I Love Capitalism- It's So YUMMY

[Orwellian_Ghost]

One beautiful fall day about two years ago, I was walking along Park Avenue on my way to work when I noticed a homeless man up the street.

What was unusual was that the man was lying in a doorway, and his shopping bag had fallen and strewn his belongings into the street as he slept. Pouring out of the bag were a change of clothing, a hairbrush and other odds and ends that made up the sum of this person’s existence.

As the surrounding crowd bustled to work, a few people cast a quick glance at the prostrate figure, but no one tried to brush his belongings safely off the street.

Finally, a sharply dressed man stopped in front of the homeless man and took in the scene.

As I passed, the elegant observer bent over the man’s belongings, and I thought, “Whew, finally someone’s going to help this guy.”

As I turned around with a smile on my face, expecting to see the act of a good Samaritan, I saw the “gentleman” take a ballpoint pen from the pile of belongings, put it in his pinstriped blazer and walk away.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/nyregion/07diary.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=metropolitan%20diary&st=cse

[Buzz Clik]

1. How does that story reflect on capitalism in any way?

[blindpig]

2. The man in the suit,

if not a capitalists himself is surely one of the suckfish with which capitalism necessarily surrounds itself. His atrocious behavior towards that homeless man is emblematic of capitalism's attitude regarding us non-capitalists in general.

[Buzz Clik]

3. The man in the suit was a thief. He was like everyone else, including the author, ...

... in being immune to the homeless man's plight.

If the author intended this to be a parable about capitalism, I just don't see it.

[deaniac21]

4. You win today's great perception award. You don't see it

because it isn't there.

[Buzz Clik]

7. Obnoxious.

I said I didn't see it -- I never suggested it was not there.

So childish.

[blindpig]

5. All of us, don't think so.

While it is true that none of the passersby took the time to help the homeless man, truly a sign of the deleterious effect of capitalism upon society, it took someone from the upper echelons of our society to rob him.

[el_bryanto]

6. That's assuming you ascribe the uncaring to capitalism

Could such a scene occur in countries where there isn't capitalism?

Bryant

[Buzz Clik]

8. Interesting question.

The need or ability to dress well has little to do with capitalism or success due to capitalism. Many thieves dress well.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

9. Could?

Well possibly. Likelihood? Greatly diminished.

Which country are you speaking of? I know of none that are not or have not been afflicted by capitalism.

And no that behavior cannot be ascribed to human nature.

And what about all of those who just passed by and did nothing.

[el_bryanto]

10. Including presumably the person telling the story

Presumably you have heard of Communism?

Bryant

[blindpig]

11. Yes, but

the frequency of such behavior is greatly increased by an economic/social system which rewards such behavior.

[leftstreet]

12. There shouldn't BE homeless people anywhere, period n/t