surrender to it and become the true capitalist.

I'm being very general but I really believe I have seen these generic types in people. All of them are based on lies and provide no escape from capitalisms dehumanizing forces. The idea that one can defeat capitalism by go along with it for a time (which is usually most of ones life) is false because built into it is the tendency toward consumerism and structures of debt that ensure that the person will be securely kept in capitalisms snare. Also the idea that one can work hard and become rich (an example of defeating capitalism on its own terms) is false because, while it is possible for an average person to start a business or whatever, the system is really structured in favour of the corporate fatcat so most small businesses will fail miserably (resulting in debt) or else succeed for a time but ultimately be devoured by a larger entity. And even if the person is lucky enough to survive and prosper to some extent they have simply become "the capitalist" instead of the exploited worker, and they are still a slave of capitalism, maybe even in a worse position because they may believe the illusion that they are now free.

This post is probably going to tick some people off. I'm really just ranting a bit so don't take me too seriously. [/quote]
You've provided a critique of capitalism, but have not provided a solution, or told what you think would work better.

[MichaelFilo]

I concede that my ideals are utopian, and will agree that indeed you are correct, I have not taken into account man's fallen state. However, I cannot remit my point that certain situations are more likely to breed sin than others. And I also cannot remit that the government often controls the morality, or lack there of, in the environment of its citizen. Censorship, allowing contraception, government aid to abortion "clinics", etc. all aid in some way shape or form to a destructive environment to the citizen spiritually. The form of economy is only one way that this is so. Keeping immoral situations farther away from people is a protection against sin and something government has the power to do. God didn't allow governments to exist if he had not intended great power to be given to them. Even Jesus proclaimed that the ability to crucify him was given from the Father, and if in punishment government is given such power, than surely in preservation of the people the government will be granted much more power.

God bless,
Mikey

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Jan 25 2005, 10:57 AM'] You've provided a critique of capitalism, but have not provided a solution, or told what you think would work better. [/quote]
Radical Distributism/Feudalism/Monarchism.

j/k

I think a lot of the socialist aspects of our own country counter balance a lot of the crappy capitalist tendencies, but this is not even close to a solution.......

The solution is to first go on welfare, foodstamps and all taht and devote your time to writing anti-capitalist materials to promote revolution. The answer is either anarchy or death, I haven't decided which one yet. ok, I'm kidding again. I wish I had the answer, but I'm not that smart. I can think of outlandish answers but nothing realistic.

[Socrates]

Laudate, your honesty is commendable!

[Guest Aluigi]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Jan 25 2005, 10:57 AM'] You've provided a critique of capitalism, but have not provided a solution, or told what you think would work better. [/quote]
this thread is about Capitalism being wrong.
There is another thread about Socialism being wrong.
There is another thread with the solution of Distributism.

[Laudate_Dominum]

[quote name='Aluigi' date='Jan 25 2005, 08:35 PM'] this thread is about Capitalism being wrong.
There is another thread about Socialism being wrong.
There is another thread with the solution of Distributism. [/quote]
Really? I haven't noticed the distributism thread yet. Is it called something weird?