Business as usual is not on the menu folks.

[Xicano]

We're either going to go into an era of immense resource scarcity, governmental interference into our lives, tremendous propagandistic efforts to make us do one thing or another, or, we're going to have to pull the plug on capitalism to include the capitalistic side of science (not science itself of course).

Capitalism, in its current materialistic gluttonized form is raping our planet's ability to renewal and cleanse itself, as well as, creating a massive divide between the haves and have-nots. Socially, environmentally and politically at this very moment we should be consuming less, manufacturing less, but, instead, what's the current battle cry? Free trade everywhere! What does free trade mean? It means my right to come to your country and sell the most outlandish junk you've ever seen and you will have no right to turn it away because in the name of free trade crapola has to go everywhere, the environment and national sovereignty be damned.

Capitalism is as anti-human of philosophy as you can possibly conceive. I am sorry, but, capitalism is not democracy folks. I know that some people think capitalism and democracy are not at variance, but yes they are. The real life and death struggle isn't between capitalism and socialism, its between capitalism and democracy. Democracy says everybody has an innate worth that must be honored. Capitalism says he who dies with the most toys wins. You cannot reconcile these two things, they are in-fact polar opposites. Also, notice the "he" in the he who dies with the most toys wins? Just an interesting observation of misogyny in my opinion.

I think we're coming to a great planetary crisis unless we detoxify ourselves from the type of materialism which is accelerating us over the cliff into scarcity, which, also, happens to be polluting our environment beyond control and will cause wars which will eventually, inevitably have to occur here on our soil as well.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDzLErR_Crs


:rant:

[OHdem10]

1. Capitalism is an economic system based on competition. It is only

a tool which can be used for good or ill. Capitalism in order
to work, in a good society, must be regulated. Of course common
sense tells one over-regulation can choke business and create
harm to the common good.

De-Regulation started heavily in the 80s under Reagan laying
the groundwork for our current disaster.

We have to rid ourselves of Unfettered Capitalism not throwing
the baby out with the bath water.

IMO, Corporatism is the danger to our Country and way of life.
Corporate Power and Banking are running the country which will
eventually destroy our way of life.

[Sinti]

2. Yep, I think it's the Corporatism

Corporations are legal structures whose purpose is to have ever-increasing profits. That is their only purpose. Eventually, the corporations will even kill those who own and control them.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Case in point. The Airlines are raising fees and prices

because less people are flying. Excuse me? Where in The Wealth of Nations does it make sense that if less people can afford your goods and services you should charge more to offset your losses? Also, I read an article in the business section of the Merc yesterday that, in essence, said that BofA was SHOCKED, SHOCKED I SAY that after raising their credit card rates and fees to Mafia style levels, people are defaulting on their cards to the tune of several billion dollars.

WTF?

[Xicano]

4. Normally I would have agreed with the two of you, but,

the main problem on a planetary level is the current level of consumerism. Capitalism, regulated or deregulated, inherently thrives on promoting consumerism, and if you regulate consumerism you'll have something other than capitalism in my opinion. What is the answer to solve the dilemma we face? I don't know. But if we don't address this problem we will be forced to, and if that happens it will hurt a lot more.

I myself would suggest limiting most consumption to renewable and recyclable products with strict environmental regulations. I would also suggest marrying capitalism together with socialism which I think can be done through a tax model and a co-op based system. But the primary thing that must be addressed is scarcity and the environment before they both force us to address them.


Peace,
Xicano