- Joined
- Mar 22, 2020
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 9
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Libertarian - Right
You don't think there are businesses today that aren't happy paying wages their employees can't live on?The other day I was watching a YouTube video discussing a TV show. They claimed the show was anti-capitalism because it showed the government tricking/forcing some local people out of their land in order to hand it over to a company who would presumably strip mine it. That's not capitalism. Capitalism would be the company offering money for the land, and if the locals reject the offer, then that's the end of the story.
It seems people associate capitalism with any economic activity and with any private individual or firm making a profit. This is not so. Capitalism is simply when property is held and controlled in private hands. If I start a charity, solicit donations and then use the money to buy food and medicine for the poor, that's capitalism. If I own a piece of land and I make it a nature preserve, that's capitalism.
I often see criticisms of capitalism regarding crimes committed by wealthy people or firms to advance their interests. That's not capitalism, that's just a crime. If a company decides to cut costs so they can lower their prices below the competition that's capitalism. If a company decides to burn down the factory of their competition, that's a crime.
The latest academic trend is to say that slavery is somehow a part of capitalism. They talk about how slaves were considered "property" and were bought and sold and used to make the slave owner a profit. These superficial terms give the impression that slavery is akin to a free market firm doing business, but this is the opposite of the truth. The ultimate in private property is ownership of your own person. You cannot alienate (transfer control of) your body, so no one other than you can own yourself. Thus slavery is a violation of private property rights and not at all compatible with capitalism.
What other ways is capitalism mischaracterized?
What other ways is capitalism mischaracterized?
You don't think there are businesses today that aren't happy paying wages their employees can't live on?
You're not talking about capitalism. Businesses that use the government to subsidize their wages (let's start with Walmart and McDonalds) are not capitalist, they're fascist.Who tf cares? If you believe you are underpaid, then quit go work somewhere else. If no other business will pay you more, then the company you are working for is providing you with your best option.
The profit motive works both ways--employees seek to maximize their wages.You don't think there are businesses today that aren't happy paying wages their employees can't live on?
Wages are a direct bottom line impact. Raise wages, profits decrease. Capitalism
A business is neither capitalist or fascist. It's a profit-seeking enterprise. The legal system it operates under is what we are talking about and the degree to which it respects private property rights.You're not talking about capitalism. Businesses that use the government to subsidize their wages (let's start with Walmart and McDonalds) are not capitalist, they're fascist.
If unregulated, that IS capitalism...or the result of it not being sufficiently limited.The other day I was watching a YouTube video discussing a TV show. They claimed the show was anti-capitalism because it showed the government tricking/forcing some local people out of their land in order to hand it over to a company who would presumably strip mine it. That's not capitalism. Capitalism would be the company offering money for the land, and if the locals reject the offer, then that's the end of the story.
It seems people associate capitalism with any economic activity and with any private individual or firm making a profit. This is not so. Capitalism is simply when property is held and controlled in private hands. If I start a charity, solicit donations and then use the money to buy food and medicine for the poor, that's capitalism. If I own a piece of land and I make it a nature preserve, that's capitalism.
I often see criticisms of capitalism regarding crimes committed by wealthy people or firms to advance their interests. That's not capitalism, that's just a crime. If a company decides to cut costs so they can lower their prices below the competition that's capitalism. If a company decides to burn down the factory of their competition, that's a crime.
The latest academic trend is to say that slavery is somehow a part of capitalism. They talk about how slaves were considered "property" and were bought and sold and used to make the slave owner a profit. These superficial terms give the impression that slavery is akin to a free market firm doing business, but this is the opposite of the truth. The ultimate in private property is ownership of your own person. You cannot alienate (transfer control of) your body, so no one other than you can own yourself. Thus slavery is a violation of private property rights and not at all compatible with capitalism.
What other ways is capitalism mischaracterized?
And in a time where we are beginning to see the pendulum swing back to favor the workers...businesses are screaming like stuck pigs.The profit motive works both ways--employees seek to maximize their wages.
Capitalism and fascism are both economic systems as well as political systems.A business is neither capitalist or fascist. It's a profit-seeking enterprise. The legal system it operates under is what we are talking about and the degree to which it respects private property rights.
This is what I was talking about. Capitalism is simply about protecting private property rights. It can't "trend towards controlling the government." Capitalism is not the wealthy or powerful firms that try to control the government. Say that instead. The wealthy and powerful have always had a hand in controlling the state, regardless of what the economic system is. Capitalism has nothing to do with that.If unregulated, that IS capitalism...or the result of it not being sufficiently limited.
It inevitably trends towards controlling the government if allowed, since controlling the environment it's in helps it get higher profits and prevent competition.
The way I view capitalism, it's about unrelenting competition, with no quarter given or holds barred.
You have to emplace rules to prevent the worst excesses of that drive, or it'll get out of hand and be the one in control.
If unregulated, that IS capitalism...or the result of it not being sufficiently limited.
It inevitably trends towards controlling the government if allowed, since controlling the environment it's in helps it get higher profits and prevent competition.
The way I view capitalism, it's about unrelenting competition, with no quarter given or holds barred.
You have to emplace rules to prevent the worst excesses of that drive, or it'll get out of hand and be the one in control.
I think this is another misunderstanding of capitalism. It's not a political system at all. You can have a democracy, oligarchy or even an authoritarian dictator and have a capitalist economy. All that's required is the protection of private property rights.Capitalism and fascism are both economic systems as well as political systems.
I mean that organizations striving for more wealth and power within capitalism will try to capture the government in part or in whole, then rewrite the laws so they have an advantage, even to the point of removing those private property protections.This is what I was talking about. Capitalism is simply about protecting private property rights. It can't "trend towards controlling the government." Capitalism is not the wealthy or powerful firms that try to control the government. Say that instead. The wealthy and powerful have always had a hand in controlling the state, regardless of what the economic system is. Capitalism has nothing to do with that.
And your statement about the "excesses" of competition seems to be, once again, talking about something other than capitalism. Are you talking about crimes? Are you talking about fraud? Those things are illegal under a system of private property protections. So what exactly do you mean?
The other day I was watching a YouTube video discussing a TV show. They claimed the show was anti-capitalism because it showed the government tricking/forcing some local people out of their land in order to hand it over to a company who would presumably strip mine it. That's not capitalism. Capitalism would be the company offering money for the land, and if the locals reject the offer, then that's the end of the story.
It seems people associate capitalism with any economic activity and with any private individual or firm making a profit. This is not so. Capitalism is simply when property is held and controlled in private hands. If I start a charity, solicit donations and then use the money to buy food and medicine for the poor, that's capitalism. If I own a piece of land and I make it a nature preserve, that's capitalism.
I often see criticisms of capitalism regarding crimes committed by wealthy people or firms to advance their interests. That's not capitalism, that's just a crime. If a company decides to cut costs so they can lower their prices below the competition that's capitalism. If a company decides to burn down the factory of their competition, that's a crime.
The latest academic trend is to say that slavery is somehow a part of capitalism. They talk about how slaves were considered "property" and were bought and sold and used to make the slave owner a profit. These superficial terms give the impression that slavery is akin to a free market firm doing business, but this is the opposite of the truth. The ultimate in private property is ownership of your own person. You cannot alienate (transfer control of) your body, so no one other than you can own yourself. Thus slavery is a violation of private property rights and not at all compatible with capitalism.
What other ways is capitalism mischaracterized?
It's probably harder to cause problems due to the nature of the product being sold.Ok, right now we have a unregulated weed market in NYC:
A Laissez-Faire Drug Market in the Most Unlikely Place Ever
Everyone on the political left hates laissez-faire, as do most moderates, and even many Republicans. Nearly everyone wants stupid, corrupt politicians to control the economy via government regulation. Here are some examples from this forum: We cannot continue to afford a laissez-faire...debatepolitics.com
Explain what kind of bad outcomes will happen because it has no political rules. Be specific.
That's called corruption, which has nothing to do with a system of protecting private property rights. This is another example of misunderstanding capitalism.How many true western tales have we in our history where miners and ranchers force settlers off their lands. The paid politicians to do it for them once "civilization" arrived.
You're not talking about capitalism. Businesses that use the government to subsidize their wages (let's start with Walmart and McDonalds) are not capitalist, they're fascist.
It's probably harder to cause problems due to the nature of the product being sold.
But perhaps...selling lower quality product as higher quality, or putting additives into it that cause issues?
In theory, if it gets really competitive, violently attacking your competition and destroying their facilities or product, even staff.
And yes, I know that's illegal - but I was counting ALL laws as part of the regulation.
I fully believe that if an organization captured enough of the government, they'd eventually make it legal for them to literally kill the competition.
That's called corruption, which has nothing to do with a system of protecting private property rights. This is another example of misunderstanding capitalism.
Its not free market capitalism but its still capitalism.The other day I was watching a YouTube video discussing a TV show. They claimed the show was anti-capitalism because it showed the government tricking/forcing some local people out of their land in order to hand it over to a company who would presumably strip mine it. That's not capitalism. Capitalism would be the company offering money for the land, and if the locals reject the offer, then that's the end of the story.
It seems people associate capitalism with any economic activity and with any private individual or firm making a profit. This is not so. Capitalism is simply when property is held and controlled in private hands. If I start a charity, solicit donations and then use the money to buy food and medicine for the poor, that's capitalism. If I own a piece of land and I make it a nature preserve, that's capitalism.
I often see criticisms of capitalism regarding crimes committed by wealthy people or firms to advance their interests. That's not capitalism, that's just a crime. If a company decides to cut costs so they can lower their prices below the competition that's capitalism. If a company decides to burn down the factory of their competition, that's a crime.
The latest academic trend is to say that slavery is somehow a part of capitalism. They talk about how slaves were considered "property" and were bought and sold and used to make the slave owner a profit. These superficial terms give the impression that slavery is akin to a free market firm doing business, but this is the opposite of the truth. The ultimate in private property is ownership of your own person. You cannot alienate (transfer control of) your body, so no one other than you can own yourself. Thus slavery is a violation of private property rights and not at all compatible with capitalism.
What other ways is capitalism mischaracterized?
I dont get mrjurrs distinction either.Walmart’s U.S. average hourly wage is now $16.40
Walmart hikes hourly pay by $1 for more than 550,000 workers ahead of the holidays
Walmart said Thursday that it is raising the hourly wages for more than 565,000 store workers by at least $1.www.cnbc.com
Paying an entry level worker $16.40 is "fascist"?
What is the correct hourly wage for a job that requires no education or experience?
Minimum wage should be sufficient to maintain a basic standard of living in the area.Walmart’s U.S. average hourly wage is now $16.40
Walmart hikes hourly pay by $1 for more than 550,000 workers ahead of the holidays
Walmart said Thursday that it is raising the hourly wages for more than 565,000 store workers by at least $1.www.cnbc.com
Paying an entry level worker $16.40 is "fascist"?
What is the correct hourly wage for a job that requires no education or experience?
Minimum wage should be sufficient to maintain a basic standard of living in the area.
So in places with high housing costs, $16.40/hr might not be high enough.
Minimum wage should be sufficient to maintain a basic standard of living in the area.
So in places with high housing costs, $16.40/hr might not be high enough.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?