Why Capitalism makes us sick
- Thread starter ThomasJ79
- Start date
Cheetos are made by slave labor and union-busted sweat shops in Muslim countries (they probably spit in them)…this is why you should only support free-range cheese poofs.
I think so. I think uncertainty and mixed signals from the government and society as a whole cause a lot of frustration and anxiety on the individual level. In my opinion it comes down to the old adage, you can't make everyone happy. Seems like everyone is getting just a little bit their way, but consumer capitalism teaches us to always want more, so in the end no one is really happy.
I would like to begin by saying I agree with much of what you said. However, for argument's sake, do you then believe that capitalism as a system plays no real role in the environment? And then that our environment plays no real role in our stress levels individually? I think capitalism works very well, when executed in its pure sense. I also believe that the combination of capitalist principles, human greed, and commercial consumption has created an environment that disagrees with those individuals with more naturalist personalities. Of course it also disagrees with lazy people, but I think it's a common conservative presumption that everyone who struggles with the capitalist structure can be pigeonholed as a lazy, self indulgent economic leech. It's not a world for artists, for instance, many of whom work very hard for little reward and for whom socialism (for example) would create a more equitable environment.
Why is one way the best way? This seems like a very extreme outlook on the situation.
I'm a little surprised that's what you took from what I wrote there. I never meant to imply there's one best way, or even that one way is better than another. My point is just that different people want different things and no one government/society/culture is equipped to provide a perfect setting for everyone, or even a tolerable one in some cases. My view is limited in this respect, but I know American capitalism feeds consumerism which in turn feeds desire. We're trained to have a "gimme, gimme" attitude, to feel guilt or worthlessness if we can't earn enough to have the things we want, to buy into a system that wants us to work ourselves to death in order to have more and more material things leaving little or no time for self actualization. Certainly the system isn't solely to blame, but it totally contributes and I think it would be difficult to argue that Capitalism isn't at least partly to blame for the atmosphere that causes people to become stressed, overworked, and chronically dissatisfied.
Whoa...
Yup, going off topic here just because I was away yet feel the need to defend...again. 1) He's not my friend (yet). Check my friends list. Not on it. In fact, very few are on it. I don't even know the guy. 2) My post calling you out was exactly that, calling you out without being biased, from many things I have observed. 3) The whole thing is silly.
Back to topic, my apologies for the derailment, I'll gladly exit this thread.
For those suggesting alcoholism is somehow linked to capitalism. .. seriously? Come on, please use critical thinking skills already!
I invite you to watch a movie called "How beer saved the world."
http://www.documentarywire.com/how-beer-saved-the-world/
I invite you to watch a movie called "How beer saved the world."
http://www.documentarywire.com/how-beer-saved-the-world/
As it happens I can also say whatever I bloody want, that also includes pointing out inconsistencies I perceive and expressing negative attitudes toward things others post as this is what a free forum looks like. (no such thing as a free forum btw, unless you own it) Your post did not attack other members? "SJW" is a pejorative term and you're fully aware of that. Your post referred to the members that were going to post negative things about capitalism in this thread. Who else could it refer to? Fairies in the sky? Please. "SJW" is a real thing; dismissing anybody against capitalism as an SJW is dishonest at best, and drive by character assassination/ad hominem at worst.
This is the first time I have ever had a negative interaction with you on this forum. I have never tried to get your posts deleted, turn the moderators against you nor anything of the sort. If anything, you are the one trying to shut me me down by appealing to mod authority.
Last edited:
So as long as it's not capitalism you're happy - even though there is no one way that works for everyone, right? Okay bud.
Why do the disabled get special sterilization rights and funding, Hitler?
I'm totally lost on why you are getting that impression from anything I've written. I distinctly stated twice that I am in no way asserting that capitalism doesn't work or is less effective than any other system. I'm sorry you aren't grasping my point and that you feel the need to be patronizing. I don't think I've said anything one sided or ridiculous.
This is from a couple years ago, but the stats haven’t budged…we are still behind Slovenia here in the US….nothing against the Slovenians, clearly they have their shit together better than we do.
And the wealth gap, which is also global, is getting wider and wider…the richest 1% own HALF of the all the world’s wealth.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...rlds-wealth-according-to-report-a6693226.html
This is what happens when Capitalism is allowed to grow uncontrollably…it’s time we weed the garden.
The other 99% share the other 50%.
Clearly there is a better way…Iceland threw it’s dirty bankers and dealers in jail, so far, it’s worked out really well for them.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Median Wealth Increases, but U.S. Still Stuck at 27th in World
The new Global Wealth Report and Global Wealth Databook from Credit Suisse were released last week. According to the Report (p. 3),
Nonetheless, while these data represent improvement for the typical American, there was no change in our ranking relative to the rest of the world. While Kuwait and Cyprus fell below the U.S., Slovenia and, more surprisingly, Greece now have higher median wealth per adult. Thus, the United States remains only 27th in the world.
These data are significant for at least two reasons. First, they highlight the fact that while the United States has a higher gross domestic product per capita than all but four of the 26 countries ahead of it in median wealth per adult (Qatar, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Norway), the long-term trend of economic policies has clearly hurt the middle class. Inequality is a big part of the explanation here: mean wealth per adult in the U.S. is 6.7 times median wealth per adult, the highest ratio in the top 27. By contrast, in #1 Australia the mean-to-median ratio is only 1.8:1. In fact, this ratio is less than 3:1 for 19 of the 26 countries with higher median wealth per adult. In Slovenia, mean wealth per adult is less than 1.5 times median wealth per adult! (All figures calculated from Databook, Table 3-1.)
Second, these low levels of wealth contribute to the coming retirement crisis of the middle class. Americans have low levels of saving, while Social Security still looks vulnerable to the chopping block despite our already high level of elder poverty.
Here are the top 27 countries by median wealth per adult.
Country Median Wealth
Per Adult
1. Australia $219,505
2. Luxembourg $182,768
3. Belgium $148,141
4. France $141,850
5. Italy $138,653
6. United Kingdom $111,524
7. Japan $110,294
8. Iceland $104,733
9. Switzerland $ 95,916
10. Finland $ 95,095
11. Norway $ 92,859
12. Singapore $ 90,466
13. Canada $ 90,252
14. Netherlands $ 83,631
15. New Zealand $ 76,607
16. Ireland $ 75,573
17. Spain $ 63,306
18. Qatar $ 58,237
19. Denmark $ 57,675
20. Austria $ 57,450
21. Greece $ 53,937
22. Taiwan $ 53,336
23. Sweden $ 52,677
24. United Arab Emirates $ 51,882
25. Germany $ 49,370
26. Slovenia $ 44,932
27. United States $ 44,911
Source: Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook, Table 3-1
And the wealth gap, which is also global, is getting wider and wider…the richest 1% own HALF of the all the world’s wealth.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...rlds-wealth-according-to-report-a6693226.html
This is what happens when Capitalism is allowed to grow uncontrollably…it’s time we weed the garden.
The other 99% share the other 50%.
Clearly there is a better way…Iceland threw it’s dirty bankers and dealers in jail, so far, it’s worked out really well for them.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Median Wealth Increases, but U.S. Still Stuck at 27th in World
The new Global Wealth Report and Global Wealth Databook from Credit Suisse were released last week. According to the Report (p. 3),
Global wealth has reached a new all-time high of USD 241 trillion, up 4.9% since last year and 68% since 2003, with the USA accounting for 72% of the latest increase. Average [mean] wealth per adult reached a new all-time high of USD 51,600, with wealth per adult in Switzerland returning to above USD 500,000.
For the United States, this represents an increase in mean wealth per adult of 11.4% from mid-2012 to mid-2013 (Databook, p. 92). Median wealth per adult increased even faster, from $38,786 to $44,911, or 15.8%, although we should recall that measurement of median wealth is less reliable than that for mean wealth.Nonetheless, while these data represent improvement for the typical American, there was no change in our ranking relative to the rest of the world. While Kuwait and Cyprus fell below the U.S., Slovenia and, more surprisingly, Greece now have higher median wealth per adult. Thus, the United States remains only 27th in the world.
These data are significant for at least two reasons. First, they highlight the fact that while the United States has a higher gross domestic product per capita than all but four of the 26 countries ahead of it in median wealth per adult (Qatar, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Norway), the long-term trend of economic policies has clearly hurt the middle class. Inequality is a big part of the explanation here: mean wealth per adult in the U.S. is 6.7 times median wealth per adult, the highest ratio in the top 27. By contrast, in #1 Australia the mean-to-median ratio is only 1.8:1. In fact, this ratio is less than 3:1 for 19 of the 26 countries with higher median wealth per adult. In Slovenia, mean wealth per adult is less than 1.5 times median wealth per adult! (All figures calculated from Databook, Table 3-1.)
Second, these low levels of wealth contribute to the coming retirement crisis of the middle class. Americans have low levels of saving, while Social Security still looks vulnerable to the chopping block despite our already high level of elder poverty.
Here are the top 27 countries by median wealth per adult.
Country Median Wealth
Per Adult
1. Australia $219,505
2. Luxembourg $182,768
3. Belgium $148,141
4. France $141,850
5. Italy $138,653
6. United Kingdom $111,524
7. Japan $110,294
8. Iceland $104,733
9. Switzerland $ 95,916
10. Finland $ 95,095
11. Norway $ 92,859
12. Singapore $ 90,466
13. Canada $ 90,252
14. Netherlands $ 83,631
15. New Zealand $ 76,607
16. Ireland $ 75,573
17. Spain $ 63,306
18. Qatar $ 58,237
19. Denmark $ 57,675
20. Austria $ 57,450
21. Greece $ 53,937
22. Taiwan $ 53,336
23. Sweden $ 52,677
24. United Arab Emirates $ 51,882
25. Germany $ 49,370
26. Slovenia $ 44,932
27. United States $ 44,911
Source: Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook, Table 3-1
An interesting article on Capitalism and it’s demise...
The end of capitalism has begun
Without us noticing, we are entering the postcapitalist era.
At the heart of further change to come is information technology, new ways of working and the sharing economy.
The old ways will take a long while to disappear, but it’s time to be utopian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/17/postcapitalism-end-of-capitalism-begun
Without us noticing, we are entering the postcapitalist era.
At the heart of further change to come is information technology, new ways of working and the sharing economy.
The old ways will take a long while to disappear, but it’s time to be utopian
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/17/postcapitalism-end-of-capitalism-begun
Why should I work 60 plus hours a week to have what I want, and watch someone else sit on their butt and get the same? While I never minded sharing, it insults my intelligence to give to someone I feel does not deserve it. Capitalism at least gives a man a carrot on a stick to chase.
Last edited:
That is kind of what is happening to people right now in our Capitalistic society.
We get dangled carrots of Social Security, pay raises the never keep up with inflation, dwindling health care while cost skyrocket.
I don’t agree that people shouldn’t do their fair share, but each also according to their ability.
That doesn’t mean that Joe Blow who was just barely smart enough to graduate HS should have to live in squalor with no medical insurance and no chance to lift himself out of the position should be paid jack shit to match his wit.
That society doesn’t care about the lesser amongst it.
Count me out.
