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#304842 - 01/04/18 03:30 AM
Re: Capitalism
[Re: pondering_it_all]
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journeyman
Registered: 10/02/07
Posts: 760
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Imperialism versus hegemony, what difference does it make? A helluva difference to the citizens of that country! Imperial Spain dominated, plundered, and enslaved other countries for centuries. After WW II the US occupied Japan and Germany for a few years and gave them working democratic governments. Try telling Japanese or German citizens there's no difference. Kindly turn your attention to Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Chili, El Salvadore, you get the picture. I guess it's not been centuries so there's that point. I doubt the citizens of these places would take comfort knowing they got them a hegemony problem and not your much worse imperial problem.
Edited by chunkstyle (01/04/18 03:31 AM)
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#304850 - 01/04/18 03:04 PM
Re: Capitalism
[Re: jgw]
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journeyman
Registered: 10/02/07
Posts: 760
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The old question of wether capitalism serves society or society serve capitalism has been answered in a number of ways. The ability to contract between a corporate entity and individual is almost impossible with 'unilateral modification' clauses in most any service we subscribe to. Forced arbitration clauses denying a citizens right to trial. Tax exemptions for corporations. Ability to headquarter yourself to a Caribbean island postal box address or English Channel Island zip code and avoid any taxes. Incarcerating people for money in the For Profit Prisons. Pay politicians to enact laws to keep the steady stream of bodies from school to jail unabated. Non-violent drug offenders being the most profitable to jail. Contracting with large corporation to use prison labor (our internal colonizing)
There is much agreement between the left and right on these issues and many more. 'Take our country back' has its roots in these unfair constructs of our current corporate state. If we have any chance of putting society before profits we must make common cause and get over the partisan political traps to divide the citizenry. Start by reforming campaign finance. There's something we can all agree on!
Edited by chunkstyle (01/04/18 03:27 PM)
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#304852 - 01/04/18 04:03 PM
Re: Capitalism
[Re: chunkstyle]
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Moderator
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/09/11
Posts: 15927
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I happen to love tapioca. It is made from cassava root. But, to be edible, it must be properly prepared, or it can kill you. It contains cyanide. Capitalism is like cassava. It naturally contains a deadly poison. It has to be properly prepared, or it can kill you. Used in very small doses, under proper supervision, capitalism is literally like any other chemical additive - many are harmless or even beneficial, but they can become addictive and deadly. We have a capitalism problem and we need an intervention.
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A well reasoned argument is like a diamond: impervious to corruption and crystal clear - and infinitely rarer.
Here, as elsewhere, people are outraged at what feels like a rigged game -- an economy that won't respond, a democracy that won't listen, and a financial sector that holds all the cards. - Robert Reich
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#304865 - 01/04/18 08:22 PM
Re: Capitalism
[Re: jgw]
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member
Registered: 05/22/06
Posts: 1914
Loc: Port Angeles, WA
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I suspect that the unmitigated greed of, apparently, most capitalists need serious regulation. Its also pretty well agreed that what sends capitalism off the rails is known. The problem is putting regulations in place that can control the more base activities and making them stick. I can remember when the financial regulations were put into place by the congress whilst, at the same time, there were Democratic congressmen virtually running stock operations out of their offices. Basically there is a genuine history of what happens when the Right takes over gov - their greed takes over and the economy tanks. The only Republican administration that actually staved off such was Reagan and he did it by raising taxes (the right forgets that St. Reagan actually did this). What they have been doing, under Trump, is going to be responsible for serious problems. I can only hope that the Left can stop their silly, get together, and win this year. If, however, they do not I suspect getting out of the market until after the resulting crash might be wise.
Its also been a mystery, to me, why the Left can't mention the history of Republicans and their magic with the economy. The Dems have a much better history, when it comes to debt, finance, etc.) yet they never toot their own horn and never mention the utter failure of the Republicans.
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#304920 - 01/06/18 07:09 PM
Re: Capitalism
[Re: jgw]
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journeyman
Registered: 10/02/07
Posts: 760
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The problem with markets is they are based on a fallacy of perpetual growth. There are nosocial constraints except governments. I think we are witnessing the dismantling of government. It's been boughten. The other constraint is material. Again, the mythology is that market forces will adapt to provide. History has examples otherwise. Another warning to the world
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